"Ethical aquarium ownership" is
a phrase that means a lot of different things to many
different people. In this article, we will be focusing on the
ethical issues that involve aquarium ownership of both marine
and freshwater species, particularly environmental and welfare
concerns. When we talk about aquarium ownership and welfare of
the tank inhabitants we are not just talking about fish, but
equally as important are the corals, invertebrates, plants,
and all living species found in aquarium systems. While
volumes can be written about ethical ownership, this article
will try to cover some of the more basic issues, and should be
just the beginning for people that are serious about aquariums
and their inhabitants.
The issues
It does not take aquarium owners very long to come to some
conclusions about aquarium ownership. On the positive side,
most aquarists soon find the fascination with their aquarium
grows daily and that there is unlimited potential for
increasing their knowledge and understanding of the underwater
world. They also soon discover that the time and financial
commitment required in having a healthy tank is much greater
than they ever expected, but is well worth it.
On the down side, they discover that there are some very
thorny ethical issues involved in both freshwater and marine
aquarium ownership. On one hand, they want to enjoy all the
rewards of aquariums including the aesthetics and educational
benefits. On the other hand, they do not want to contribute to
the unnecessary death of an aquatic species or contribute to
the degradation of a very fragile and easily damaged
ecosystem.
So what is the solution? In most cases, good ethical
decisions cannot be made without a complete gathering of facts
from all sides. While it is easy to sit back and have armchair
opinions about this topic, until we research all of the facts,
our opinions will be ungrounded, and carry little weight. At
the same time, ethical decisions are a personal choice and
vary from person to person; ethical decisions are always made
from within. The Internet has made a wealth of information
available and anyone that is interested in learning more about
the issue of ethical aquarium ownership can find thousands of
pages of articles and information there. So gather the facts,
and then after you are armed with knowledge, formulate your
opinions, and go out and follow up with your purchase
decisions.
Tank raised vs wild harvested
species
One of the ethical dilemmas most
aquarists have faced is the issue of tank raised vs wild
harvested species. On the surface, this topic may appear very
simple and many people respond by saying tank raised species
are better, but this is not always the case nor is it always
an option. While tank raised species are often preferred and
make up the bulk of tropical freshwater fish, less than ten
percent of marine species are available from tank raised
sources. While some aquarists choose to only purchase tank
raised species of fish and corals, most aquarists are going to
want to have some species that are wild harvested. Through
informed and conscientious purchasing decisions, a buyer can
impact the industry and move it toward reduced mortality,
improved harvesting methods and regulation, and the
preservation of fragile ecosystems. When choosing a source for
wild harvested species, these are some questions that the
aquarist needs to consider:
-
Is the importer experienced and using state of the art
handling and storage facilities?
-
Is the importer working with organizations to help ensure
the humane capture of aquatic life?
-
Are these species being monitored on importation by the
Fish and Wildlife Service and have the proper CITES permits
that ensure they are being harvested properly and
legally?
-
Are these species guaranteed with live delivery and are
they guaranteed to survive for up to 10 days after being
introduced into their tank?
-
Are the supplier and importer concerned with and taking
measures to reduce fish mortality in every area of the
industry?
-
Is the seller willing to provide information about the
species and insist on a strict handling and acclimatization
protocol?
All of these questions need to be answered to the
customer's satisfaction before fish, coral, and invertebrate
species are purchased. The most experienced, reliable
suppliers know, that to be successful, they need to have the
highest standards and concern for the fish and their
environment.
What can you do at home?
All of the best research and
concern will not do you any good if you take this carefully
handled and healthy fish, invertebrate, or coral and put it in
your tank only to have it die several weeks later.
Unfortunately, mortality in the home aquarium is still one of
the biggest problems the industry faces. Making sure your tank
has all of the appropriate water parameters and environmental
requirements the particular species needs is one way to reduce
tank mortality. Making sure that you have the expertise to
properly house the species is another issue. There are some
species that simply do not acclimatize well to life in
captivity. As aquarists, we need to recognize these species
and not create a market for them. At the same time, the
industry needs to examine whether it should carry some of
these fragile species even if they are only recommended for
sale to experienced aquarists.
Public education and
awareness
In addition to our personal choices, we can make an impact
through increasing public awareness. As individual aquarists,
we should promote the educational value of our tanks and show
good stewardship when it comes to promoting organizations that
protect our world's fresh and saltwater ecosystems. People
that can experience the beauty of a reef ecosystem and
understand the plight of the world's reefs are much more
likely to support their protection. Aquarists are often
extremely interested in protecting our natural resources. We
have never, yet, met a serious hobbyist who was not very
concerned with the preservation of the wild ecosystems and the
animal and plant species they harbor. Our challenge is to
encourage all aquarists to promote the best harvesting,
handling, and management of all species through their own
purchasing choices and affiliations, as well as educating the
general public. Aquarium owners can be one of the best friends
to all aquatic species and aquatic environments worldwide.
Summary
If we work to educate ourselves and the public, promote the
highest standards for fish harvesting and management, and
promote good stewardship practices and organizations, we can
make a lasting difference for all species.
