How does everyone feel the Saving NEMO act will affect the hobby?

[Wonkabar]

With the Saving Nemo act being reintroduced, how do you feel that it will affect our hobby and the ocean in general?

 

[Gman83]

First, I would guess it stalls out, just like the last time (but I could be wrong). If it was voted into law, I would guess we would see a couple of businesses identified as "qualified aquaculture or mariculture facilities" per specialty area. So, prices of some fish/coral could go up.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I personally think it will fall through and not pass, but that is just me.

 

[Reefer Matt]

My opinion is that one day importing coral, fish, and inverts will be banned, maybe even shipping domestically. The reason is because of the optics of the reef aquarium industry adding to the demise of the world’s ocean. We have no central agency advocating for us in these matters, and most Reefers don’t care until it’s too late. I think a lot of the thought is, “Oh well, I’ll find something else to do if that happens”. Now if that happens this time, I have no clue, but they won’t give up until they win.

Here’s their side:

Aquariums: The Dark Hobby

aquariumsthedarkhobby.com

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

My opinion is that one day importing coral, fish, and inverts will be banned, maybe even shipping domestically. The reason is because of the optics of the reef aquarium industry adding to the demise of the world’s ocean. We have no central agency advocating for us in these matters, and most Reefers don’t care until it’s too late. I think a lot of the thought is, “Oh well, I’ll find something else to do if that happens”. Now if that happens this time, I have no clue, but they won’t give up until they win.

Here’s their side:

Aquariums: The Dark Hobby

aquariumsthedarkhobby.com

I agree with you 100%. Having said that, I feel a change is needed in the hobby. Personally I feel there is something inherently wrong with collecting wild, free animals, putting them through horrendous environments, having a not so insignificant number of them die, all before they make it into our homes. And then having a lot more of them die in our homes. This is a chance for the hobby and for us to evolve and to become more humane and to find better ways to satisfy our desires for these animals.

Now with respect to the oceans dying, etc. that is a completely different beast. I’m convinced that the human species will destroy this earth until we are destroyed and the earth can finally heal.

 

[Louis Z]

How many innovations have been brought to fruition because of this hobby . Money we all spend leads to new products Coral propagation is in its infancy . I can see the hobby going from pretty boxes to full blown spawning at hobby level. Where would all the coral researchers get their controllers , lights pumps off the shelf and reduce setup time and get to doing what they do best . They are in a race against ocean warming and acidification . They are trying to save many Caribbean corals . Where mother colonies are becoming scarce . So if you want to save Nemo , stop denying climate change . We have many politicians with the head in the sand and want to do completely insane headline grabbing attention . Sorry for my rant

 

[Wonkabar]

How many innovations have been brought to fruition because of this hobby . Money we all spend leads to new products Coral propagation is in its infancy . I can see the hobby going from pretty boxes to full blown spawning at hobby level. Where would all the coral researchers get their controllers , lights pumps off the shelf and reduce setup time and get to doing what they do best . They are in a race against ocean warming and acidification . They are trying to save many Caribbean corals . Where mother colonies are becoming scarce . So if you want to save Nemo , stop denying climate change . We have many politicians with the head in the sand and want to do completely insane headline grabbing attention . Sorry for my rant

I could not have said it better myself. I actually think that ultimately due to water temperature in our oceans, we will end up having hobbyist be the only place some of these animals survive.

 

[W31Olds]

The cost of owning and maintaining a SW tank should self-regulate the demand for animals along with the vastly improved Knowledge/methods for long term success. I had SW Tanks back in the late 70's early 80's and the losses due to ignorance were appalling. Websites like R2R make it so much easier to get expert advice and stands to reason that keeping fish healthy for years reduces need to over collect. I would think the Politicians should focus more on overfishing as it has already brought many food fish to the brink.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

Aquaculture is and always will be the future of this hobby.

99.99% of us don’t need access to wild caught fish or coral. For coral specifically, let the farms work out sustainable agreements and allow them to aquaculture an allotment of wild or maricultured coral, the rest of us can wait for those lines to come down through the chain.

 

[Louis Z]

I can go on and on , tip of the iceberg . Clean water act needs to be enforced . Pumping wastewater into the ground and allowed by states own politically motivated and nominated environmental quality commissions. Unchecked Runoff of fertilizer and herbicides into the waterways . Removal of mangroves to make way for development . Filling in of estuaries , allowing high intensity aquaculture to dump high nutrient effluent back into bays . Allowing wide spread use and often prophylactic use of antibiotics and hormones . So I have a new slogan “Save Nemo’s home “. Haha

 

[KrisReef]

With the Saving Nemo act being reintroduced, how do you feel that it will affect our hobby and the ocean in general?

Proposed language is clear:
Subsection C. Exceptions under this act. • In general Subsection will not apply to covered species taken in accordance with a qualified scientifically based management plan for that species, a product of a qualified cooperative breeding program or qualified aquaculture or mariculture facility.

Taken pursuant to authorization by the Secretary of Commerce or imported/exported pursuant to authorization by the Secretary of the Interior for scientific, museum, breeding or display purposes

Only businesses and friendly entities or persons who successfully bribe or otherwise are granted favor from either the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior will be exempt and allowed to have whatever they ask for.

Everyone else will have to abstain or face jail time and monetary penalties for taking anything that is deemed to belong on the list of protected items.

But, there is a bonus for the reefers who provide information that leads to the conviction and assessment of fines for disobeying, they can be awarded the fine money, if the Secretary feels like it.

IT's going to make me feel great! It doesn't do anything substantial for the ocean in general it just opens the season for punishment to be distributed to a tiny fraction of the world's population who might want to put a coral or fish in an aquarium. These people need to be denied entry into the hobby, and thank god that a cartoon brought this terrible problem to light.

:frowning-face::pleading-face::zipper-mouth-face::yawning-face:

 

[KrisReef]

Now with respect to the oceans dying, etc. that is a completely different beast. I’m convinced that the human species will destroy this earth until we are destroyed and the earth can finally heal.

Since in your view the planet is doomed because of human activity, and after our demise the healing can begin, then why not hurry up an get it over with?

Ideas can have consequences that logically could spin out of control and serve to justify genocide without any additional thought, if you are correct. I don't worry much about Nemo, a fictional character as much as I find concern in this oft stated idea that our extinction is the solution to Nemo's world problems.

"Breaking eggs" and blaming a certain population for world problems has a terrible history of creating real hurt on Earth. Be careful what you let yourself think.

 

[ieatbugman]

it feels kinda stupid. and I think the fact that people are even considering the Save Nemo Act is worrying. I agree there should be an advocate for this hobby. they could also put whatever they want on their ban list.

 

[Besieged]

With the Saving Nemo act being reintroduced, how do you feel that it will affect our hobby and the ocean in general?

I have already contacted my representative to voice my concerns with this bill and how I feel it is extremely overbroad, with far too much to go wrong with far too much bureaucracy in the way.

We certainly need more conservation efforts, but punishing the hobbyists and businesses that are directly contributing so much to conservation isn't the way to go about it.

It frankly reeks of government-sponsored anti-competitive, anti-consumer behavior, designed specifically to benefit a very few at the expense of everyone else.

 

[Reefering1]

Only businesses and friendly entities or persons who successfully bribe or otherwise are granted favor from either the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior will be exempt and allowed to have whatever they ask for.

 

[Reefering1]

Since in your view the planet is doomed because of human activity, and after our demise the healing can begin, then why not hurry up an get it over with?

Ideas can have consequences that logically could spin out of control and serve to justify genocide without any additional thought, if you are correct. I don't worry much about Nemo, a fictional character as much as I find concern in this oft stated idea that our extinction is the solution to Nemo's world problems.

"Breaking eggs" and blaming a certain population for world problems has a terrible history of creating real hurt on Earth. Be careful what you let yourself think.

Wait until ai tells the robots about this"solution".

 

[areefer01]

My opinion is that one day importing coral, fish, and inverts will be banned

Rachael: Do you like our owl?
Deckard: It's artificial?
Rachael: Of course it is.
Deckard: Must be expensive.
Rachael: Very.
Rachael: I'm Rachael.
Deckard: Deckard.

 

[Besieged]

Only businesses and friendly entities or persons who successfully bribe or otherwise are granted favor from either the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior will be exempt and allowed to have whatever they ask for.

Everyone else will have to abstain or face jail time and monetary penalties for taking anything that is deemed to belong on the list of protected items.

But, there is a bonus for the reefers who provide information that leads to the conviction and assessment of fines for disobeying, they can be awarded the fine money, if the Secretary feels like it.

IT's going to make me feel great! It doesn't do anything substantial for the ocean in general it just opens the season for punishment to be distributed to a tiny fraction of the world's population who might want to put a coral or fish in an aquarium. These people need to be denied entry into the hobby, and thank god that a cartoon brought this terrible problem to light.

:frowning-face::pleading-face::zipper-mouth-face::yawning-face:

Oh, and don't forget how it would compound with the Lacey Act!

 

[Ooh fiddlesticks]

I have mixed thoughts on it, but I think we can pretty much all agree that not everyone who gets into this hobby should.
That said, I’m happy as pig snot supporting my local aquacultulalists.

 

[Besieged]

I have mixed thoughts on it, but I think we can pretty much all agree that not everyone who gets into this hobby should.
That said, I’m happy as pig snot supporting my local aquacultulalists.

Perhaps, but we can't - and IMO shouldn't - prevent a majority of people from enjoying something just because some do it wrong, otherwise nobody would be allowed to have children, dogs, cars, guns, alcohol, the list goes on...