Hawaii's Aquarium Fishery: Regulated, Valuable, Sustainable
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ย. 2016
- This 15-minute documentary: HAWAII’S AQUARIUM FISHERY: REGULATED, VALUABLE, SUSTAINABLE, was released November 20, 2016 by the Big Island Association of Tropical Fishermen.
The program features data, analysis and statements by Hawaii-based marine biologists who affirm that the West Hawaii aquarium fishery is sustainable and valuable.
- Aquarium fish collecting started over 40 years ago. Since then not one species has gone extinct, nor are any listed as threatened or endangered.
- Populations of yellow tang and kole have increased by millions of fish since surveys began.
- The Aquarium fishery is economically the most valuable inshore fishery in the state of Hawaii generating over $1.5 million in 2014.
- It is the most intensively managed of all fisheries in the State with restrictions on which species can be collected.
- 35% of the West Hawaii coastline is off-limits where no aquarium fishes can be collected.
Dr. William Walsh, with the State Division of Aquatic Resources, DLNR, explains why the fishery for yellow tangs is sustainable:
1. Adult Yellow Tangs are not collected, allowing brood stock to flourish. They may live up to 40 years.
2. Yellow tangs are not targeted as a food fish, which also allows brood stock to remain intact
3. Fish Replenishment Areas or FRA’s are successful in the management of aquarium-fish populations
Dr. Richard Pyle, from the Bishop Museum and a world-authority on the exploration of coral reefs using rebreather technology, explains the educational value of aquariums, and how his childhood fascination with aquariums inspired him to become a marine biologist.
Dr. Randall Kosaki, NOAA’s Deputy Superintendent of the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument, similarly expresses how the influence of home and public aquariums shaped his career. He emphasizes that aquarium fish collecting has minimal impact on coral reefs compared to real threats such as coral bleaching and ocean pollution.
Other subjects in the program illustrate recent advances in the culture of aquarium fish species, how fish are collected without damaging the reef, and the methods used to transport fish around the world.
The program was produced by Dr. Bruce Carlson, and Les Matsuura, both formerly with the Waikiki Aquarium. The program was funded by the Big Island Association of Tropical Fishermen.
Well done! Finally, something based on the actual science and truth about this industry. I have always been sympathetic towards people who genuinely believe that the problems they see on reefs are due to the aquarium fish collectors, but am frustrated that in the vast majority of cases they are focusing their blame and ire in the wrong direction. The aquarium fishing industry in Hawaii is one of the most sustainable in the world, and does far more good for the long-term health of reefs (through education and fostering genuine compassion for reefs and their inhabitants) than any other fishery. Rather than ending up on someone's dinner plate, the vast majority of fishes captured through this industry live long, healthy, well-fed and predator-free lives; while simultaneously inspiring people (like me) to dedicate their lives to protecting the world's oceans. To everyone who believes the anti-aquarium fishing propaganda, or who mistakenly attributes the declines in reef health they have personally witnessed to this industry; please look past the negative hype and do a bit of real investigation into the facts before jumping to emotionally-inspired conclusions. I genuinely appreciate and admire everyone who has a passion for protecting the sea (as I do). I just wish we could focus that energy on the real problems that face coral reefs, both in Hawaii and worldwide, and thereby increase our ability to solve these problems.
All of the data referenced in this video is highly cited, and widely available from peer reviewed scientific journals. If you doubt it, feel free to contact the Hawaii Dept. of Fisheries.
You mean the people who benefit directly? Got it.
uh... no... not peer reviewed... The video claims aquariums are essential for coral reef education and inspiration. There is zero evidence that the educational value of personal (or public) aquariums is significant or surpasses the harm done to wildlife and nature.Please name one peer reviewed article that says keeping wildlife captive for personal use meaningfully contributes to education or conservation. On the other hand, the American Pet Products Association surveys saltwater aquarium owners and according to hobbyists themselves the overall benefit of saltwater aquariums is entertainment value: in 2015/2016 hobbyists listed the top 3 benefits of having a saltwater tank as: “fun to watch”, “appearance”, and “conversation piece”. “Educational” value ranked 5th and “conservation value”
wasn’t ranked at all.
Here's some on public aquariums:
The role of zoos and aquariums in education for a sustainable future. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education Autumn (Fall) 2010 Volume 2010, Issue 127.
The role of zoos and public aquariums in fish conservation. International Zoo Yearbook 34(1):6 - 14 · December 2007
Adelman, L.M., Falk, J.H. and S. James. 2000. Impact of National Aquarium in Baltimore on Visitors' Conservation Attitudes, Behavior, and Knowledge. Curator: The Museum Journal 43(1).
i guess the hundreds if not thousands of marine biologists and conservationists that may not have gotten into their field if it wasnt for a home aquarium does count to you. Almost every person in the field i know, was inspired to become further educated and enter the field because of an aquarium in their home, or childhood home, of a friends home even, spurring on the thirst of knowledge
and thats what you will get when ask hobbyists vs professionals in the trade, or conservation trades.
Good coral reef management should be based on good science (as highlighted in this video), not on hot air. It seems as though there's some pretty solid science showing that the fish numbers are increasing, even in fished areas. Thanks for an objective and balanced presentation of the other side of the story...
To all: This is my channel and I am allowing everyone to express their views on this topic. I know it is possible for a guest to delete another personʻs reply. Without revealing how this is possible, let me just ask that all of you respect this page and the exchange of opinions. You do not have the right to delete (censure) another personʻs comments. If you notice that your comment has disappeared, please let me know, although it is unlikely that I will be able to recover it. I have not deleted anyoneʻs comments from this page, nor anyoneʻs right to post a comment here.
Think about it.........critically. I am a scuba diver and also an aquarist. I can tell you right now that without the ornamental fish trade and fish collection.......there would be no future for coral reefs. Many of you here are very passionate about the ocean and the marine eco-system, which is very good, infact you guys are just like us!
