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<div>Hello,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The problem with Craig's suggestion is that there is a very
small number of peoples who understand the basic
RESPONSIBILITIES of owning a home living-room aquarium. Many peoples
get into this hobby(without understanding basic chemistry) and
consistently have to purchase new valuable endangered corals due to
mistakes and not maintaining there aquariums. Hence the revolving
door of wild caught corals continues the influx of corals into the
USA. There are still to this day, stores selling dead corals
for coffee tables. Has the<u><b> MAC</b></u> addressed this
problem, and what are they trying to do to stop the imports of dead
corals ? This trade can never be sustainable unless we build farms
that harvest these valuable corals. Then they must train the locals
to farm and fish with nets, then sell their product to those in the
USA who need to have these valuable organisms in there living rooms,
and for those who choose this line of work to support themselves. I
am still alarmed as to what I see arriving at all the local aquarium
shops in the USA. Many of them are telling me that they have long
wait times for certain corals and fish due to the fisherman claiming
the abundance has dwindled. From the 20 or so store owners I spoke
with, they claim that the abundance is not like it was in the 80s,
and this is not due to restrictions. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div>While surfing the net I came upon a Web Site that sells corals
and live-rock in Tonga. This group collect the corals and rock from
selected areas, after collection they culture the specimens in huge
labs/greenhouses (it seems to be temperature controlled). Has anyone
seen this site and operation? It seems impressive and from what the
web-site says; they train the locals to work on board with them. Is
this a sustainable operation, I am wondering? If anyone has feedback
please let me know?</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Thank You, James Cervino</div>
<div>-- <br>
<br>
************************************<br>
James M. Cervino <br>
PhD. Program <br>
Marine Science Program<br>
University of South Carolina<br>
(803) 996-6470<br>
e-mail:cnidaria@earthlink.net<br>
*************************************</div>
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