Earth Day topic: Live Rock

[Samala]

In the spirit of the upcoming Earth Day 2004, (and not in the spirit of advocating an end to this hobby or any other similar extremist position) I wanted to post this link from the World Wildlife Fund's Endangered Seas Program for Coral Reefs. It covers, quickly, the possibility that overharvesting of Fiji live rock is damaging the reefs. I hope no one will take this as a personal threat against a hobby they enjoy, I just wanted to make sure everyone had the same access to the information. (I apologize if this has been posted before, I ran several searches and did not churn up any posts with this article covered.)

 

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/...m?uNewsID=10626

 

I think that, as hobbyists, we should learn all we can about how our practices impact the oceans and, if they are found to be a negative force on the environment, seek agreeable alternatives. For instance, with this consideration and other information I've come across, I will now absolutely be buying aquacultured live rock from a reliable source instead of wild rock. I realize many people advocate this position already, and even more use cultured corals and tank raised fish.

 

Also, the US Ocean Commission has finally released their preliminary report with recommendations for a new US Ocean Policy focusing on ecosystem management above fractured management of our nation's coastal areas. I believe the deadline for public submission of comments on the report is due in late May.

 

http://www.oceancommission.gov

 

I hope everyone has a fantastic Earth Day! I plan to spend it collecting garbage along the coasts in the North East!

[MrKrispy]

Lounge material?

 

I am pretty sure LR can't be harvested in US waters. According to Sprung et al, most rock from the Pacific Islands can't be exported if it has "visible" life on it i.e. corals. How much this is regulated I don't know. I was told, and have read, that the LR we get is usually broken off from storms, hurricanes and such as it isn't feasible to go down and pry it off the reefs. I think the Pacific Islands have cracked down on LR lately as they are realizing a big source of export income is diminshing.

 

my opinion, I haven't been there....