divers and fish

[John Williams]

Human nature is what it is.  People need to eat and people are generally
compelled to find the best mate to pass on their genes.  Status is very
much important in both (Moral Animal, Robert Wright; Third Chimpanzee,
Jared Diamond).  The point remains economics and education.

Also, I would point out that some people are curious beyond being aware of
status (I believe snobbery is rampant in all human endeavours -
conservationism as well).  Much can be learned from these organisms,
especially with the extremely rapid pace of science.  It is very likely
that what is learnt may very well be the strongest motivation for much
more substanial conservation efforts.

Finally, I believe that this thread is getting off the more important
point.  Given that people will continue to keep reefs, how can the home
aquaria reef industry continue without significant environmental impact. 
I proposed licensing people as a means education or discouragement.
I am curious as to other constructive ideas.


On Sat, 3 Nov 2001, Ursula Keuper-Bennett wrote:

> At 11:55 AM 11/2/01 -0500, John McManus wrote:
> 
> >So, while the aquarium trade makes a great deal of sense as a source of
> >livelihood in many cases, I think that the greatest danger lies in exotic
> >introductions. I'm not sure of the solution, other than perhaps restricting
> >fish distributions to within their natural range.
> 
> The aquarium hobby (like so many human endeavours) is very much about 
> snobbery and status.  This can range from whose got the most expensive fish 
> to whose got the most difficult to keep/breed.
> 
> That means hobbyists prefer the-grass-is-always-greener fish.
> 
> One thing I'd like to know is how many unsuccess stories are there for 
> every competent, responsible marine hobbyist?   And how many fish/live 
> corals die before one of THEM becomes competent.
>

> And of course the hobbyist lobby groups and magazines mainly tout those 
> experts in the rarified air of the hobby as examples of what is.
> 
> Best wishes,
> Ursula
> 
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> 

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