Salt Water Aquarium Fish from HAWAII

Here is an article from a divers point of view. It is worth to read and think about it, and act the way it is mentioned:

"Not all Aquariums are good. Some are, some aren't. Those in educational facilities such as major commercial aquariums, schools, research centers, science centers, children's museums, retirement facilities or homes for the handicapped would be considered 'good'.
Those in homes, bars, theaters, hotel lobbies, casinos, etc. should be considered, 'not so good'.

The reasons for these qualifications is simple really. If the placement and holding of salt water fish can benefit many, educationally, or psychologically... that would be considered 'good'. If the taking and keeping of a valuable resource, which cannot reproduce itself in captivity, for simply ornamental or selfish purposes, it would naturally be considered 'not such a good idea'. Right? Right.

We who dive along the Kona Coast have seen a drastic and definite reduction in our tropical fish populations over the past few years, due in part, at least, to the tropical fish collector's increasing numbers. The collectors are scooping fish by the hundreds of thousands each year, depleting the stocks to a large degree. The fish they take are those who would normally be reproducing to replenish the stocks taken naturally through predation, pollution and natural die-off.
Many of our limited species have been nearly, if not completely, wiped out, simply because those fish endemic to Hawaii are often the most sought after by aquarium enthusiasts. Aquaculture technology has not advanced to the place where growing the salt water fish most desired by aquarium owners is financially or physically feasible - and probably won't be in our lifetime (and certainly not in theirs).

You can help us reduce this unrestricted harvest - and we would appreciate some help in saving our Hawaiian, particularly KONA, tropical fish. These beautiful ocean inhabitants are our reason we enjoy diving off the Kona Coast.

Here's what YOU can do: When it comes time to buy fish for your salt water aquarium, simply ask the vendor where the fish you are buying came from. If the answer is "Hawaii" or especially, "Kona, Hawaii", simply tell him you refuse to buy fish from the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii - because their numbers are dwindling too rapidly.

Tell him you want a fish (or fishes) from other areas, like the Philippines or Indonesia. Anywhere but Hawaii! They shouldn't cost more - usually less - and their lifespan will be just the same as those from Hawaii (which is considerably less than it would have been had they been left alone in their natural habitat).

Some would call this "being a NIMBY (Not In My BackYard)"... and maybe it is... but we would prefer not to have Tropical Fish from our backyard (Kona) showing up in Home Aquariums where there is no chance of reproduction of our Native Fish. These precious fish are disappearing and we want to show them to YOU, in their natural environment, when you come over for a dive or two.

Let me know what your home aquarium fish distributor says.....

Aloha,

"Dick the Diver"
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/ddresie/