Action Needed Now or else 80 SPS Corals will become illegal to acquire if this passes

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lifestudent

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For months now there has been a request to ban 80 stony coral targeted for listing as endangered from http://reefbuilders.com/2010/02/17/80-species-stony-corals-added-endagered-species-list/">the proposal by the Center for Biological Diversity</a> and how it could impact the hobby from erroneous listings of such broad species classifications. Well it’s your turn to let your voice be heard, but time is running out quickly!

You have until just this Monday, April 12, to send your opinion to the government to help stop this potentially damaging and much too broadly defined regulation from becoming a reality.

For more info, including a [B]template response letter[/B] written by Julian Sprung and Colin Foord, please click the following link and send in your response by Monday, April 12: [IMG]http://reefbuilders.com/2010/04/08/voice-opinion-oppose-endangered-listing-corals/#comments">http://reefbuilders.com/2010/04/08/voice-opinion-oppose-endangered-listing-corals/#comments</a>

Lastly, please post in this thread if you sent a response letter.

Thanks in advance!

Bob
 
Thanks Bob! Have you posted this on other sites? This has been a huge issue, in my book, not just regarding corals, but all the other animals that get on the endangered list that don't belong. A lot of people will say it's just to protect the animals, and I'm sure at the lower levels of non-profits and government that is the reason, but I always say "Follow the Money." If there is anyone that stands to gain control and/or money, then that's when I start to question their motives.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me on this, but look at any protection/rights movement or agency. They all start with pure and right intentions, but corruption almost always seeps in.

Sorry about the rant, this is a great opportunity to be heard and I'd encourage everyone on here to respond.
 
http://www.reefs.org/forums/topic134794.html">http://www.reefs.org/forums/topic134794.html</a>

I've spoken recently with Peter Rubec (he used to be with the IMA, and he's a personal friend of mine and active in the industry). He sent me a draft letter that he's going to submit in opposition to this - I got it yesterday just haven't had a chance to read it yet.

He said that the industry as a whole is sort of sitting on our hands on this one - but it's potentially devastating to the trade and the hobby. PIJAC is working on it on behalf of the pet industry - but more people need to chime in on all aspects.

This new regulation would even prohibit the propagation and trade of specimens already in captivity and being aquacultured. I can understand restricting/banning collection of wild stock, but if it's already gone from the ocean (in mariculture/aquaculture/hobbyist tanks) I don't understand that logic.

Yep, action is definitely needed on this one.

Jenn
 
Thanks for this insight. I just uploaded my letter. Guys, this took me all of 5 mins to do.

We need to continue to protect the industries rights. I agree with Jenn on this...if it's already here and being propogated then there is no reason to shut it down. Collection from the wild is a different story. As a diver, I've seen first hand the bleaching of large coral colonies and it's not a pretty sight. Conversly, I've also seen artificial reefs flourish with growth and activity.

Lastly....I think everybody should be mindful that in general, the processes and applications that are being utilized today at public aquariums around the world largely came from the hobbyist in their passionate, never ending quest to be better than we were before.

This to me is like many other things in our lives....if you want to fix it...vote your mind and heart. If you don't vote, then don't complain when it changes and you aren't happy with the change.
 
Hmm weird. I went to the link:
home.html
 
My hope would be that too much traffic made it crash. I just hope it's back soon.
 
Sweet, yeah it looks like it is back up, worked for me that time. Thanks.
 
Keep in mind that most people won't hear about this if they aren't in the hobby. And if they do, their thought will be "Oh, that's nice, they're trying to protect those animals, and this doesn't directly affect me, so I don't really need to worry about it." Not true. If the government takes on the responsibility of policing coral harvesting AND interstate coral trade, that means more resources are required. Which means more money. Which means higher taxes. By the end of it, this proposal will have some affect on every taxpayer in the country. But, of course you don't hear about this in the news.
 
ares;494747 wrote: I do feel like Ive seen variations of this bill for atleast the 10 years I've been in the hobby. it clearly isnt gathering much steam :/ but a letter doesnt hurt I suppose.
Click to expand...

We're taking this one pretty seriously.

I question the scientific evidence that this group has for requesting that these be added to the endangered species list.

Even so, I definitely agree with Jenn that even the ones we now have in our possession and often frag would/could become illegal, or at the very least highly suspect, in just owning. Especially for those in the industry.

For example, I used to have a rose coral from the Caribbean that I got on a FL aquacultured rock. It's legal to acquire that way, but I received some hassle about it so I traded.
 
Lifestudent;494771 wrote: We're taking this one pretty seriously.

I question the scientific evidence that this group has for requesting that these be added to the endangered species list.

Even so, I definitely agree with Jenn that even the ones we now have in our possession and often frag would/could become illegal, or at the very least highly suspect, in just owning. Especially for those in the industry.

For example, I used to have a rose coral from the Caribbean that I got on a FL aquacultured rock. It's legal to acquire that way, but I received some hassle about it so I traded.
Click to expand...

Two of the major problems I have with this proposal is that it's based on scientific theories, not proof or evidence, and the fact that they want to control trading between hobbyists. They are saying that "if our theories come true, these species will become endangered." And, once it's in our aquarium, shouldn't at-home propagation be encouraged? That way we won't be taking as much out of the ocean, and would eventually have the opportunity to re-introduce corals into the ocean.

The main problem I have with this is political, and I don't want this thread getting moved, so I'll keep that one to myself.
 
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