02-01-2011, 04:19 AM
This story is somewhat sensation and snorkel bob of course for years has been trying to shut down the collection side so two sides to this story. Do the snorkel tours impact the fish, too? Just like our pacific trash gyre almost every tourist has sunscreen on, etc. That all disperses into the water.
We have countries that do not regulate the manor/method or quantity of reef fish collecting. If this ban goes into effect, the overall world population suffers. When the fish are not collected in the manor it is done here, then fish that that are imported are collected and brought to the US and then die shortly, and the cycle repeats.
For this to have a real effect, the US on a federal level needs to reduce or eliminate importing reef fish.
The better idea is to identify the most decimated habitat areas and put them into the MLCD areas. The part of the bill to allow the fish to regenerate is appropriate, just like for example lobsters season.
Here is a link to our hanai son's (yes I am a proud auntie!!) thesis of this exact issue with the Potter's angel fish aka Centropyge potteri: http://gradworks.umi.com/14/65/1465875.html He worked with the West Hawaii Fisheries council, and collectors through out the state.
We have countries that do not regulate the manor/method or quantity of reef fish collecting. If this ban goes into effect, the overall world population suffers. When the fish are not collected in the manor it is done here, then fish that that are imported are collected and brought to the US and then die shortly, and the cycle repeats.
For this to have a real effect, the US on a federal level needs to reduce or eliminate importing reef fish.
The better idea is to identify the most decimated habitat areas and put them into the MLCD areas. The part of the bill to allow the fish to regenerate is appropriate, just like for example lobsters season.
Here is a link to our hanai son's (yes I am a proud auntie!!) thesis of this exact issue with the Potter's angel fish aka Centropyge potteri: http://gradworks.umi.com/14/65/1465875.html He worked with the West Hawaii Fisheries council, and collectors through out the state.