But think about it in terms of humanity, resources and management. If there are no aquariums, there would be no public exposure for marine life. If you ban Marine ornamental fish trade, then Millions of people around the world where coral reefs exist will revert back into destroying the reefs to make meager wages.
The ornamental fish and coral trade has very high value per animal, which means that it gives incentive for collectors and native populations to protect their reefs in the long run. Without it, corals are just "some rock" and fishes are just "food". There would be absolutely no awareness, no incentive or motive for anyone to protect these habitats at all.
So basically, we are all on the same team (if your goal is to help keep these little buggers from extinction). We just need to all get on the same page here!
/longest post I've ever wrote
Coming from a reefing hobbyist with over 15 years in the hobby I will say this...no amount of data or carefully structured video is going to change the fact that it just doesn't look right to yank fish out of their natural habitat for the trade when seasoned hobbyists know most will die shortly after for various reasons. Education is the only key to help alleviate this.
......the actual reef looks so sad.....but the reef in the aquarium looks nice....hmmm
i need these fish .. how to contact dc with you
I absolutely love Hawaii's marine fauna, like no place else. Moorish idols and yellow tangs in particular, they're like floating jewels!
OUTSTANDING VIDEO!!!!! I started keeping (attempting) saltwater tanks when i was 13 years old-1974. It was quite difficult back then, and success was far outweighed by failure. By the time I was in my 20s, and living in Hawaii and got my dive cert, I marveled at the natural environment that marine life lives in. I swore I wouldnt keep marine life in captivity. Im now in my 60s, and have numerous reef tanks that include corals, inverts, and very difficult species to keep not only alive but THRIVE in an artificial environment. The husbandry involved is insanely expensive ( according to my wife lol) but very rewarding. I have successfully had clown fish spawn, as well as yellow tangs-and successfully reared them. Coral propagation is a factor that SAVES the environment from collection-and is sustainable. I extend a hand to those who need knowledge in the hobby-to defer the silly keeping of marine life only to have them fail and die. Thats irresponsible-but people dont know. They spend a shit ton of money, only to fail, lose their stock and run away from the hobby. I try to help them in a positive manner. Thats what is so great about the hobby. I have several yellow tangs that are over 8 years old!!!!!
Thank you for this video! NO-KA-OI!
Very good video
great video
Great video! Actually tells the truth about the aquarium trade in Hawaii which is regarded as one of the best fisheries in the world. There are plenty of fish on the reefs in Hawaii for everyone to enjoy, including those around the world.
Just as Rene Umberger and Robert Winter and their supporters have the right to present their opinions, so does the aquarium industry and the fishermen who supply it. What’s different about the latter is that the science supports
the opinions of the fisherman. Science is not fake news.
It is good that there is diversity of opinion on this topic, but imagine that-we love the reefs and creatures that live on
them, yet we fight each other over the details!
Rene refers to “private possession” of marinelife. This characterization is not surmountable by any rational argument. It is a matter of philosophy. A moral position. While science can inform a moral debate, moral arguments cannot be settled by science. They are what they are. Who can argue against the idea of freedom? What is freedom? I am glad for the freedom of
expression to share our opinions on this and any other topic.
From a legal standpoint, it is legal to bring into one’s home the wild marinelife appropriately collected by licensed fisherman. From a scientific point of view, the harvest of that marinelife in Hawaii is sustainable, meaning that it does no permanent harm to the species harvested or the habitat. In fact, giving value to the marinelife encourages protection of the habitat… which is why BOTH the regulated fishermen and the dive industry promote a conservation ethic.
Together these industries have synergy. If you don’t know what I mean, look at what has been accomplished in Florida and the Caribbean by Coral Restoration Foundation, an organization founded by a marinelife fisherman and his family. Their work ties the value of what's learned in the hobby together with the dive industry, tourism, and the scientific community, providing a synergy that is a real winner. In Hawaii the opponents of the marinelife trade and hobby seems bent on destruction. Instead of cooperative realization of a common goal of sustainable reef use and reef protection, there is name-calling and harassment.
It is not correct to refer to the live marinelife trade as trafficking. Trafficking is a word used specifically to refer to illegal trade,
smuggling. Marinelife fisherman are licensed and regulated, and oppose illegal activity.
The creators of this video set out to show the value and harmless nature of the marinelife trade, unambiguously as a promotional piece to truthfully illustrate the value of the aquarium hobby and the fishing practices that supply it. There are, likewise, a lot of news pieces, websites, blogs, and other PR opportunities created by opponents of the aquarium hobby
and live marinelife harvest. For the general public it is fair to be able to review the subject matter and form a personal opinion.
As an aquarist for more than 40 years and a biologist I firmly support the hobby and efforts to expand marine conservation.
Through observation and research I also seek to better the understanding of the ways marine creatures grow and reproduce in the wild, and in aquariums located in homes, in research labs, and public aquarium facilities.
I do not get it; we all want healthy reefs just seems like some want it all to themselves and do not want to share the beauty with all. See how many Hawaii fish there were in 2014
www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26454840/videos-show-tropical-fish-swarming-states-reefs
Superb video @ sharing with my friends and groups
Dr Ahsaas Lone What makes you believe this video is superb? Oh wait! It tells you something you need to hear to assuage your conscience, yes?
@@pmstorm If I had to guess, he probably found an argument backed by empirical surveys and analyses refreshing compared to straw man opinion pieces that prey on volatile, emotional baggage cases that can't stand to think critically. Just a guess of course...
Those who make money from tourist like Rene sure hate the fact some may see fish without renting or buying dive trips from them. User conflict is all it is. Not fact or science behind their statements.
Is the conservation of lions, tigers and chimps increased by people keeping them in cages
in their back yards? Is a small cage an appropriate environment for them? No, of course not. Nationwide surveys of saltwater hobbyists show there is little education value and zero conservation value in the personal possession of wildlife: hobbyists
say the #1 reason for keeping saltwater tanks is that they are "fun to watch".
