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corals: from Les Kaufmam http://unclenedsfishfactory.com/BulletinBoard/viewtopic.php?t=2381 |
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Author: | Admin [ Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:01 pm ] |
Post subject: | corals: from Les Kaufmam |
Some thoughts on Coral Reef Conservation For the Reef Aquarist Our hobby involves the creation of small bits of a coral reef community, complete in its wonderful array of diverse and beautiful organisms. In creating reef aquaria we learn a great deal about the needs of corals, other marine invertebrates, and fishes, and from this learning, and the beauty or our charges, we derive much joy and satisfaction. Real coral reefs are in the deepest trouble that they have seen in the last few million years. About 70% of the worlds coral reefs have been very badly damaged. Many of these will not recover in our lifetimes or those of our children, and in some cases not for thousands of years. The worst affected are in the tropical Atlantic- Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean region, and Brazil. While there are still coral reefs in pristine condition in the Pacific and Indian oceans, these number fewer every year. Today, not a single coral reef system remains in excellent condition anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean. A mere thirty years ago, most were in spectacular health. Two of the most important reef-building corals, Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmate, are considered threatened species. Obviously we love these creatures and care a great deal about what is happening to them in the wild. There is much that we can do to make them safer in nature. It begins at home. Ultimately we should avoid the purchase of wild- collected reef life unless we know it to have been obtained in a manner that does not harm wild populations or habitats. If this is the case, then the purchase can potentially benefit conservation by providing local revenue. The problem we face is that right now, dealers have no idea where most of their stock originated. 2008 is the International Year of the Reef. We should set ourselves the goal of identifying conservation-positive (blue) sources for quality reef invertebrates, fishes, and live rock that our dealers can buy from. Then we preferentially purchase stock that our dealers can assure us came from these sources. This will be most effective if we follow through and favor our dealers with the demand necessary to make this work. We should set ourselves a deadline of insisting upon knowing the provenance of our purchases by one year from today (April 1, 2008), and celebrate this action publicly as one of the reef aquariums contributions to the International Year of the Reef. As your corals grow, practice fragmenting and sharing what you have with others. There are three other things that you can do: (1) understand what is killing coral reefs, (2) reduce your own contribution to their demise, and (3) become a teacher and political activist in any way, small or large, that you possibly can, to contribute to their survival. Global climate change is the greatest of all threats to coral reefs. A warmer earth results in localized areas of extremely warm seawater, warm enough to cause corals and giant clams to expel their symbiotic algae. This is called bleaching. If bleaching lasts long enough or occurs often enough, the bleached corals will die. Thus, thousands of acres of coral reef are dying every year. The major reason for the warming is that we are pouring too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning things- fossil fuel, forests, and grasslands. The excess carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas, causing global heating. But it also has another effect that hits corals and many other marine organisms very, very hard. When too much carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, it dissolves into the ocean and changes its chemistry. The carbonate ions required by all marine organisms with a limestone skeleton or shell, become hard to acquire. Also ocean water becomes more acidic. Together these prevent marine organisms from building their skeletons as quickly, and may actually erode their existing skeletons as if they had been bathed in acid. Because of these effects, the growth rates of corals have already been reduced by about ten percent from what they were 200 years ago. But that is just the beginning. By 2100, at the rate that we are going now, growth rates will be reduced by about 40%. As it becomes more difficult for corals to grow and heal, colony after colony will fall prey to diseases, predators, competitors, and hurricanes: natural forces that they formerly were able to deal with effectively. As a coup de grace, coastal pollution, overfishing, and an increase in the intensity of hurricanes caused by a warmer ocean, are making it even harder for coral reefs to hold their own in todays rapidly changing world. Global climate change is real. It is no longer in question, either, that people are responsible for a great deal of it- more than enough to make the difference if we stopped pouring so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is also beyond question that people have overfished, polluted, and monumentally degraded ocean ecosystems. For those of us who care deeply about corals and coral reefs, these thoughtless, large-scale impacts caused by people must be stopped. We can save energy individually to set a proper example for others. The usual- avoiding any waste of energy, water, or things that required energy and water to produce. But energy conservation and recycling in our homes, while essential, is simply