Predicted Coral Reef Die-Off

Sad,

Very sad

I have not bought a coral in a long time, though I've grown and sold plenty.

Izzy wrote: Are we all hippocritical being Reef "collectors"?

I've had the same thought about the subject - Is it ethical to keep a reef tank, or, by keeping a reef tank, am I in some way taking away from natural reefs?  I'm sure there's a wealth of debate to be had on the subject, but here's my short, not-completely-researched-or-intensely-even-well-thought-out point of view:

The answers to most complicated questions in life are never black and white.

Ultimately, a reef can have the same effect a zoo has - it is an excellent educational tool.  The ammount of work that goes in to keeping one running demonstrates how delicate a reef is, and it's contents and presence in your home as you show it off to friends, family, and well-wishers (and perhaps not-so-well-wishers) gives them a basic knowledge that this tank you have on display is a segment of the natural world.

Think back to the first time you saw a reef tank - isn't that what got you hooked in the first place?  Think about how much time and money you've poured in to it?  From the moment you learned that there was such a thing that you could attempt to keep in your home, you wanted to try it yourself.  Certainly reefkeepers are a special breed :)

The basic knowledge that such a fragile thing exists in nature gives invokes curiousity and empathy, as well as the sense that such a majestic peice of nature needs our protection.  It really does bring the subject home.

Last of all, cohorting (or conspiring?, hehe) with fellow reef-keepers furthers the education and proliferation of good reef-keeping practices, as well as tank-grown coral colony fragging (because we all like to try new things!)

But still the question remains, are the home reefs taking away from the natural reefs?  That really needs some kind of in-depth study, because the best answer I can come up with is maybe.  I think that someone who is more familiar with reef farming and collecting is probably a better person to answer that.  I will be so bold as to say that I think it's a bit of a cop-out to flat out say that taking from the ocean is in poor taste.  But then again, that's just my not-completely-researched-or-intensely-even-well-thought-out point of view (NCROIEWTOPOV).

I think technology is what got us into this situation to begin with. We've gone too far past the point of return. The more "technology" we produce the more destruction. Its what humans do best.

Firefish wrote: I think technology is what got us into this situation to begin with. We've gone too far past the point of return. The more "technology" we produce the more destruction. Its what humans do best.

I went to google and did a search on "saving the world's reefs" and I was kind of surprised about all the effort that is being put into saving them. A lot of elementary school classes are helping out in any way they can.

Coral is already being relocated from one reef to another, just as wolves were relocated back to Yellowstone and so many other similar re-introduction activities with fish and birds.

So, we should not buy cauliflower corals! I am still amazed that I see these corals for sale. It is more rare now, but...

On the positive side, when was the last time you saw a Catalina Goby in a LFS? Or a wild caught seahorse?

so if the waters warming, they will move north right? I look forward to my home town of Huntington Beach having a nice coral reef to dive.  I don't think a 1 degree atmopheric temp change is causing this. I'm sure many of you have greater temp swings daily in your tanks. Polution is more likely the cause , and technology is the answer, the coal and black sky is a great analogy. The third world and Former commie states are filthy, they need to clean up their acts, we and the rest of the first-world free countries are allready much much cleaner and have the awareness to see whats happening and make changes.