The educational value of aquariums is also present in home aquariums. My career as an aquarist started when I saw a small fish tank kept by a friend of my father when I was five years old. I started keeping fish soon after and I have developed that into a career that has led me successfully keeping fish in public aquariums and also spreading my knowledge and love of these animals to children and adults.
Each time I speak to people about my passion for marine life and the oceans I always have at least two people who stick around to ask me more in depth questions about marine life. There is educational value in keeping home aquariums, my education started there and my passing along of information to others, especially children who may never get a chance to dive the places I have, may spark the imagination and passion in someone who had never thought about the ocean in the way I do. I am not a hobbyist but it was a hobbyist that started me on my career path.
Rene: did you ever had an aquarium? Perhaps your lack of success with tanks is the main reason of your anti-aquarium crusade?
If you had a tank you would say that it is fun to watch. Anyone would! Did you know aquariums are a great therapy for humans? Perhaps you need some of it!
Go get a fresh water tank first and then you jump to the saltwater system. It is fun and you will learn tons of info in regards to fish, if you do some research about it.
Tatton01: Good for you.. bad for the fishes.
I currently have three aquariums filled with a mix of captive-bred (confirmed) and wild-caught (also confirmed) fish and hundreds of mini brittle stars that are successfully breeding in these closed systems. We are opposed to the capture of wildlife -- the personal possession of wildlife -- because it is devastating to wildlife and reefs. People with a conscience who want to keep GUILT FREE marine aquariums know that captive-bred is the only option.
You don't get it, Rene, by educating myself and displaying these animals and in turn passing along my knowledge I am promoting education of the ocean, it's creatures and the environment they live in. If you try to explain the structure of a molecule without a model, most people will not understand how it works. If you use molecular models to show people the structure, size of elements, spacing, etc, of a molecule, it makes more sense when you explain the properties of that molecule. The same goes for displaying animals: You make a bigger impact in someones life by having a living, breathing representative of an animal to show them the beauty, wonder, power and niche that animal holds in it's respective environment. Captive breeding is good, but not all fish can be captive bred yet. We are working on it, but until the aquarium trade can be supplied by 100% captive bred, we can sustainable remove animals from their natural environment without harming the population or the environment.
👍🏻👍🏻
Unreal story told in this video, it overused the "childhood experience" and the "kid's satisfaction". It did not mention how long the fish lives when in captivity, the cost to maintain the salt reef tank. It is a profitable industry, surely.
No need to export any live fish. The kids enjoy the aquarium because of the colors. They love yellow.
Schools can use videos to teach their student about reefs and the habitat. Hospitals can use video too.
Anyway, we need to hear from the fishes (and not from the people in this video).
As image is worth million words, we can see the desperation of the fishes (being captured and packed in tanks for travel - is nothing humane)
Before stating "humane treatment", the people talking in this video needed to live at least one day life of the yellow tang and/or other ornamental reef fishes.
I am sure there is no "humane" treatment in the fishery business for beauty and money. Besides, who can pay for the maintenance of own salt water tank can afford trips to Hawai'i.
Tang Police freakout at 9:29!!
The only sustainability they care about is the money these few individuals put into their pockets ... slavery and human trafficking was perceived as a great industry only 150 years ago
The image of the kid looking into he aquarium with a black coral tree at 1:50 is really compelling. Are we seeing Dr. Richad Pyle as a kid as he is talking about how aquariums influenced his childhood and drove his education and career ?
Oh ... maybe nobody told the kid harvesting black coral is illegal ...
and nobody told him either that for every fish he sees alive in the tank, 99 die during capture, transit or in the few following days after they reach their final destination
People who can't afford to visit the reefs also don't have the possibility to understand the whole story.
The aquarium fishery and those profiting rom it are the shame of Hawaii, and will always be. Same as slave traffickers were the shame of their times too.
This is just not true "for every fish he sees alive in the tank, 99 die during capture, transit or in the few following days after they reach their final destination"
www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/aquarium-fish-death.html#cr
news.mongabay.com/2013/10/98-of-marine-fish-headed-for-the-aquarium-trade-die-within-a-year-in-the-philippines/
awionline.org/awi-quarterly/2015-fall/ethical-and-ecological-implications-keeping-fish-captivity
@@fermaui The example of what is done in Hawaii needs to be followed. There are too many lives involved in the aquarium trade around the globe. The solution is to educate and create sustainability as we see in the Hawaiian islands.
The problem with this video is that his data starts in 1999. His data would would look totally different if it stated in the 1960s where it would show a huge drop off. It would be like showing the human habitation of Chernobyl and starting in 1987, yes the number of humans living there hasn't changed much since the disaster struck, but it is nowhere near the population prior to the disaster and they all know this. Kona on the Big Island used to be known as the Gold Coast, because the the water used to look yellow from the number of yellow tangs in the water, this is no longer the case. As with all information consider the source of the information " the Big Island Association of Tropical Fishermen." if the fishing was halted who would stand to lose the most money? Answer: the Big Island Association of Tropical Fishermen. This is as reality based as watching a Phillip Morris on health risks of smoking in the early 1950s.
Well, where are your data from 1960? 1970? 1980? I was here in the 1970's and wouldn't trust my memory as to the actual counts of fishes on the reefs from back then. Memories are faulty; data are timeless. The closest we have to what the reefs were like in the past are the marine protected areas where no fishing of any kind is allowed. They do indeed have higher populations of fishes there, and of course where aquarium fish collecting is occurring there are fewer fishes. The question is whether or not it is sustainable at current levels of extraction and the answer provided by the data since 1999 is unequivocally yes it is. Your viewpoint is a longing for "preservation" meaning no extraction of any kind, and that is a reasonable position to take. These data are part of a different question whether or not "conservation" measures are effective in allowing a sustainable fishery. Conservation biologists recognize that humans do have an impact on the environment and that natural resources may be extracted, but not to the point where populations are jeopardized, nor to the point where the environment itself is impacted. The West Hawaii Aquarium fishery is stable as indicated by the data, but there are also fewer fishes too as you have indicated. There has also been no demonstrable negative effects on the reefs from aquarium fishing.
