The Marine Hobby: The Ethical and Ecological Concerns Marine Aquarists May Take for Granted

Which road do we follow when it comes to the decision to set up a marine aquarium? Do we follow the notion that we are not affecting our natural reefs in any way while adding to our tanks bioload because the assumption is, as conscientious aquarists, we are certain that the rules, regulations and procedures used to collect, capture and transport marine life is up to the highest standards and governing guidelines. Or, do we say that collecting marine life is morally wrong, and that the damage inflicted upon the delicate reefs of the world through these processes is placing our reefs in serious jeopardy, in one way or another.

The truth of the matter is that our natural reefs have been decimated over the past 10-15 years or so. Call it what you will, global warming, storms, human err, careless boat practices, pollution, excess collecting habits, dynamite, cyanide poisoning, failure to abide to government laws and regulations and occasional diving accidents, these have all taken their toll on our diverse and delicate reef biotope.

How many times have we heard of tankers being caught up in a reef, spilling thousands of gallons of oil into the ocean, or illegal capturing techniques employed in areas that have few regulations over such practices as collecting live rock and corals by using chisels and dynamite to destroy the colony or reef as a whole. Basically they are damaging what took years to create, in days to make a buck with little to no repercussions for their actions. Numerous articles have been written regarding global warming issues and how water temperatures fluctuating by just 1-2 degrees are responsible for the bleaching and death of acres of what once was promising and beautiful reefs. These same reefs have depreciated to nothing more than a barren area of rubble and sand...not much to look at to say the least!

With all the carelessness and natural disasters that have plagued our reefs through the years, it is amazing that we still have reefs for us to visit and enjoy. A lot of it is a testimony to the ability of many coral, invertebrate and fish species to be able to evolve, reproduce and grow under these, less than desirable conditions. Now i don't want to invoke negativity throughout this article as their is a bright side, whether a dollar short and a day late, their is light at the end of the tunnel.

Places like Indonesia, though they have few regulations, limit a lot of their collecting habits to areas of the reef that have been damaged by natural disaster or human industry as opposed to damaging the reef areas that are still intact. Numerous organizations and aquarium societies such as The America Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums(AAZPA) and The International Marineland Alliance(IMA) have come in to play as well to create standards for the collection and shipping procedures instituted in the aquarium trade. Even more dramatic and influential are the farming companies such as Walt Smith Enterprises in Fiji and ORA(Oceans, Reefs and Aquariums) that farm live rock or raise fish in a captive environment to reduce the amount of wild caught specimens taken from their home on the reefs. Plots of land like terrestrial farms are purchased in the ocean and man-made rock is dropped off to be cultivated. After a year or so, the imitation rock will look, contain and serve the same benefits as the real live rock and you won't be able to tell the difference. Various fish and invertebrate species are being bred in captivity which is a major breakthrough. Back in the 1980's, breeding livestock was a dream at best. We were lucky to be able to maintain a stable marine aquarium for a year or so without our tank crashing. We now have several species of Damsel fish, Clown fish, Gobies and Cardinal fish, to name a few, that are being bred successfully in a farming environment, to reduce the stress and money involved with collecting wild specimens, plus the captive bred species are more hardy in a captive environment. Several octocorals and stony corals are also being cultivated and fragged to reduce the possible damage to the reefs.

As conscientious aquarists, we can endure and benefit from setting up and maintaining a reef or other saltwater aquarium set up. We can do this knowing that we have not depleted or damaged our natural reefs as well, which is the cherry on top. By creating a replica that is as close to our reefs of the wild is truly astonishing. Moreover, it enables us to learn, appreciate and be more conscientious of the mysterious and magical living animals of the sea as close as our living rooms. Hopefully the marine aquarium hobby will grow and with that spread knowledge and promote good practices in every aspect of the aquarium trade, which should also include the freshwater and African rift biotopes as well. Appreciation, dedication, awareness and education are the common bonds that will enable us to enjoy the wonderful aquarium hobby for years to come without inflicting damage to our reefs.

By not encouraging practices that are harmful to the environment and taking for granted the delicate and unique animals within your tank, you will be better apt to enjoy this visually stunning hobby for years to come. By getting involved in one or more of the various societies and organizations that is associated with this rewarding hobby, you will be able to make friends, share knowledge and expand conscientious practices crucial to the hobby and its success.

Take it for what its worth, which ever road you chose is up to you, it is just that you have options and are able to create a close resemblance to our natural reefs without damaging those same reefs. Yes, you will come across some practices that are not with the best intentions of the reefs and the living animals that make it their home. For the most part though things are getting noticeably better for us and the living animals that reside there. Encouraging the employment of practical and safe measures of collecting, shipping and handling livestock, we will be doing our part in the overall preservation of our wonderful reefs of the world.

ENJOY setting up a marine aquarium or maintaining an existing tank...by taking steps to ensure that husbandry and compatibility issues regarding your livestock is adhered to, you will have a better chance of success as will your living animals within your aquarium.