This article is regarding how saltwater fish hobbyists contribute to marine conservation and propagation. I would like to start off with two definitions:
1) Marine conservation - is the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas. Marine conservation focuses on limiting human-caused damage to marine ecosystems, restoring damaged marine ecosystems, and preserving vulnerable species of the marine life.
2) Coral Aquaculture (propagation) - also known as coral farming or coral gardening, is the cultivation of corals for commercial purposes or coral reef restoration. Aquaculture is showing promise as a potentially effective tool for restoring coral reefs, which have been declining around the world.
Although the topic of this discussion is regarding anemones, Red Bubble tips to be exact, the above definitions do apply. In the year of approximately 2008 a New Jersey Reefer Community, NJRC, member acquired an RBTA at a cost. This animal split and one was purchased by a second member in 2009. The second one split at least six more times and the member sold a few and gave many away for free. Most likely but not accounted for in this article is many of these survived and split as well and the originals could still be thriving in a hobbyist’s tank. Case in point. Fast forward to March 2017 this is nine years later. A different member is selling an off-spring of the same RBTA from 2008. Another member purchases it and two months later its splits twice and one is sold to someone else in NJRC. What is the point of all this? One purchase has reproduced per say and been circulating in the club for many years producing numerous off-spring. This prevents collection from the ocean therefore preserving our reefs. It just goes to show that when dedicated people properly care for an animal it can be a big plus to the marine environment and hobbyists involved in this amazing water world.
Chronological breakdown:
2008 – RBTA purchased by onefishtwofish and redfishbluefish
2009 – split purchased by Jrwohler
Unknown – split purchased by mrehfeld
March 2017 - split purchased by madreefer
July 2017 – split purchased by mikeamadio
1) Marine conservation - is the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas. Marine conservation focuses on limiting human-caused damage to marine ecosystems, restoring damaged marine ecosystems, and preserving vulnerable species of the marine life.
2) Coral Aquaculture (propagation) - also known as coral farming or coral gardening, is the cultivation of corals for commercial purposes or coral reef restoration. Aquaculture is showing promise as a potentially effective tool for restoring coral reefs, which have been declining around the world.
Although the topic of this discussion is regarding anemones, Red Bubble tips to be exact, the above definitions do apply. In the year of approximately 2008 a New Jersey Reefer Community, NJRC, member acquired an RBTA at a cost. This animal split and one was purchased by a second member in 2009. The second one split at least six more times and the member sold a few and gave many away for free. Most likely but not accounted for in this article is many of these survived and split as well and the originals could still be thriving in a hobbyist’s tank. Case in point. Fast forward to March 2017 this is nine years later. A different member is selling an off-spring of the same RBTA from 2008. Another member purchases it and two months later its splits twice and one is sold to someone else in NJRC. What is the point of all this? One purchase has reproduced per say and been circulating in the club for many years producing numerous off-spring. This prevents collection from the ocean therefore preserving our reefs. It just goes to show that when dedicated people properly care for an animal it can be a big plus to the marine environment and hobbyists involved in this amazing water world.
Chronological breakdown:
2008 – RBTA purchased by onefishtwofish and redfishbluefish
2009 – split purchased by Jrwohler
Unknown – split purchased by mrehfeld
March 2017 - split purchased by madreefer
July 2017 – split purchased by mikeamadio