The reason The State Supreme Court passed the law was because many older people came in and brought pictures of the reefs from the 50s and 60s and showed what the difference was before the collectors started and the reefs now. one gut showed the shore fishing tournament winning fish from then and now. the winners from now would have been thrown back as to small back in the day. The supreme court didn't make their ruling with out basis. I have no need to prove to you what was already proven as fact to the courts.
Carlos Villanueva Excellent point!
@@carlosvillanueva8530 Underwater images could make a big difference depending on the site they were taken to try convince any judge, if that's the case. Besides, as we know, tourism, pollution, golf courses, constructions, and many other factors increased substantially from the 50/60's to the days we are living now. Those factors are responsible for the main changes/impacts we see today and on our reefs, which have a direct influence on fish population in any geographic area. Unfortunately judges are also influenced by personal feelings.
@@Alex_Correa But when pictures are taken half above and half below the water line giving land based reference points it makes it pretty hard to fake the geographics. Hawaii has been a favorite place for oceanographers, ictheologists and marine biologists for many decades now. The Hawaii Institute of Marine biology was established in 1912. How data is collected hasn't changed much since then. So there data was pretty accurate.
There are many man made artifical reefs here in Australia, it all started out as aquarists petitions to make marine life a better place due to the Great Barrier Reef exposed to global warming, it's helped dying reefs rebuild fish populations and opened up many new job opportunities.
Aquarists made it possible to provide ornamental fish shelter, food and a chance to reproduce. There are many ways to help a reef system and its inhabitants, and I believe banning the aquarium trade in Hawaii isn't one of them.
You assert there are many ways to help a reef system and it’s inhabitants. Could you please provide 3 or 4 viable examples that are more effective than the cessation of exploitation of natural resources for profit? Great! Perhaps we an also create jobs replacing the decimation of forests in worldwide. Or, there might be many jobs for people who cleaning up the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic in the oceans that are predicted to outnumber fish in the near future? www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/20/by-2050-there-will-be-more-plastic-than-fish-in-the-worlds-oceans-study-says/
This is such a contradictory subject!!
There are for sure many ways to make the aquarium trade more sustainable.
The video just shows what's happening in the Hawaiian islands with some scientific data exposed.
It shows simply what was found with the numbers after the research. The importance of a diligent system to control collection and follow the data, as an example.
Many things cause and help decline the reefs. The tourism and pollution are very strong declining marine life in Hawaiian costal areas.
Golf courses are a huge negative influence on reefs in the Hawaiian islands. Do you play golf? Tons of fertilizers are transferred to the costal waters constantly feeding algae and suffocating corals. Decline in coral population prevents the reef to grow and to be healthy. Fishes then migrate to other parts of the reefs far from the destructed areas. Some times those areas are considerably and relatively large. Larvae brought from currents won’t have a great percentage rate of survivability in such environment.
Excessive turism will deplete corals from any geographic area in a matter of years. Take Hanauma Bay, Oahu, as an example. No matter how much the people are taught not to step on the reef while they are snorkeling, having to watch the mandatory educational video before getting in the bay, they will step on the reef! Virtually no live coral colonies are seen on the shallow areas of the bay. Heavy tourism alone are the responsible to kill the corals there!
Fishing is protected in the bay, and the fishes are way more abundant when fed by tourists. They feed the fish artificial pellets. Feeding the fish artificial food in a natural preserved area will have a substantial change in their metabolism because of the poor nutritional value such pellets carry. The nutritional value of those pellets aren’t the best for marine life. They are just inexpensive fish food. Not what a marine aquarist would invest to keep their fish in their tanks. Big difference. That way fishes are conditioned to come around and closer to tourists and the industry is well fed!
The construction of hotels and many commercial and residential buildings have contributed to pollution in costal areas as well. Etc...
The aquarium industry do have a weight on the scale. Many fishes are caught with wrong fishing technics through the world. Many die during transit and from stress after caught, most times because of poor packaging and or negligence. Many more die from lack of proper care, equipment, from lack of correct nutritional values and diseases in captivity and virtually all of them are actually condemned unable to reproduce. Guess what? That is not going to stop! Education is the key to help!
The main goal of the aquarium industry is to maintain all the species alive for long periods of time in captivity. There is a huge number of resources and investments in the aquarium industry to assure such goal to be achieved every single day. The goal of the video is to show what needs to be done, as a basic example to other parts of the globe, in order to respect a more sustainable and better way to harvest those fish from their natural environment. It is just like food industry! It is about money too! Tourism? Golfing? Food? All about money. They all need to adjust to a more sustainable way to prevent any type of ecological tragedy! Solution? Work on it!
To fight with the aquarium industry using any type of argument, including the "love of the ocean", promoting scuba diving and snorkeling, isn’t going to work! Too much money involved with the aquarium trade! The tourists that come here in Hawaii to dive the reefs aren’t in any way more concern than those divers collecting tropical fishes that risk their lives many times a week and depend on the reef for income. I know many aquarium fish collectors and they take their professionalism to the extreme when it comes to preservation and protection of their jobs’ areas. It’s much more than many actually know about. It’s their lives in the game. Food for their local families.
The video is a good example to many other places in the world, and should be seen as that, simply.
To be against that is a total ignorance and waste of time. Such work and video was to improve the knowledge of the public with good intentions and true numbers.
Just one important observation here: I do not agree with the puncture of the swim bladder for the aquarium trade. That is harmful to the fish and many divers won’t see the effects if they are quick selling the fish to the next step. The simple solution to avoid such procedure is to allow the fish to equalize the pressure waiting the time needed for that, depending on how deep the fishes were collected. Gotta wait! The diver can come up and leave the bucket down, letting the fish to rest, bringing them up in intervals slowly. They can eat a sandwich and drink some water while waiting! The marks from the needle can be seen in fresh collected fishes and will most times develop in infection if not treated properly by the collector or fish store. The problem is worse when the fish is shipped overseas in the bags without proper medication to prevent such infection. Total disaster! That will depend on the next person that handles the fish! Bacterial infection can happen any time after collection using a needle for that purpose. More work! More chances for mortality. I do understand that deep water fishing is very hard to allow such waiting periods, but not impossible! Those guys in the video were not doing deep water fishing. Also the video says that the procedure is labor intensive. If they leave the bucket to equalize they won’t have to work so hard then!!!
