Re: NANFA-- Columbia trip gear

Steffen Hellner (steffen_at_hellner.biz)
Thu, 08 Jan 2004 11:32:44 +0100

I agree. But often the collecting is seen esp. from "environmentalists" as
senseless because they cannot understand the motivation why one wants to
keep hellbenders or any other kind of animals at home. They themselves in
most cases only have a dog or cat or canary if at all. The decision on the
protection status should be independent from that for any animal and only
the actual and foreseeable situation should be taken in mind. I think its
similar to species as the Bluehead Shiner. (Which I am still searching
for;-)

Steffen

> Von: archimedes_at_bayspringstel.net
> Antworten an: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Datum: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 19:13:40 -0500
> An: "nanfa_at_aquaria.net" <nanfa at aquaria.net>
> Betreff: Re: NANFA-- Columbia trip gear
>
> Quoting Todd Crail <farmertodd_at_buckeye-express.com>:
>
>> No argument Steffen, these are good _reasons_ when paired with the law, not
>> rationalizations. :)
>>
>> I was specifically addressing the notion of collection because:
>> "But theeey do it tooooo!"
>
> I don't think anybody is claiming that hellbenders are in decline due to
> overcollecting or by-catch, or that either is contributing to their decline.
> All I hear is that "this could POTENTIALLY affect this", etc. To me that's no
> better than the snake oil salesmen claiming that their miracle-HGH pill makes
> you look and feel 20 years younger because "clinical studies indicate that
> there
> MAY be a benefit..." This is the same mindset that germinated the breast
> implant
> scare, AND PEOPLE FELL FOR IT!
>
> I'll admit I haven't followed the literature on hellbenders, so if the
> evidence
> is there then I stand corrected. But denial based on lack of evidence is not
> the same thing as rationalization. My point was not intended to be "they do
> it,
> therefore so can I" but rather "I don't see any facts showing that removal of
> hellbenders by fishermen is contributing to their extinction, therefore there
> is
> even less rationale behind the suggestion that aquarists are causing harm."
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