[Coral-List] banning wild collection when mariculture sources exist [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Todd Barber]

Hi Les,

I don't believe our position would cause any problem with this as it
is unlikely that private businesses would be able to successfully
aquaculture more than a limited number of species leaving plenty l(and
perhaps enhancing the aquarium market's reputation and thus acceptance) for
sustainable collection.

Although the concept is great and I applaud efforts for sustainable
collection efforts, the problem I have on an intellectual level is that
their is really no such a thing without environmental enhancements, as by
definition, natural systems are already balanced.  We have known for a long
time that there are great dangers of sustainable collection in systems that
we don't have a complete scientific understanding.... and that, at least for
today, is the state of our knowledge.

Thanks,

Todd R. Barber
Chairman, Reef Ball Foundation
252-353-9094

Skype name: toddbarber
Cell Phone 941-720-7549

3305 Edwards Court
Greenville, NC 27858

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "margiea" <Margie.Atkinson at gbrmpa.gov.au>
To: "Les Kaufman" <lesk at bu.edu>
Cc: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 12:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] banning wild collection when mariculture sources 
exist [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]


Les
I agree - my personal view is that the key word in this entire debate is
"sustainable". From a conservation point of view it should be prefixed
by the word "ecologically" sustainable. The trick is definitely in
getting the triple bottom line-balance sorted, to foster stewardship. I
would be keen to see some more dialogue about other people's efforts to
resolve this one.

Cheers
Margie

Margaret Atkinson

Project Manager
Fisheries Issues Group
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
2-68 Flinders St
PO Box 1379
Townsville, Qld  4810

Ph:  (07) 4750 0735
(intl. +61 7 4750 0735)

Fax: (07) 4772 6093
(intl. +61 7 4772 6093)

mobile: 0438 387 303

Email: margiea at gbrmpa.gov.au


Proudly supporting International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008)
http://www.iyor.org

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Les Kaufman wrote, On 29/02/2008 14:18:
> Dear Todd,
>
> Re: your comment (below), things are not so simple.
>
> Sustainable collection of some aquarium species still represents a
> great potential for marine conservation by
> fueling one part of the incentive structure.
>
> Just because this potential is so often perverted doesn't mean it
> couldn't happen.
>
> We need experience in striking a balance in natural-products
> businesses that is most beneficial to long-term sustainability of
> coral reef systems in proximity to people.
>
> Les
>
> *****
> This answer is quite simple and our Foundation has been advocating it
> for
> years.  All countries should ban any aquarium species that can be
> demonstrated to be aquacultured by 3 or more private interests.
>
> This way, there would be no competition for raised (fish or corals) from
> wild sources so the market would develop a fair price.  A great
> example is
> the "Nemo" fish (clown fishes)....all can be fully reared in
> captivity but
> wild sources still account for the bulk of the market...why? It is
> cheaper
> to pay 10 cents for collection and a buck to ship it even if 10% die in
> shipping than to raise a fish that costs $5 bucks in food and
> electricity.
>
>
>
> Les Kaufman
> Professor of Biology
> Boston University Marine Program
> and
> Senior PI
> Marine Management Area Science
> Conservation International
>
> “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.”
> George W. Bush
> Saginaw, Michigan; September 29, 2000
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
>
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