I really appreciate Dr. Bruce Carlson for putting this together and publishing. Very well done! Thanks very much!
With all respect,
Alex Correa.
this commercial use of our reefs is not pono.
The commercial use of any lands or oceans isn't pono to many of us.
We just have to make sure things are done respectfully in all aspects, 'cause the commercial use of our lands and oceans is unfortunately many times inevitable nowadays. Aloha.
Yellow tangs should be collect less and sold more expensive.
c4snipar Perhaps only yellow tangs bred in captivity should be sold?
It seems the criticism by opponents isn’t about the sustainability of the Hawaiian aquarium fishery - obviously enough data are now on hand to evidence that it is sustainable - but rather about holding a reef fish as a pet.
This is a fair point - as fair as being vegetarian and not eat fish. However, I’d then recommend focusing in your discussions and opinions on ‘pet keeping’ and ethics.
From a sustainability stand point of view: the reef doesn’t care if the fish taken ends up in a pan or in an aquarium. The reef only cares when too many are taken or fished in a destructive way.
So when you want to discuss sustainability of a fishery and face a problem with reef fisheries, turn your eyes on fisheries outside Hawaii: reefs in SE Asia can unfortunately only dream of such extensive data collection on their status and populations and are far away from being managed in such responsible manner.
Finally a question to the experts in this round: Is there similar regulation of the recreational fishery in Hawaii and of the diving industry?
It seems that the recreational fishery is also having a more significant impact than we ever thought (this year the EU has put a quota in place for the recreational fishery on Baltic Sea cod, for the first time ever, realizing it contributes nearly 50% to total catch of the species). Do you know if that is a problem in Hawai’i too?
Also, I observed quite some bad dive tourism practices where tourists damage reefs by their desire to touch everything they see, not to speak of badly placed boat anchoring...
It would be great to find a holistic approach to reef conservation and resource use regulation.
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Why not just leave the reef and it critters alone. I am proud to have been born and raised here in Hawa'ii. Having just turned 40, it saddens me to see how much LESS coral and sea life there is around my island home today as compared to my youth. This practice DEFINITELY IS NOT HELPING! The evidence I see with my own eyes is what I base my opinion on. This practice is not Pono, not Pono at all.
Yeah, the reef here, especially on Oahu, is changing. However, this is due to pollution, not due to the collection of tropical fish.
There is no debate as to the ultimate effect of overfishing on a reef. There is also compelling evidence that this harvesting is dramatically reducing the fish population. I believe you are killing the reef.
Paulhelmering: there is no comparison between the aquarium trade and food trade. The scale of fish collected for food is much larger than for the aquarium trade. Besides in Hawaii there is a control of aquarium fish collected to some degree.
Every fish produces thousands of eggs. Multiply this by the millions of each species not only around the Main Hawaiian Islands, but also the Northern Hawaiian chain, which is a protected area, where fishing is not allowed, each laying these eggs every year of their life. . All the billions of new hatchlings are distributed through the currents. They then look for homes to settle into on the reef. When they cannot find these homes, they die. Pollution, construction, run offs, unscrupulous swimmers, chemicals kill off more of these fishes habitats than the aquarium trade ever could. Our local keikis are already deprived of studying aquarium biology, by all the rules and restrictions on what can be kept in home aquariums, the taking of rock from the ocean and the limit availability of permitted imported specimens. Interest in “live reef aquariums” the filtration systems, lighting, propagation, etc, by children may eventually lead them to peruse a future in Aquaculture. It is no wonder that most of the large Aquaculture companies are mainland owned. I started off keeping small fish in my home aquarium when I was 5 years old when we lived in Hauula. My father and I used to go and pick up,salt water from the beach in gallon glass bottles. I turned my love and knowledge of aquarium fish into a great business, setting them up in homes and businesses, and caring for them. These opportunities should be available to all our local citizens. Hawaii’s children should be able to “fish” , and start a live educational aquarium, rather than have to watch one on a “computer screen”.
Steven Leong You claim that “Pollution, runoff, unscrupulous swimmers, (that is hilarious!), and chemicals kill off more of these fishes than the aquarium trade ever could.” Given the insatiable greed that has been constantly demonstrated by human-kind throughout millennia AND the fact that there are 7.7 billion people now occupying the planet, what makes you think that is even remotely true? How utterly preposterous! What if all these adverse and hazardous circumstances combined lead to a tipping point from which different fish species can longer proliferate? But seriously, the “unscrupulous swimmers” ...so fatuously puerile! Gave me a good chuckle.
@@pmstorm Paul: the impacts of human on the beach is well known by all the locals in Hawaii!!! The reef suffers with chemicals from sun screens and tourists stepping on corals. Boats will pollute the water each time they bring a bunch of tourists to their diving sites. There are so many sites with physical evidences of tourism damaging reef sites in Hawaii. I'm sure you have no idea of all that! Runoffs are a result of so many coming to live in the islands, not local population growth. That is also due to the investors building new developing sites of homes to make their millions!! That is what pollutes the ocean and scares the fish! Golf courses drive tons of fertilizers and sediments to the ocean to keep their grass green for the players. Do you play golf?
The Hawaiian ornamental ("trop.") industry is likely the best studied (all specimens recorded, all collectors licensed) and resource known on our planet. The issue of sustainability has been gone over for a few decades, with the Hawaiian DLNR pointing to the fishery being sustainable. MPAs and the lee side (big waves, currents) of the islands act as a viable reservoir for sustaining populations. I encourage you to use the search string: "DLNR Hawaii and ornamental collection" and delve into the data, science behind this issue.
