Stan Perkins
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nick Zarlinga" <njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 5:43 PM
Subject: RE: NANFA--now NANFA type aquarist- Collecting ethics
> Steffen, your post below illustrates my point. There are hobbyists, then
> there are exceptional hobbyists. I have to believe that you would agree
> with me that of the millions of fish enthusiasts out there, that there are
a
> relative handful that would be considered exceptional. Of course the
> biggest problem is how do you determine that a hobbyist is *exceptional
> enough* to be responsible enough to keep a declining species-as measured
by
> the good of the species. At least in the professional world, it is
usually
> peer reviewed and often in the public eye. This leads the learning in the
> right direction. If just anyone were allowed to have these species, there
> would be no consequences to encourage that forward growth in knowledge.
>
>
> As was effectively pointed out already, we all started as hobbyists. Some
> of us are lucky enough to get paid for it.
>
> Nick Zarlinga
> Aquarium Biologist
> Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
> 216.661.6500 ext 4485
>
>
> ><)> -----Original Message-----
> ><)> From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> ><)> On Behalf
> ><)> Of Steffen Hellner
> ><)> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 10:52 AM
> ><)> To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> ><)> Subject: Re: NANFA-- Collecting ethics
> ><)>
> ><)>
> ><)> man, you4re terribly right in many aspects.
> ><)>
> ><)>
> ><)> > Measuring the passion quotient is easy. Look at
> ><)> the huge number of
> ><)> > hobbyists in the world and you tell me how many
> ><)> have the incling that
> ><)> > tropical fish actually come from a real place!
> ><)> This is what makes me sad often. But there are
> ><)> many left still who know and
> ><)> can contribute. The mass however is just consumers.
> ><)>
> ><)> > Rember the thread about how people are told that
> ><)> you have to boil your
> ><)> > driftwood and rocks before you put them in your aquarium?
> ><)> I am fighting this nonsense ever since! There is
> ><)> another article in
> ><)> preparation upon water conditions and what they
> ><)> really mean to our fish,
> ><)> what is neccessary and what is obsolet.
> ><)>
> ><)> > And hobbyists have a tendency to keep their
> ><)> aquariums sparkling
> ><)> > clean. No algae and no detritus is how fish are
> ><)> supposed to be kept? As
> ><)> if
> ><)> > these fish are never exposed to mud, pathogens,
> ><)> or algae in their natural
> ><)> > environment.
> ><)> Again, the consumers, yes. It is our task to steer
> ><)> against this by any means
> ><)> we have. The pet industry is really bad in this concern.
> ><)>
> ><)> > Hobbyists don't think of where there fish come
> ><)> from, they just
> ><)> > think of them in the tank. Again, this is shear
> ><)> numbers alone. The exact
> ><)> > opposite thinking is what endeared me to NANFA.
> ><)> A group of hobbyists who
> ><)> > are really in tune with their animals *and* the
> ><)> natural environments where
> ><)> > they come from. We can have intelligent debates
> ><)> about all these topics.
> ><)> > But I don't believe that you can tell me that
> ><)> the percentage of hobbyists
> ><)> in
> ><)> > this country who have a serious passion about
> ><)> their animals is the same as
> ><)> > in the professional world. Again its all about
> ><)> numbers. And we all b*tch
> ><)> > about the "average" hobbyist on this list server.
> ><)> I was and am only speaking of NANFA-like type of
> ><)> aquarists, not the
> ><)> platy-keepers with a bunch of everything in their
> ><)> tanks. Those won4t even
> ><)> think about collecting in the field. Another
> ><)> example: When I received my
> ><)> SRBD, northern studfish, and three species of
> ><)> darters in March 2003 the
> ><)> veterinarian at the airport asked me how many
> ><)> species were in the box. I
> ><)> said five. She became intense (not to say angry)
> ><)> and shouted: No, it4s all
> ><)> one species! Gee, she wasn4t able to tell perch
> ><)> from carpfish! And she is
> ><)> responsible for wildlife protection by controlling
> ><)> imports and exports. It4s
> ><)> good to know that these people are so
> ><)> professionell and packed with
> ><)> knowledge. And this person is not an exception but
> ><)> the average. Any other
> ><)> experiences are welcome.
> ><)>
> ><)> Steffen
> ><)> ---------------------------
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> ><)> / Association"
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-- > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org