Ah yes, what a wonderful video. Lets go out and take video of fish collectors. And lets call this an amazing reef in Micronesia, but lets not tell anyone where this is happening because it just might be illegal.
Emotional nonsense. Obviously no one will be exporting any fish for the aquarium trade from FSM without proper permits so to imply this might be 'illegal' lacks the first bit of logic, not that greenies ever actually use logic or facts when making an argument or attempting to demonize something.
And by the way, those fish have about a 10% chance of ever getting into anyones aquarium due to the way they wer handled, and the days it will take to get them to any market that sells tropical fish. That island only gets plane service every other day.
More emotional nonsense which is based on what research exactly? How you 'think' it must go?
These fish will suffer roughly a 1% mortality rate [if that] from ocean to tanks in Asia, Europe or the USA. Far better mortality statistics than the Tuna you will consume in your sushi roll later this evening. Dead fish do not sell very well and paying freight on them is something a business generally likes to avoid.
These fish are being taken by hand with nets on tanks. It is obviously not indiscriminate fishing using trawlers and longlines and only what is needed is being targeted. It is a 100% sustainable endeavor as has been proven in Hawaii, Australia, Florida, Indonesia and on and on. Each and every catch actually represents a substantial investment on the part of the fisherman who has a real interest in seeing the animal delivered in perfect health to a paying customer.
Well, the location is Kosrae, and I've been there many times. and those beautiful reefs are flawed because there are no big fish anywhere to be seen except an occasional small grouper or a school or small barracuda.
That is an odd thing to claim since I observed tons of large reef fish all around the island and numerous pelagics. Certainly has my home waters in Fort Lauderdale beat on everything except the literally thousands of folks spearfishing on tanks down here.
Why is this? Because of lots of spearfishing that has teken its toll over the years. And of course now we have fish collecting. Brilliant, simply brilliant.
I will never understand how you guys can look at the commercial food fishing industry and make these absurd comparisons with tropical fish collectors and subsistence hunters. I suppose being a radical green does not require facts or logic, just the ability to make an emotional argument.
Oh, I am SO looking forward to you taking more videos to show your complete ignorance of the true beauty and life on the reef here in Micronesia. I've taken the liberty of sending the link to this video to the governor of Kosrae, the visitors bureau there, the dive operators there, the FSM division of Aquatics and Wildlife, and 3,500 other divers who will be as disgusted as I am with what you video'd. At least we have to thank you for that.
I am glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully the folks you CC'd will as well! I nearly imploded my housing bringing it to you.
When I have a chance to edit and post dives I did in the protected areas it will become very clear that no one is 'standing on reefs' here in this desolate, coral-less, 'unprotected' area of the island where they were fishing. Wasn't even a mooring buoy around and I could see why. All bare rock rubble from the pounding it gets from the sea.
I suppose the locals should be mandated to eat coconuts and breadfruit and not exploit the abundant ocean resources they are blessed with if it will help you sleep better at night.
Lets just hope my copyrighted work does not end up in any PETA environmental videos. I would hate to be forced to sue anyone.