Robert Fenner There are many that do not share the DNLR’s optimism regarding the issue of sustainability. I would encourage you to delve deeper into the data, science and extrapolation of information behind this issue, a swell as the the global aquarium industry. This is just another example of humans desire to exploit a natural resource for profit all the while pontificating it’s sustainability. Just like the mining industry, the logging industry, the oil industry, the coal industry, the water industry, the fur industry, the natural gas industry, the fishing industry. It is all sustainable! Until it’’s too late.
@@pmstorm Robert Fenner was one of the most knowledgeable persons in the field. A true encyclopedia dominating many subjects and well respected for his time dedicated to learn and teach. A well known and great author/aquarist. A great person who was very dedicated to many aspects of the hobby. It is so funny to see anyone in the world trying to suggest Robert Fenner to do some research. He was like a human computer. He wrote "The Conscentious Marine Aquarist", one of the best books of it's time!!! A very nice man with a great heart. I think if there is anyone here that should try to do some serious research is you, Paul. With all the respect!
The aquarium industry is depleting our coral reefs and most fish shipped die on the way to the mainland.
This is just untrue. If any 'take' activity is having a major effect it is food fishing.
Fishing for food is another issue. We are depleting the coral reefs so people can have aquariums. Most of the fish die in transit and coral reefs suffer without the presence of fish.
Prove it.
Deirdra:
No, not from Hawaii. That's not the case here.
The Big Island Yellow tangs have the best collection and survival rates. They also enjoy the best quarantine, shipment and preventive treatments prior shipping. Do you know the divers and the exporters? Do you know some of the wholesales that receive those fishes from the Hawaiian islands? Some of the Hawaiian tropical fish collectors were actually hired to teach other collectors in the past, sent to other parts of the world. They are considered the best collectors in the world along with the Australians. It's a matter of resources.
The main reason we need to promote the Hawaiian collection practice is to improve collection in other parts of the world. That is already happening. This video helps even more! To promote the way we have it happening here in Hawaii is to improve worldwide.
I would also think that in the mainland they have an amazing survival rate as well when they get in the stores.
This self-promotional piece by the collectors ignores the true impact of the capture and sale of Hawaii's wild reef fish. Those of us who have lived there with it know the ugly truth: commercial aquarium collection is bad for Hawaii, and should be banned.
Funny. the hawaii dept of wildlife data shows otherwise.. Look at data, not emotion.
The home marine aquarium trade is big business these days and yet it is virtually unregulated. John Nightingale reports on the devastating trade in reef fish
divemagazine.co.uk/life/7098-the-deadly-trade-in-reef-fish
Would any supporter of keeping fish in captivity support being kept in captivity yourself? If you can't swim you can enjoy video of coral reef fish in their natural habitat, which is impossible in an aquarium. Aquarium screen savers are now available for your computer as well. Think of the living creatures instead of your selfish desires to gawk at them through glass. If you kill fish for food they die a quick death. When fish are held in an aquarium, slow death in an alien place is the norm. Aquarium fishing may be sustainable but the question we should be asking ourselves is, is it humane?
Excellent points Issac! Plus, let's all ensure that the aquarium trade and it's supporters don't get to define "sustainable" for us. What's "sustainable" for the exploiters surely isn't sustainable for the overarching values held by the vast majority of Hawaii residents. Depleting fish populations by 70 - 90% in the areas where they are taken is only "sustainable" if the goal isn't extinction. If these populations were just depleted by 10% or 20% maybe there wouldn't be quite so much push-back against this type of exploitation.
Sustainability here is simply to make sure the collection isn't depleting the species in nature. The video proves that.
Local people don't depend on fishing to survive!! They go Mc Donald's and buy food at the market!! There is nobody eating aquarium fish from the islands! They will never depend on that! That's not true! Aquarium fish are for fish tanks and food fish you eat!
In another hand there are many local families all over the world that depend on tropical, or ornamental fishing to survive as the main source of income to buy their food and feed their kids.
I thought the there was a natural and symbiotic relationship between fish and the reefs they inhabit. I don't know much about the politics or science of this situation, nor am I a resident of Hawaii. However, objectively speaking this seems like a propaganda piece to justify a hustle. Aquarium Fishery... lol, not buying it.
Jamil, the video isn't to promote aquariums per say, but to show that in Hawaii the collection is to a high level in may ways, which is expected by the residents and proven with some numbers to help explain to the public why it works here for so many years.
How the hell do high school students learn about ecology from a four-foot aquarium? Do they even know what ecology means? The kid at 1:53, though, has roasted enough pakalolo to seriously commune with the fishes.
The kid at 1:53 is one of the pre-eminent ichthyologists in the world thanks to his love of aquariums. We do not all need drugs to feel the wonder of nature.
How about actually being in nature to feel the wonder of nature? The glass barrier is an artifice. The "pre-eminent ichthyologist" needs to be a better human.
You are lucky to be able to experience nature first-hand, not everyone is so fortunate.
I run a Marine Biology program in Des Moines, Iowa, about as far away from the ocean as you can get. The Marine Science Department here also has an Aquarium Science program and is part of Central Campus Regional Academy, which is a FREE high school serving all students in the area. Here, the students, let me repeat, the students, run their own laboratory and aquarium which is made up of about 15,000 total gallons of saltwater, 100 different marine aquariums up to 2500 gallons, and about 125 different species of marine organisms. Approximately 150 students go through the program each year, which has been here for 30 years. Outside of those 150 dedicated students, thousands, even tens of thousands of people (students, children, adults, business partners, politicians, etc.) come through our doors every year touring the laboratory and aquarium.
Our program here is committed to awareness, education, and conservation. The Aquarium Science program already aquacultures coral, anemones, clownfish, and others, to reduce our impact on wild stocks and teach students about the skills and importance of aquaculture. Each year, more species are added to the list of organisms breeding here.
