The Coalition of Reef Lovers

Mike King

February 20th, 2000 on #reefs

Mike King:

Mike currently possess a B.S. Environmental Sci and a B.S.

Environmental. Health. He also recieved a minor in Chemistry, Biology

and is 2 classes short of a B.S. in Geology. Mike has owned 2 Retail

stores. From1982-1988 Enclosed Ecosystems and from 1994- present The

Coral Reef Tropical Fish (The Coral Reef or TCR). He started the

Coalition of Reef Lovers (CORL) in 1999.

The Coalition of Reef lovers (CORL) was formed to give the

reef hobbyist (or anyone who cares about the worlds coral reefs) a way to

directly contribute to the protection and sustainable use of the world’s coral

reefs. CORL understands that although the Marine Ornamental Industry is a small

part of the many problems facing the WCR’s its impact is growing while the

health of the WCR’s is decreasing rapidly.

CORL’s main goal is to preserve and protect the world’s

coral reefs by:

1)    

Promoting Ornamental marine aquaculture (both in situ and

tanked)

2)    

Promoting in situ aquaculture as a means of ecologically

friendly sustainable income for developing nations

3)    

Encouraging both ecologically friendly collecting methods and

proper holding facilities.

4)    

Educating the marine and reef hobbyist on ways to lessen

their impact on the world’s coral reefs.

5)    

Educating the collectors on ways to lessen their impact on

their coral reefs

6)    

Educating the Small Island and developing nations on ways to

lessen their influence and improve environmental awareness.

7)    

Helping educate people to the problems facing the coral reefs

and the need for their protection.

8)    

Providing the marine and reef hobbyist and CORL members with

information on issues that concern their hobby and the coral reefs.

9)    

Working with the Marine Aquarium Council, American Marine

Dealers Association and International Marinelife Alliance to lessen the Marine

Ornamentals influence upon the coral reefs.

10)

Working with other NGO’s and government organizations to

pull together and work together to overcome the many problems associated with

the world’s coral reefs.

As an environmentalist I’m very concerned about the rapid

rate of loss of the Worlds Coral Reef’s (WCR’s) and the role the Marine

Ornamental Industry (MOI) plays in their degradation. Even though the MOI is a

minor problem of the WCRs (when compared to Global Warming, Deforestation,

pollution, and improper substance fishing) we must understand that the Marine

fish / Reef Keeping hobby is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the U.S.

(annual estimated growth rates of 13 to 30% per year) and it’s impact on the

WCR’s is also growing with the increasing demands. When we take into

consideration the rapid rate of loss the WCR’s are experiencing there is much

reason for concern, our hobbies impact must be controlled.

President Clinton in his Executive order 13089 on June 11^th

1. created the Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) to look into the conditions of

coral reefs worldwide and to work with their management, monitoring, and

protection. The CRTF reported that the international trade in coral and coral

reef species was a large problem. The CRTF has reached the conclusion that the

current trade of corals and coral reef species is not sustainable and must be

curtailed or regulated to protect the coral reefs. The CRTF’s is now

developing legislation that will prohibit unsustainable imports of coral and

Coral Reef species.

The CRTF will be meeting March 2^nd 2000 this is

the last meeting before they bring their findings and recommendations before

Congress. The CRTF has asked for input from both the hobbyist and other

stakeholders in the Marine Ornamental Industry. They have already held 3 CRTF

meetings and a couple of talks at which very little interest was been shown from

the hobbyist. While both the Marine Aquarium Council and The American Marine

Dealers Association have made it to the meetings the CRTF still hasn’t had

much of an introduction to the hobbyist or their reef aquariums. CORL has

acquired a booth at the March 2^nd meeting and will introduce the CRTF

and other NGO’s present to the hobbyist using video presentations of reef

aquariums from all over the U.S. CORL will also be promoting mariculture as a

means of supplying the MOI and reef restoration at the meeting.

What CORL needs from the hobbyist are Videos and/or Pictures

of their reef and fish only aquariums

along with info on the age of set up, organisms,

propagation’s, etc.

Please send Videos to

CORL

2124 Plainfield Ave NE

Grand Rapids MI 49505

As already mentioned Sustainability is the goal needed to be

reached by the MOI and marine aquarium hobby. There are many things we can do to

reach this goal, changes are needed from collector to the hobbyist.

Regulation is needed at the export, import, wholesale, and

retail level.  I feel that the Gov’t should step in to assure collecting,

holding, and shipping standards are met. I don’t feel that there is a need for

a “fish” police, but if the Gov’t were to set standards of practice as law

for importers, wholesalers, transshippers, and retailers (inc. internet

retailers), It would give organizations like AMDA and MAC more power to correct

problems with businesses when they occur.  

The U.S. Gov’t must also make some changes in how they

handle the fish and corals when they enter the United States, Many shipments are

held up for hours because of the lack of Customs and Fish and Wild life

Personnel. Many shipments are confiscated because of a mistake in the CITES

paper work, this problem alone has caused the death of many coral reef

organisms.  Entire shipments of 100

+ boxes have been lost due to one typo in the required paperwork. Even at the

major ports of entry like L.A., and Miami, the USF&G doesn’t have any

proper holding facilities to hold these shipments until the problem can be

solved.

The CRTF is looking into increasing the number of Fish and

Game personnel and retraining the workers on the skills concerning

identification of coral reef species. This will help with the speed of clearing

Customs and F&G, but doesn’t help when they hold shipments.