not enough. In addition, we must act politically. Make sure that your congressional representatives and senators know how you feel. Write them, or if close by, march into their offices and make sure they are fighting for your interest in a healthy environment. Learn enough about earths climate and renewable energy not to be hoodwinked by leaders who insidiously distort science for their own ends. Never miss an opportunity to vote, and when you vote, vote for your own and your loved ones futures. Remember the people around the world who live by coral reefs, and whose lives depend upon the health and welfare of these ecosystems. Support their livelihoods by purchasing ethically collected stock, and captive-reared stock produced in the country of origin. When you visit coral reef nations on vacation, support local conservation efforts and environmentally sensitive forms of employment. Many people who depend upon coral reefs lead a marginal existence and cannot be easily faulted for fishing or collecting reefs into oblivion. Do what you can to support sustainable alternatives. If appropriate actions are not obvious, think of some and encourage others to join you. Remember that all people who depend upon coral reefs are also in danger of seeing their homes and lands swallowed by the sea as glaciers melt and oceans warm and expand. Reefs, too, shall be affected as waters deepen and sunlight dims. The marine aquarium industry is working to become a force for conservation. Check out the websites for the Marine Aquarium Council and the Reef Protection Institute. Encourage them to do more, and make sure that your dealer does everything possible to sell conservation-neutral or conservation-pro aquarium livestock. Assist organizations working in coral reef conservation such as Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Nature Conservancy, and others. Adopt a coral reef, find out who the local conservation organizations and environmental leaders are, and give them support. Teach children- and anybody who will sit still long enough- about the threats to coral reefs and how we can turn the world around. Use the beauty of your aquarium to inspire and instruct them. Spread the fire to the diving community, and to anybody else you can recruit to this cause. Coral reefs are a bellwether for the world- for our farms and crops, for our supply of fresh water, for our fisheries, for all the good things that the earth provides to sustain us. The death of coral reefs is a harbinger for the future of all humanity. What we do to save coral reefs will ultimately save ourselves. The fruit of our efforts will be engraved in the fossil record. Let that story speak to our great great grandchildren of wonders saved for their enjoyment, and not of catastrophe caused by the thoughtlessness and stupidity of their ancestors. 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 |
Author: | Admin [ Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:03 pm ] |
Post subject: |
"The marine aquarium industry is working to become a force for conservation. Check out the websites for the Marine Aquarium Council and the Reef Protection Institute." gee whiz they never called me or anyone else I know that owns a store that sells live corals |
Author: | Admin [ Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:08 pm ] |
Post subject: |
I am baiting Les... betting no answer... worse baiting MAC... I am very skeptical..., trying to get his goat... attempting to shake things up... They NEVER talk to me |
Author: | lesk [ Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:28 pm ] |
Post subject: | Why is MAC so quiet? |
Just distracted, Ned. I still rise to bait, but cautiously... MAC is a supply-side (collector/shipper) effort, not involved much with dealers working on the consumer side of things. They (mostly Paul Holthus) are trying to certify the suppliers. Reep Protection International (Drew Weiner) was set up to look to the dealer and consumer side. Project Piaba is the best example I know of for a very positive consumer-side initiative, that one of course for Amazon freshwater aquarium fishes. There is actually an aquarium fish festival every year and teams compete for the best costume/choreographed dance shows and floats and everybody eats thematic foods and stuff, it's like a mini-carnavale. Scott Dowd and Tania Taranovski were just at the festival and Tania sent amazing pictures. So much excitement about aquarium fishes. It would be wonderful to have that kind of spirit and interest in conservation and sustainable collection/rearing out for the marine aquarium trade in the source countries. Meanwhile, we have to do something on our end. I don't think it works any more to say that people are not contacting US. We have to contact them. Eventually, one or two suppliers will oblige, and when they do, ordering from them (if their quality is acceptable) and talking it up will be a beacon to the others. I have to say, there is quite a bit of controversy about MAC and I am not sure where that comes from. The appropriate question is why RPI (Reef Protection International) is so quiet...and I think I know the answer to that one (though they have a good web site). "They" is Drew and Drew is experiencing the usual challenges involved in keeping such a non-profit effort financially viable and sustainable. |
Author: | lesk [ Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:37 pm ] |
Post subject: | Erratum: Piaba is supply-side |
Piaba is supply-side, Scott Dowd and Labbish Chao are thinking about how to pick things up on the dealer end. Also RPI stands for "Reef Protection International" not "Reep....." Just setting the record straight. Les |
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