Aquariums: The Dark Hobby

[old_salt]

https://www.thedarkhobby.com/
This documentary is currently available on a few platforms: Prime, ATV...

If you've seen it, thumbs up, or thumbs down?

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

https://www.thedarkhobby.com/
This documentary is currently available on a few platforms: Prime, ATV...

If you've seen it, thumbs up, or thumbs down?

Clicked the link and I could already tell that I’m not going to like it.

 

[fish_collector]

Eh just another doom and gloom documentary. It's the same as the climate drama and wildlife poaching documentaries that are out there. Some of the points are probably valid but those documentaries are often biased in favor of someone's agenda. It's easy to film something, edit it and add in your own narration to completely change the meaning of it, CNN and Fox do it every day.

 

[Red_Beard]

 

[Don’t fear the reefer]

I have only watched the trailer but this dovetails perfectly with another reefing issue I've been thinking about recently, Florida's live rock farmers: Tampa Bay Saltwater, Gulf Live Rock, MarcoRocks Maricultured Live Rock. The fact is, few if any in the aquarium hobby want to kill livestock; rather, we want it to grow and thrive and mature into something beautiful. Environmentalists see the destruction done by reef poachers and demand that we ban private industry. I see that the harm that comes from curbing property rights leads to the tragedy of the commons: if an asset is "owned" by the public then no one owns it and everyone take from it without concern for its long-term health. This is identical to spending your company's capital stock, or eating next season's seeds. Who will care to preserve it if he cannot benefit from its preservation? In stark contrast, the rock farmers have a vested interest in defending and developing their asset: to grow their seeds and replenish their stock. While they do not own the ocean, they have control over their small corner and their livestock thrives because of it. Dear socialists: why do you not understand this?

 

[Dburr1014]

The reviews below are people who are delusional don't know about up-to-date practices of catching and keeping fish.

 

[dontbuyxenia]

people ought to be very worried about bs activist crap like this. its what lead to the hawaii ban and it will continue to grow with bad info. look at the reptile world...

 

[fish farmer]

I didn't watch it...just the trailer.

Correct me if I'm wrong. With adequate reef fish broodstock spawning over the reefs one of the major limiting factors is habit for recruitment of those larvae. No coral heads, no rocky hiding spots, etc., larval fish won't settle.

Which is why dynamite, cyanide, pollution, etc, etc. anything that wrecks the home of these fish is more damaging than removing fish provided the fish aren't endangered/overcollected in areas.

 

[56longroof]

I have no interest in watching it. Just reading the comments has been enough to convince me.

 

[Tony Thompson]

My review after watching it is:



Not really a documentary in the real sense of the word.

Lacks in scope and depth.

Restricted almost entirely to the ongoing legal challenge to the Hawaii ornamental fisheries licences. However since its release was originally 2021 not really up to date in that respect.

Gives almost no further insight into the trade other than what I believe the vast majority of aquarists are already aware of.

Conclusion, I dont think it will have much impact on current consensus from outside of the hobby with regards aquariums.

2 out of 10, give it a miss.