The Marine Biology program designs exhibits that mimic wild conditions so that when we discuss the idea of ecology and conservation biology, we have something tangible for the students to learn from. It's one thing to "talk" about ecology, but it's another to actually see it and study it in an aquarium. Of course, there are biases to this as it is not the wild, but not everyone lives close to the ocean. Even folks that live close to the ocean have no idea what ecology is or why the ocean is important.
Even the great Jacques Cousteau could not make an aquarium succeed that had no living exhibits. Here at Central Campus, our goal is conservation and one of our primary tools are aquariums. Of course, it is not our only tool but it certainly is the most significant. You simply cannot replace the educational impact of working closely with a "strange", marine organism that the student may not have even known existed.
Aside from the above, just a few other things we do include local Adopt-A-Stream clean-ups, Central Campus Oceans Day, a yearly Block Party that invites the entire community into the school, teaching/mentoring younger students, and not just reducing/reusing/recycling of plastics but also refusing them and sharing this with the entire school and others. Without the four-foot aquariums, all of these other things simply would not be as effective.
I'd be more than happy to share with you more specific aspects of our program here. I'd also be interested to hear from you about other, more effective ways to have students learn about ecology that do not include aquariums.
You can check out our program below:
On the web, centralcampus.dmschools.org/
On Facebook, facebook.com/CCmarinesciences
On Twitter, @CCmarinescience
I have seen so many people learn so much about ecology from aquariums. Nature is fantastic, but not everyone has access to it.
Honestly, this is such BS. Paid by the fishing industry??? Oh, come on. 95% of all marine aquarium fish die before they get to the tank and then the death rate across the nation is close to 100% over a year.
This is just not true "95% of all marine aquarium fish die before they get to the tank and then the death rate across the nation is close to 100% over a year."
Then please explain why 1.3 million aquarium hobbyists consume up to 11 million fish EVERY YEAR.
If those small numbers are accurate for salt water aquariums (not fresh), ask yourself to do the math... 11 million fish, 9/10 don't make it to market (collectors/distributors own statistics) = 110 million fish caught in the wild. Repeat each year. Over 10 years? Stripping 1,100,000,000 wild animals from national reefs for the profit of a few. Hardly the American dream. But totally in keeping I suppose, with the ideal Wall Street model of profit for some and screw the nation's natural resources.
Pete your statistics are absurd. Either you are repeating something you heard and never did any research to verify the information, or you just like to make up numbers. If a business lost 95% of the inventory it imported, every time it placed an order, how on earth would that business or industry be able to survive? They couldn't possibly charge enough for the 5% that they retained in order to cover the loss of the other 95%. I don't claim to be an expert on topics I know nothing about and you probably shouldn't either
Keep fish in the oceans. Have scuba divers film them. Buy a cheap 32" TV. Put it on a wall over there. Play a video of those fish in a loop. Same thing. Except that the fish don't get "harvested" and you don't have to feed them.
Keep fish in the ocean.
BluefinBrigade YES!!!
Well isn't that just an idealistic and revisionist rationalization of keeping species in captivity. "Fish are collected without harming the coral." Sort of like "migrant workers are exploited without stepping on the grass."
This is nothing but propaganda. I've been diving all the islands of Hawai'i for over 40 years. The reef fish have been obliterated. One used to see a wide variety of reef fish all over the corals, now it is a rare day indeed when you see anything other than a few species. I don't recommend diving Hawai'i anymore, for those who seek the experience of an explosion of marine wildlife, go to Fiji, Raja Ampat, heck even the Philippines is more diverse. If this is "regulated and sustainable", you need to redefine the meaning.
It will depend where you go in Hawaii. Most of the problems in some areas in Hawaii are because of pollution and changes within the habitats. Invasive species of algae and other strong factors have been transforming the natural reefs into something really different than it originally was. Therefore the population of fishes have also changing, of course. If you get to the places where such changes were minimized or absent you will be really happy with what you see.
Those problems are caused by over population and development, not aquarium industry!
Hawaii has always had a low diversity of fish species compared to places in the Coral Triangle like Indonesia and the Philippines; these countries also have a much larger aquarium collection trade than Hawaii does. Your observation that these countries have thriving diverse reefs rather seems to bolster the point that aquarium collection can be done in a sustainable way.
All my observations to your comment where pointing to different places through the Hawaiian Islands.
This is biased to those who gain from aquarium trade. While you may feel like this is educating, in reality, it is propaganda.
And ummm... those that oppose the trade but profit from their snorkeling businesses are not spreading propaganda?
Cavan:
Propaganda on scientific data to show people how serious and worried they are in respect to the marine life they allow to harvest professionally, legally and recorded. An example to be followed.
To Alex Correa---This is DEPLORABLE. Not an example to be followed. An example that is destroying natural creation, beauty and environment. This is still trafficking in wildlife for the pet trade. The video clearly makes a point about the Tangs still being able to live for decades once removed from their natural environment-per Wikipedia, "captive lifespan is 5-10 years in the average aquarium being typical" and "life expectancy in the wild can exceed 30 years." SHAME ON YOU!
To JC-people can profit from their snorkeling business due to the fact they are providing an excellent service to consumers and PROTECTING the natural environment-a blessing.
To JC Hawaii Dude: I never said that they were. One of the greatest snorkeling businesses in Hawaii is run by an environmentalist who, while he may benefit from his profit, cares deeply about about how people treat the environment in which they are snorkeling. And yes, people can benefit and have profits from almost any company, but that does not mean it is propaganda.
This is DEPLORABLE. This is still trafficking in wildlife for the pet trade. You make a point about the Tangs still being able to live for decades once removed from their natural environment-per Wikipedia, "captive lifespan is 5-10 years in the average aquarium being typical" and "life expectancy in the wild can exceed 30 years." SHAME ON YOU!
Wikipedia should not be the extent of your research
Dear Layne,
Just because a fish can have a life expectancy in the wild of 30 years does not mean that all or even many in the wild live 30 years. You compare life expectancy to average life span. Those are not the same thing. What is the average life span in the wild? Life expectancy in aquariums is not shorter as a consequence of captivity.
