[Samper]

I received this issue of Science magazine in my mailbox at school. A professor thought I might want to read it. The cover simply says Reefs in Trouble. There are quite a few articles in it concerning the reefs with great illustrations and I think it would be worthwhile for anyone with access to this magazine to pick this issue up. I considered photocopying the articles and posting them but wasn't sure if that was kosher. I found out that if you join the site you can read the full text. It's free to join. At any rate I just thought you guys might want to check it out.

Science/AAAS | Table of Contents: 14 December 2007; 318 (5857)

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Samper

I considered photocopying the articles and posting them but wasn't sure if that was kosher.

Technically, it's not. You would be in violation of their copyright because they clearly state on their website that you have to request permission to reproduce any content for any purpose, including even classroom discussion. In general, fair use allows you to copy four paragraphs from an article provided you include a link to the article in question. At least that seems to be general practice on the Internet and I assume it applies here as well.

Some sites, AIMS comes to mind, include a notice giving general permission to reproduce any content as long as it's not for commercial purposes. In other words, as long as you're not selling it in some way.

In order to gain access to that article, I had to register. Registration is free but they do ask a ton of personal information and it's all geared to building up a database for various commercial partners.

P.S. -- Coralreef.noaa.gov International Year of the Reef 2008

[Ninong]

Progress of HR-1205 Coral Reef Conservation Act

This bill reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 with new amendments and establishes a U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to coordinate federal agencies.

It has passed the House but it has not yet passed the Senate. The final bill is expected to include new restrictions on the coral trade.

Protection of the environment is a good thing. Government regulation is a necessary part of protecting the environment. We all want to protect the environment and preserve the reefs. Just remember that not everyone views our hobby as a 'good' thing. There are some who would like to see a complete ban on any and all collection, possession or exhibition of any wildlife, marine or terrestrial, for any purpose whatsoever. These are the people who want to close all zoos and aquariums worldwide. Think of PETA on steroids.

I'm not talking about HR-1205 here. Daniel Knop reported in the February/March 2008 issue of Coral magazine that the Berlin "Ombundsman for the Protection of Animals" stated at the 14th meeting of CITES that his primary goal was the ban on EU imports of aquarium fish and other wild animals. I believe the next CITES meeting is in 2010. There are some conservationists who are opposed to any and all 'exploitation' of animals.

Their ultimate goal is a ban on the collection of any and all wild animals, including marine animals, for any purpose, public or private. I doubt that they are anywhere near realizing that goal but in the case of marine life, they are arguing that private possession should be prohibited because of the impact on the reefs and because of the high mortality in the collection and distribution process, to say nothing of the average short lifespans in captivity due to the inexperience of many hobbyists.

If the hobby is perceived as irresponsible, it's quite possible that governments may give in to the argument that marine life should only be exhibited in large public aquaria. The majority of the animals exhibited in public zoos are either illegal to possess privately or severely restricted. The same thing could happen to corals and reef fishes.

[Samper]

This is as ridiculous as Breed Specific Legislation among bully breed dogs or to take it a step further the war on drugs. I've owned 3 pitbulls from 3 different bloodlines....two of them from long standing fighing lines and not once have I had a problem with any of mine. It's all in how you raise them and the same can be said of an aquarist keeping various fish or invertebrates....even macroalgae.

The bully breeds are banned here but it's not tightly regulated...it would be impossible for them to do so. I've met many owners here and didn't have a problem finding a vet. It seems there is always a grandfather clause and I would hope if this ever happens we would be the exceptions as established reefkeepers. The way I see it educated aquarists will be the ones to preserve these animals in captivity that many people may never see in the wild...especially if the downward trend on the natural reef continues.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Samper

The way I see it educated aquarists will be the ones to preserve these animals in captivity that many people may never see in the wild...especially if the downward trend on the natural reef continues.

You may be right there, Chuck. If the production of sugar cane continues with the same gustoas it does in Australia we may no find GBR anywhere as populated with corals as it was just a few decades ago. It seems that explosions in polupations of Acanthaster planci directly related to the nutrient run off from the fields of agricultural boom in Australia.