Why is there no conservation forum on this website?

[delv2323]

Why is there no conservation forum on this website? It seems incongruous with being interested in trying to keep wild animals/organisms in captivity.

 

[mia relis]

What do you mean?

 

[mia relis]

We have a lounge, and you can PM someone.

 

[delv2323]

I see conservation as something separate from endless "what other hobbies y'all like" threads...

Who would I pm? And why would I PM a valid question?

 

[Billldg]

I feel that a thread like this would have very good intentions to start, but would eventually turn into a complaints and political bashing thread, it would have to be heavily policed. Just my opinion.

 

[TopShelfAquatics Verified Sponsor]

Well, I think a majority of the hobby is already about conservation especially when it comes to in home aquaculture. While I do understand the want for a dedicated forum I believe several other forums on this page touch upon conservation in their own way. Between clownfish breeding(pretty much decreasing all need for importing clowns), the big moves being made with other tank bred fish, hobbyists and major stores decreasing the need for wild corals by having frag tanks and farms and the overall excitement over making small little frags grow into large colonies I don't think a dedicated forum is required as it would just go unused.

 

[Doctorgori]

since in the real world politics plays a role it would go political ..... eventually

 

[Peace River]

Why is there no conservation forum on this website? It seems incongruous with being interested in trying to keep wild animals/organisms in captivity.

Great question! @delv2323, what do you have in mind? What would the proposed sub forum include? From my perspective, I think if we are doing this right then conservation should be integrated into everything we says and do and therefore be part of every forum. Thoughts?

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Why is there no conservation forum on this website? It seems incongruous with being interested in trying to keep wild animals/organisms in captivity.

I agree with you. The majority of the conversations in this community revolve around acquiring these beautiful creatures for home enjoyment and there is a paucity of interest regarding conservation and sustainability. This is one reason Ive joined R2R and have been trying to spread the word and spur interest around about aquaculture in our hobby. Based on the comments above people are concerned about politics. However it’s not about politics, it’s about educating ourselves and others about sustainable collection practices and good husbandry practices. It would be incredible if the community would be more focused on conservation and less on obtaining that rare fish or coral. It’s unfortunate that even still today there is a significant mortality in shipping wild caught fish across the world. A lot of people want cheap animals and don’t know or understand where and how the fish was caught, how the fish was treated and conditioned, or understanding the conservation status of the animal. And we’re surprised when the $5 chromis that was shipped across the world brings ich or another disease into our home aquarium. Just my $0.02 and I’m happy to start this conversation with you and other interested reefers!

 

[Oldreefer44]

I agree with you. The majority of the conversations in this community revolve around acquiring these beautiful creatures for home enjoyment and there is a paucity of interest regarding conservation and sustainability. This is one reason Ive joined R2R and have been trying to spread the word and spur interest around about aquaculture in our hobby. Based on the comments above people are concerned about politics. However it’s not about politics, it’s about educating ourselves and others about sustainable collection practices and good husbandry practices. It would be incredible if the community would be more focused on conservation and less on obtaining that rare fish or coral. It’s unfortunate that even still today there is a significant mortality in shipping wild caught fish across the world. A lot of people want cheap animals and don’t know or understand where and how the fish was caught, how the fish was treated and conditioned, or understanding the conservation status of the animal. And we’re surprised when the $5 chromis that was shipped across the world brings ich or another disease into our home aquarium. Just my $0.02 and I’m happy to start this conversation with you and other interested reefers!

Agree completely but unfortunately there are many who seem to be just waiting to start talking about whether or not climate change is real etc. Hard to talk about conservation when we can't even agree there is a need for it.

 

[ot7]

Agree completely but unfortunately there are many who seem to be just waiting to start talking about whether or not climate change is real etc. Hard to talk about conservation when we can't even agree there is a need for it.

i was about to comment on that lol.
youd be surprised by the amount of people in this hobby who dont believe in climate change and that alone will start its own problems.
there was a thread on here about the future of aquaculture in this hobby and that made some people very irritated because only hippies want an aquacultured tank in the future w/e.
trust me its going to get bad.
try starting a thread in the lounge and lets see how it goes...

