Anecdotal stories of long term effects of cyanide exposure hold little weight. Cyanide studies have been limited to small control groups, but long term damage has still proven to be questionable. This is by no means an endorsement of its' use or an attempt to minimize its' negative effects on the environment.
REPLY-While there is anecdotal information in the aquarium literature (eg Dempster and Donaldson, Herwig, Bellwood) that exposure to cyanide can cause long-term damage the fish's liver and other tissues like the brain, kidney, heart, and spleen, this is also confirmed in the scientific literature by research conducted by Dr. George Dixon of the University of Waterloo. So, I disagree that the assertions about the long-term damage of cyanide as being "questionable". It is a proven fact. I have reviewed most of the available literature in papers that I published (Rubec and Pratt 1984 in FAMA, in 1986 First Asian Fisheries Forum) and 1987 (Marine Fish Monthly). If you need copies of these papers send me your mailing address (sorry I don't have them as PDFs).
This article by Steven Pro sums up the subject well.
http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/ext.p ... /index.php
REPLY-While I commend marine hobbyist Steven Pro for his efforts, I have some issues with incorrect information presented in his review. There are also many cyanide related papers that he did not consult. Some of his conclusions are wrong.
Another common fallacy is that importers will continue to buy fish from suppliers with high initial mortality and poor long term survival rates. If your product is substandard, you will not survive long in this business. Of course, transshippers are an exception to this rule, as they focus only on cheap pricing, with a transient customer base.
REPLY-I would like to think this is true but I know it isn't. About 80% of the marines exported and sold worldwide come from the Philippines and Indonesia. Almost all Indonesian and Philippine exporters obtain fishes from collectors who use cyanide at least part of the time. So long as the importer buys fish from them he runs the risk of obtaining fish caught with cyanide. This is still true despite the MAC's programs in these countries.
Pressure trickles down the chain of distribution from the hobbyist all the way back to the collector. Each person in the chain of custody has a vested interest in protecting their customers interests and their own. Your profit margin and goodwill lie in your fish health.
REPLY-Each person in the chain of custody has an interest in their vested interest and does what they can to maximize their profit. Unfortunately, the trade has not been willing to invest in trainings to stop the use of cyanide and to improve collection (nets versus cyanide) and handling practices. They are only concerned about themselves not others. Consequently, the whole trade suffers, the reefs are being destroyed, and aquarium fishes (and other fish) are becoming scarce as their habitats are destroyed by cyanide, dynamite, and other forms of destructive fishing (not just the aquarium trade fishery).
Politics come into play here as well. Net Certified status comes at a high price tag. Many reputable collectors and exporters have businesses that span generations, so they aren't eager to share their hard earned profits with a new governing body from the west. Membership dues are viewed as protection money in developing nations. They are all too familiar with the pressures that are put upon them if they don't pay to be a member of the certified elite. Non-Certified businesses are treated as pariah by Hobbyists and businesses with only a superficial knowledge of the industry.
REPLY-What governing body may I ask are you referring to? The MAC is not a governing body. It has little or no legal jurisdiction in the countries using cyanide. It cannot enforce the laws against cyanide use.
REPLY-Then you state that the collectors and exporters aren't eager to share their hard-earned profits with a new governing body from the west. I have heard that the MAC is now paying the dues of a number of these companies to keep them certified, since they have rebelled and refuse to pay to continue to be certified.
REPLY-The last sentence is also a contradiction. You claim that "Non Certified businesses are treated as pariah by hobbyists and businesses with a superficial knowledge of the industry." Actually, most hobbyists know little about the cyanide problem and don't exert much pressure on the trade to reform. Some importers have demanded MAC-Certified fishes from Bali and Ferdinand Cruz purchased them from a MAC-Certified exporter. The fish either died in the flow-through facility and in one case all the fishes sent to a Canadian buyer died. This seems to also be your experience (see paragraph below). I agree with you that if you can find a reliable exporter who can supply fishes that live take your business there.
I've done business with a company in The Philippines for the past 15 years and have found their fish to be in sound health with few mortalities, including experiences in the final consumers tank. At one point in time I sought out a MAC certified dealer in The Philippines with more selection. I tried at least 10 orders with them, but had markedly poor long-term survival rates.
About ten years ago one of my suppliers in Indonesia asked me if I knew of any drugs that would work in place of cyanide, as it had just been declared illegal. He wasn't asking me to ship him cyanide, so he was willing to comply with the law to the best of my knowledge. Quinaldine is the only other drug I could suggest. I've heard it's safe to use, but only from people who want it to be true. There may however be a more qualified side to that debate.
REPLY-Cyanide has been illegal in Indonesia for at least a decade. Quinaldine is a collecting tool in Florida, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. It is expensive to purchase and hence could not be used in Indonesia and the Philippines, where the collectors cannot afford to buy it. Other chemicals like clove oil have been suggested but need further evaluation. Dr. James Cervino informed me that clove oil harms corals. So, I believe that using nets is a better altenative than advocating the use of any kind of drug for collection of marine ornamental aquarium fishes.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Rubec, Ph.D.
_________________