On reducing waste and reaching Sustainability

The Marine Aquarium Council and International Marinelife

Alliance are working on stopping the use of cyanide collecting and setting

standards of practice and a certification system for net caught fish. MAC will

soon be making available MAC certified fish. The only way that a store can

advertise these fish as MAC certified is for the store to be MAC certified. 

AMDA has adopted the MAC certification standards and for a store to be an

AMDA/MAC store it must meet those standards.

I’ve asked the AMDA to post the Standards of practice on

their web site if they don’t do so soon I will post them on my site www.coralreef1.com

There are quite a few things the hobbyist can do to lessen

their impact upon the world’s coral reefs. Here are a few

1)    

Upgrade your aquarium so it provides a more stable

environment for its inhabitants.

2)    

Become more knowledgeable about your hobby READ! (please do

some research before you make a decision on buying a reef organism).

3)    

Purchase aquacultured corals and fish when ever possible.

4)    

Buy certified net caught fish and corals when aquacultured

are not unavailable.

5)    

Support professional aquarium shops and avoid those that

aren’t.

6)    

Support your local aquarium clubs and promote their

educational programs.

7)    

Inform others of ways to lessen their impact and the need to

do so.

8)    

Global Warming is the greatest threat to the Worlds Coral

Reef s anything you do to lessen your energy usage will also lessen global

warming.

Problems exist throughout the chain of custody within the

Marine Ornamental Industry, from the point of Collection to the hobbyist

aquariums. Each time we correct one of these problems we take a step closer to

reaching the sustainability of our hobby and the sustainable use of the Worlds

Coral Reefs.

I realize that there are very few retail (LFS) stores that

are run in a manner that could be called ecofriendly. Many LFS are so bad they

should be shut down or at least not allowed to sell marine fish and

invertebrates. I have been asked by several environmental NGO’s if I would be

willing to train people who were interested in starting professional aquarium

stores in major metropolitan areas. Because one of CORL’s main functions is to

educate, this would be a very good way to promote proper husbandry methods and

further educate the hobbyist. I will look into this, and if anyone is interested

they can contact me to make arrangements. 

Now we will go

into the Q and A session

How long has

The idea has

been in existence over a year and has recently been filed

Ok folks I have

Mike on the tele. He can’t type very fast and I am not much faster so please

be patient we will try to get to all of your questions

If the

That is

entirely up to Congress but all they have to do is apply the Lacey act. Any

thing that can be harmful to the environment can be stopped or banned  

I think the

remedy this?

By shopping at

places that are ecofreindly you empower them with your dollars. Those that care

about the animals are readily apparent

He says

base this on??

At the third

meeting (Nov3 1999) the CRTF reached this conclusion. And Mike has no idea what

studies this was based it, at the time all coral dead or alive was lumped

together

I ran an LFS

regulations required?

Further regs

are not needed for CITES regs are needed for set standards of practice to insure

better husbandry and transportation of coral and fish at collection thru retail

levels

Based on the

something like that?

Some of the

slower growing species esp.  The LPS corals will most likely be banned.

What purpose

tanks?

Actually not

pictures of the animals but pictures of the tanks and the environment and

equipment to keep these animals alive and the care and pride everyone have for

them.  We want the CRTF to see that

we care about the animals they are not decorations

Mike, can

What is that all about?

This is

something in the infant stages at the moment I am willing to help do what it

takes to help people take care of the animals at a retail level

But the CRTF

comment?

The CRTF is

only making recommendations Mike cannot speak for the CRTF and doesn't if or

when regs will be imposed.  MAC and CRTF are working more closely on that.

Will the

hold and sell marine organisms? (And thereby close those who are not)

The USCRTF is

an advisory council only. Personally Mike hopes they will we need to clean up

the house so to speak.

What benefit

will it be to have pictures of reef tanks?

We want the

CRTF to see what a reef tank is the have no concept of what a reef tank, is they

need to see what the hobby is all about from the hobbyist point of view

How can we

verify if our LFS is consider "ecofriendly"?

Are they a

member of AMDA, are the animals healthy are they net caught are the coral lit

properly etc.

What did you

think of MASNA's presentation at the last public meeting?

Mike was in

Hawaii at the MOI conference if anyone has transcripts he would love to read

them.

Mike, do you

How does it work?

Basically it is

low-tech coral farming right outside the villages themselves using rock

structures or platforms.  Mike would be glad to come back and talk about it

another time

Who else

will be at the CRTF meeting Mike?

AMDA? MAC?

Hopefully some wholesalers from the New York area and about 50 to 75

environmental organizations like Green Peace and Sierra Club

What else

can we do to support?

Support

what?  I think he means support the hobby and the cause?  Write to the

CRTF and let them know how you feel and support the hobby by shopping at LFS who

care about the animals

If wild

Could captive bred corals eventually fill the gap?

Shutting down

the hobby will devalue the reef monetarily; this could have significant negative

impact in the long run.

  The hobby is a

1. 5 billion dollar a year industry this hobby could save the reef much like

hunters have done with game animals in spite of what Green peace and other have

declared

OK gang that

will wrap up the formal Q and A session

Now we will

open the floor for a general discussion

But first, I'd

like to be the first to thank Mike for coming by and teaching us a little about

this.

Thanks Mike!

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