 

[delv2323]

Is there anyone in the entire world who "believes" that the extent and health/quality of coral reefs in the wild has improved in the last 30 years?

If not then it's clear that conservation is necessary, regardless of the reasons. Plus it's interesting.

I'd like to see a sub like the chemistry but with a someone like Merry Youle and or John Veron moderating.

 

[fish farmer]

I agree with you. The majority of the conversations in this community revolve around acquiring these beautiful creatures for home enjoyment and there is a paucity of interest regarding conservation and sustainability. This is one reason Ive joined R2R and have been trying to spread the word and spur interest around about aquaculture in our hobby. Based on the comments above people are concerned about politics. However it’s not about politics, it’s about educating ourselves and others about sustainable collection practices and good husbandry practices. It would be incredible if the community would be more focused on conservation and less on obtaining that rare fish or coral. It’s unfortunate that even still today there is a significant mortality in shipping wild caught fish across the world. A lot of people want cheap animals and don’t know or understand where and how the fish was caught, how the fish was treated and conditioned, or understanding the conservation status of the animal. And we’re surprised when the $5 chromis that was shipped across the world brings ich or another disease into our home aquarium. Just my $0.02 and I’m happy to start this conversation with you and other interested reefers!

I will disagree slightly with you believing it is not a political topic. It is totally political now with the current Indo ban, Fiji ban, Hawaii ban. Governments just halting exports without collaborating with stake holders.

I believe aquaculture may take over in some arenas....but the fish breeding aspect isn't there yet and it is still about costs. You don't make it rich in aquaculture.

I will say that the local governments will have to support said conservation. You can educate all you want on a forum, but unless there is a direct link (funding) from your participation going back into conservation then how do you really know you are making a difference.

Take a look at local U.S. conservation of fish and wildlife. It is government regulated either by state or federal offices. There are conservation, restoration, enhancement programs of fisheries in every state. Some programs are stellar...some not so much, and some were failures. Funding for programs come from taxes on fishing, hunting and boating equipment and LICENSES to hunt and fish. The federal taxes collected go the U.S. Department of the Interior (Dingell/Johnson Act) and in order for local states to get back their cut, they must sell licenses (hobby participation) in order to continue to operate their local government programs.

Good luck trying to propose more government control and taxes...

 

[Chad Sepulvado]

Maybe you could rephrase your statement less aggressively, and less pointing blame at an issue that may or may not exist, and that you probably don’t know everything about. Maybe, hey refers, has anyone ever started a conservation thread or group, and if so, where can I find. The way you worded that is accusatory to a fault, due to the fact that almost all members propagate aqua culture over wild harvest. Thanks.

 

[Doctorgori]

....politics is in everything anymore it seems, especially conservation...remember the snail darter?
What if the discussion (s) were about just fish & water for instance:
- Sockeye Salmon: Then Alaska goldmine thing and all the political wranglings about that can't be avoided
- water quality? ; agriculture runoff, EPA, acid rain...et et
- oil exploration and the Florida reefs
Lets be honest: we are divided on the environment, at least as it being a government priority is concerned and it seems people get the facts from whatever news agency or media agrees with our current politics

 

[fish farmer]

....politics is in everything anymore it seems, especially conservation...remember the snail darter?
What if the discussion (s) were about just fish & water for instance:
- Sockeye Salmon: Then Alaska goldmine thing and all the political wranglings about that can't be avoided
- water quality? ; agriculture runoff, EPA, acid rain...et et
- oil exploration and the Florida reefs
Lets be honest: we are divided on the environment, at least as it being a government priority is concerned and it seems people get the facts from whatever news agency or media agrees with our current politics

STOP PEBBLE MINE;Yuck

 

[Mandelstam]

We live in a sad world where science and facts are treated as opinions which can be written off with a simple "well I have a different opinion about that".