Make that 13! I just wrote this between handling negotiations for my listing but I figured it would help. Don't judge the content as I wrote it on the fly.
Please everyone, make a thoughtful comment if you have the time. They stated specifically that this is not a vote or a popularity contest so don't comment just to comment. Try to have a good argument as to why this is not beneficial and not the right route for conservation of corals. There is a better way and if you think of one or think of how this is not the way, please comment!
We can all sit there and hope that someone else will write something impactful that changes their mind on the regulation but if we're all sitting there looking around and nobody does anything about it, you can go ahead and say goodbye to our little hobby. If you think they'll stop at stony corals, think again. Next up will be softies, LPS, and fishes. Make a difference, save our hobby!
To Whomever it may concern:
To start off, a little background on myself. I graduated with an Ocean and Coastal Resources degree from Texas A&M University. I have spent 10 years in environmental consulting, during which I kept a saltwater reef tank as a hobby.
I have discussed and reviewed many examples of coastal resource conservation during my studies at A&M. I am fully aware of the fact that conservation of our oceans and their inhabitants is critical, as many of the processes that occur beyond our scope of vision in the oceans effect many global processes around the world. From underwater currents effecting climates in England to vast consumable fish populations disappearing around the world's fisheries. We know that protecting our oceans are key to keeping our environment stable and sustainable. I applaud the effort.
The regulation you aim to impose aims at the heart of many industries. That alone I would not consider to be a valid point to not pass the regulation. Just because these industries profit and are maintained by this industry does not prompt them to being saved. I do however would like to make a point that many of these industries help developing nations have a global impact on the economy, as it is their main source of exportation of a good that world markets are willing to pay for. What I see is not the problem of exporting these specific corals, but more regulation on these industries in the foreign countries that export them to the US. I find it more beneficial to regulate the collectors then to try to regulate what gets imported.
The experts lie in the people who handle and deal with these corals species daily. If this regulation passes, you'll leave it in the hands of agents who inspect these packages of corals being imported. I know I can tell the difference between an Acropora jacquelineae and an Acropora lokani, but would an agent inspecting the package know the difference? I can guarantee the exporters of corals know the difference as they will charge you more for one or the other, it's their business to be able to identify the corals so they can charge prices accordingly. This regulation only aims to put the power of identifying and approving in the hands of the least capable personnel to do it.
I agree that the industry needs to be regulated and that importation of certain corals needs to be monitored and certain species should not be collected anymore. I just see a more effective plan at aiming to regulate the collectors than to impose this regulation to have agents try to identify corals that they have no background or experience doing so.