The Turn of the Drew

RPI supports responsible fish/reef keeping. We believe that having a home aquarium provides people, especially children, with a great opportunity to learn about marine science and fish behavior. In addition, it is the easiest way to appreciate and begin to develop an interest in coral reefs and their conservation.

I don't know what you mean by "gas," but there are two main chemicals used to collect marine fish -- cyanide and quinaldine. Collection using cyanide is the real problem that persists within the marine aquarium trade. Fish caught with cyanide typically die, often before even reaching the wholesalers here in the U.S. Perhaps the most insidious impact of cyanide use is the impact it has on the surrounding reef -- it kills everything. Cyanide is still used by some collectors in Indonesia and the Philippines. Although illegal, enforcement in these countries is spotty at best.

Good question, Sarah. Every animal has a particular breeding strategy that it has evolved to ensure the continuation of the species. Fish are no exception. Some lay small clutches of eggs and incubate them in their mouths (i.e., Banggai cardinalfish), some develop their eggs internally and give birth to well-developed young (i.e., sharks, guppies), but most coral-reef fish (and also many invertebrates) release sperm and eggs into the water column where the fertilized eggs are left to drift with the current (a process called "spawning"). Once this spawn (called "fry") hatches, they go through a larval phase before growing large enough to settle on coral reefs. It is this larval stage that presents the biggest challenge to the scientists and conscientious home hobbyists trying to breed saltwater fish. My understanding is that most of them have mouths that are too small for the food that is currently commercially produced (mysis shrimp, rotifers, etc.). Stay tuned as there are smart people trying to figure this out.

This is a good but complicated question, Mark. As far as Banggai cardinalfishes are concerned, they are being bred in captivity -- commercially and by the home hobbyist. And you're right, by buying captive-bred fish, particularly captive-bred Banggais, the species and its ecosystem are not harmed. The problem with Banggais, in particular, is that the demand for them (wild and captive-bred) far exceeds the supply. Effort is being put into increasing the capacity of the commercial breeders to help relieve the pressure on the wild population. The best thing people can do for the survival of the Banggai cardinalfish would be to commit to only buying captive-bred specimens and remain patient as the supply increases. Right now, Oceans, Reefs, & Aquariums is working hard to bring more of them to the marketplace.

I haven't yet had the chance to dive in Jamaica, so I am not able to give you personal impressions of the reefs there. However, I have been diving in much of the Caribbean and can tell you that the reefs in the area are in grave danger. Pockets of healthy reef are scattered throughout the Caribbean, but overall the outlook for their survival is pretty bleak. Just last year, the Caribbean coral suffered a major bleaching event. There was some good news recently for Caribbean coral as the U.S. listed two species of coral as "threatened." This is the first step toward the implementation of a federally funded plan for conservation.

Hi Jayne. (I was on her dive boat in 2001.) Yes, the coral reefs of the Red Sea have suffered significant damage due to the booming tourism business in the region. Sadly, the area around Hurghada was developed with little regard for the local coral reefs, causing most of them to perish. Now, people must travel farther offshore to enjoy the beautiful coral reefs of the area. The area around Sharm el-Sheikh (in the Sinai Peninsula) is one of the premier dive sites in the world and gets an enormous amount of diver traffic. I have been on sites where 10 boats -- all loaded with divers -- were anchored. Most divers are careful about not touching the reef, but many are not and this carelessness coupled with the sheer volume of divers is causing a transformation of the reefs in the Red Sea. This only exacerbates the larger problems reefs face in the region as a result of runaway coastal development, overfishing, and pollution. RPI encourages divers to become stewards of coral reefs by refining their buoyancy skills, refraining from touching and/or holding onto the reef, and leaving only bubbles behind.

Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the most critically endangered coral reefs in the world. A recent study predicts that rising ocean temperature -- due to global warming -- will kill 95 percent of its coral by 2050. Thankfully, the Australian government cares deeply about the GBR and recently enacted landmark legislation to prevent further loss.

RPI does not plan on producing a guide for freshwater fish. Since over 90 percent of freshwater aquarium fish are now captive-bred, the need for a guide of this sort is not as urgent. However, it is still important to do research on the freshwater pet choices you make as some species have special nutrition needs and many grow very large.