Ahem....
in my opinion, this "whole native fish thing" is just a front for this
"whole native environment thing". It's all about respect and keeping first
and foremost what is best for the individual animal, and the specific
environment that is in question, in mind. Let me point out that I do not
consider myself a bunnyhugger by any stretch. Respect for the animal and
the environment is different. With that being said, a few things should be
against code; endangered animals (either locally or regionally), seriously
imperilled animals that may not have made the radar of endangered yet, or
simply those animals that are delicate enough that handling causes undue
stress to the animal. Unless there is a good reason (which is debatable in
itself), these animals should be released immediately. Almost anything else
is fair game *to learn from*. This does not mean collect armies of a
species that can not possibly survive in your, say 10 gallon aquarium. Keep
only a couple, and that is only if you are not planning on keeping "only a
couple" of the 15 other species you just caught for that 10 gallon example.
It is always best to do your photography immediately or soon after your
capture. Often times this is when the best colors are present in the
specimens. If you do intend on keeping the specimen, no problem doing it
later, you will most likely be dissappointed with the lack of coloration.
You may have to keep them for a while to color up again. Keeping a bunch of
fish for photographing-in-the end of the day brings a few issues up: how
far have you moved from where the animals were collected? Certianly if this
is in a different watershed this is a no-no, but even different locations
of the same water shed may not have the same habitat that that animal needs
to survive in. If you collect ripe females or dominant males that you have
no intention of keeping, you should probably release them in the same
capture location so that they can continue their *duties* after your *rude*
interruption. Also, is there a temperature difference from being in the
warm sun all day? Putting the animals directly back is probably not a great
idea after they have been warming up -or cooling down- for a period of time.
Taking the animals home first then reintroducing them is arguably a no-no
too, since they may pick up something from your sparkling clean aquarium.
This is debatable though since fish are introduced all the time in stocking
programs and reintroduction efforts. However if I recall, I think we as
NANFA'ns as a whole discourage this practice.
So, what is crossing the line? My answer is when you are not taking the
animals needs (and the law) as your first priority. The bottom line is you
can do anything that you want. It is just a personal and professional code
of ethics that distiguish us from the other people who have the same hobby
that we do.
Nick Zarlinga
Aquarium Biologist
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
216.661.6500 ext 4485
"Who hears the fishes when they cry?"
Henry Thoreau--1817-1862
><)> -----Original Message-----
><)> From: owner-nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
><)> [owner-nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org]On Behalf
><)> Of Healy, Joel H
><)> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 11:41 AM
><)> To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
><)> Subject: RE: NANFA-L-- Photograph and Release
><)>
><)>
><)> Dennis,
><)>
><)> If you are a native fish newbie, then I am a
><)> native fish infant. Please
><)> take that into consideration.
><)>
><)> My question would be "Where does one draw the line
><)> for catch and
><)> release?" I believe that most people would say
><)> that what you are
><)> planning is perfectly acceptable (and admirable).
><)> I am just curious as
><)> to what criteria other people use to determine
><)> whether they have crossed
><)> the line. Can I take the captured fish out of the
><)> water and put it in a
><)> photography tank set up on the shore? Can I put
><)> several fish in a
><)> bucket and then decide-in-the end of the day which
><)> ones to return to the
><)> water and which ones I want to take home with me?
><)> Can I take the fish
><)> home and photograph them and then reintroduce them
><)> the next day? What
><)> criteria do people use to determine whether they
><)> can put a fish back
><)> into the water that they removed it from?
><)>
><)> Joel Healy
><)> Kansas City, MO
><)>
><)>
><)> -----Original Message-----
><)> From: owner-nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
><)> [owner-nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org] On Behalf
><)> Of Dennis Burnette
><)> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 9:05 AM
><)> To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
><)> Subject: NANFA-L-- Photograph and Release
><)>
><)> NANFA Folks,
><)>
><)> I am seeking advice on photographing fish in the
><)> field before releasing
><)> them.
><)>
><)> I am a native fish newbie. I have a good bit of
><)> experience with other
><)> wildlife, but have only recently gotten hooked on
><)> native fish. What I
><)> plan to do is collect local fish (and
><)> invertebrates), hold them briefly
><)> in some type of enclosure on site, photograph
><)> them, and then release
><)> them back into the place where I collected them.
><)>
><)> The photographic enclosure that I am visualizing
><)> is some sort of small
><)> glass/plastic container or aquarium that will
><)> allow me to isolate a fish
><)> and keep it relatively still while I photograph
><)> it. (I prefer not to
><)> shoot photos of a fish out of water in a net or
><)> someone's hands.) I
><)> haven't been successful in finding anything about
><)> this kind of
><)> photography on the Internet.
><)>
><)> I would be grateful for any advice I can get from
><)> you folks who have
><)> successfully photographed fish in the field.
><)>
><)> Thanks in advance,
><)>
><)> Dennis
><)>
><)> --
><)> Dennis Burnette
><)> Greensboro, NC
><)> deburnette-in-triad.rr.com
><)> /--------------------------------------------------
><)> ---------------------
><)> / This is the discussion list of the North
><)> American Native Fishes /
><)> Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do
><)> not necessarily /
><)> reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more
><)> information about NANFA,
><)> / visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all
><)> posts to nanfa-l are /
><)> consistent with the guidelines as per /
><)> http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To
><)> subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
><)> / help, visit the NANFA email list home page and
><)> archive-in-/
><)> http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml
><)>
><)>
><)>
><)> This transmission (and any information attached to
><)> it) may be confidential and is intended solely for
><)> the use of the individual or entity to which it is
><)> addressed. If you are not the intended recipient
><)> or the person responsible for delivering the
><)> transmission to the intended recipient, be advised
><)> that you have received this transmission in error
><)> and that any use, dissemination, forwarding,
><)> printing, or copying of this information is
><)> strictly prohibited. If you have received this
><)> transmission in error, please immediately notify
><)> LabOne-in-the following email address:
><)> securityincidentreporting-in-labone.com
><)> /--------------------------------------------------
><)> ---------------------
><)> / This is the discussion list of the North
><)> American Native Fishes
><)> / Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list
><)> do not necessarily
><)> / reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more
><)> information about NANFA,
><)> / visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all
><)> posts to nanfa-l are
><)> / consistent with the guidelines as per
><)> / http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To
><)> subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
><)> / help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
><)> / http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml
><)>
><)>
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA,
/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
/ help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
/ http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml