Re: NANFA--now NANFA type aquarist- Collecting ethics

Steffen Hellner (steffen_at_hellner.biz)
Wed, 14 Jan 2004 03:44:03 +0100

Your words are my thoughts and intensions.

As the old Laotse said: Choose a profession you love and you4ll never have
to work again.

Steffen

> Von: "Nick Zarlinga" <njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com>
> Antworten an: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Datum: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 18:43:31 -0500
> An: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Betreff: 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
>> <)> ---------------------------
>> <)> /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this
>> <)> list do not necessarily
>> <)> / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North
>> <)> American Native Fishes
>> <)> / Association"
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>> <)> American Native Fishes 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
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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