See: reefbuilders.com/2012/08/27/sixbar-angelfish-nancy/
See also this article with a review of many genera: reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-fish-longevity-62/
Note the conclusion:
"fish can and do live much longer lives in captivity than in the wild,
not surprising given the absence of predators (in most cases), the
unlimited amount of food available and the lack of disease."
and the caveat that home aquarists can do better than they may do on average.
Julian, you should check Claisse and Bushnell's research showing that yellow tangs commonly reach 20 - 30 years in the wild. Tens of millions of yellow tangs have been taken from Hawaii's reefs over the past 40 years and we are unaware of a single fish reaching 20 - 30. We are, however, very aware of hobbyist sentiments that yellow tangs are very difficult to keep alive in captivity -- this is backed up by photo evidence of captive yellow tangs in Hawaii that are sick, dying or dead.
Rene, you must be kidding! Yellow Tangs are one of the easiest species of aquarium fish to be kept! The fact that you heard or saw any poor maintained tank doesn't change the reality of the fact. There are well fed and treated dogs and poorly kept hungry ones. That isn't the goal of the video.
The life span of an individual fish in captivity isn't directly related to the balance of collection in terms of keeping the population in great number in the wild. The number of fish collected and the number of fish in that area is what will tell us if sustainability is well done or not. The video give us a great deal with success in that regard.
Layne Helmering Yes! Yes! And YES!
I swim in the ocean here on Maui, every day, and have for 39 years. I have watched the effects of the aquarium trade on the reefs. Your data is propaganda to support your unconscionable rape of our reefs. These are NOT your fish to take or sell. As for people who would only see these things if they could swim,.there are other solutions . One is,if you want to see the fish alive in their habitat, learn to swim or use a flotation device, or if you are infirm, watch beautiful footage. I'd recommend Robert Wintner's amazing underwater movies. Stop taking what belongs to life itself...not you. With Aloha, Aerie Waters
There are no fish collectors on Maui.
Bruce you should have a look at the prevailing currents that run through the Hawaiian islands. You would see that Big Island reefs seed the rest of the state. The loss of fish from those reefs may very well translate to the loss of fish throughout the state.
Also, there are numerous reports of poaching on Maui and Lanai.
Rene, that's an interesting hypothesis. That is where science begins with an educated guess such as you have proposed. But science demands testing and data before a conclusion can be made. Without data, you cannot jump to your conclusion. Perhaps data exist to support your hypothesis; frankly I don't know but I do know that many of my colleagues have looked at how larval fishes and eggs are dispersed and perhaps they might have data that provides some insight into how significant inter-island dispersal is. I'll ask around. If you already know of such research, save me some time and send me the reference.
If you believe this is the case Robert then why don't you report them to the state instead of popping up here with accusations?
Spearfishing requires no fishing permit in Hawaii, and speared fish are completely unrecorded or regulated. Spearfishing probably removes way more fish than ornamental fish collectors, but since there's no record, there's also no way to know.
This is still trafficking in wildlife for the pet trade.
Why did they make this video?
You are mistaken. The marinelife harvest and trade is regulated and legal. You may personally be opposed to it-- that is your right, and it is your right to express your opposition freely, but that does not mean you are correct to label it illegal. It is not.
traf·ficˈtrafik/verbgerund or present participle: traffickingdeal or trade in something illegal."the government will vigorously pursue individuals who traffic in drugs"synonyms:trade (in), deal (in), do business in, buy and sell; smuggle, bootleg; informalrun, push "he confessed to trafficking in narcotics"
Because virtually every fish captured in Hawaii is taken, held and transported in violation of Hawaii's anti-cruelty statute (HRS 711-1109) it is wildlife trafficking. The barotrauma/fizzing practice also goes directly against the recommended aquarium trade Best Practice manual developed by Sea Dwelling Creatures', Eric Cohen and Reef Check's Gregor Hodges which calls for slow decompression and advises against fizzing/puncturing swim bladders. By rapidly surfacing the fish in just one minute -- compared to the two hours required for proper decompression -- Hawaii's aquarium trade causes substantial bodily harm to this wildlife. They then attempt to mitigate it by puncturing fish swim bladders with hypodermic needles. Of course, this does nothing for the barotrauma that has occurred in the eyes, brain, gills or skin.
The fact that there are no take limits and no limits on the number of permits issued makes Hawaii's trade UNREGULATED. The fact that underreporting is a major issue as the state does not require wholesaler licenses, therefore there are a number of "underground" wholesalers purchasing/selling under/non-reported catch. More wildlife trafficking...
Now Julian..you being as prominent in the hobby as you are know damn well that most of the fish/coral that leave the pet store will die for the obvious reasons. I can almost guarantee you yourself have lost count of all the living creatures that have died in your care from ignorance/trial and error.
I'm glad this guy and the whole fishery got shut down. I'm a reef hobbyist and don't mind paying extra for fish breed. Ocean fish belong in the ocean
Appears like this is still trafficking of wildlife for the pet trade!
You are mistaken. The marinelife harvest and trade is regulated and legal. You may personally be opposed to it-- that is your right, and it is your right to express your opposition freely, but that does not mean you are correct to label it illegal. It is not.
traf·ficˈtrafik/verbgerund or present participle: traffickingdeal or trade in something illegal."the government will vigorously pursue individuals who traffic in drugs"synonyms:trade (in), deal (in), do business in, buy and sell; smuggle, bootleg; informalrun, push "he confessed to trafficking in narcotics"
How very sad This is a piece to support the aquarium trade, so look at the description with terms such as herding, decompression, warehouses, depriving of food to preserve $ loss, economic return. It is all about the $. Removing creatures from their natural homes to be placed in fish jails so guys can make $. For shame
Propaganda for the aquarium trade! Bottom line, you are still trafficking wildlife for the pet trade/pesonal gain. Bottom feeders you are. No...sorry, that is an insult to bottom feeders.
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