Recent content by GavAn

KB, Let's see, how about >5% survival, the same value that statisticians usually use to refute that a hypothesis is credible. That would be a good start! When we are talking about survival in the hands of newbies I have no doubt that Goniopora would fail the acid test. Mandarins may, Tubastrea...

I also have enjoyed this thought-provoking discussion and being exposed to some points of view that I am not usually exposed to. At the end of the day, IMO these sort of things will have to be mandatory. In a perfect world they wouldn't, but in our world, I think that they will. Who now would...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Minh Nguyen: <STRONG>WE the experts decided who among us (because we are better than normal everyday John or Jane Smith) could keep certain corals that WE decided that are hard to keep. This...

2poor2reef, Bit of a cultural difference here I suspect although where I come from I suspect that there are many people that would agree with you on that and I can see the logic well enough. However, IMO. there will always be some issues overridding personal freedom. IMO, these include things...

Steve, Just reading your post and I think that we are talking about too slightly different things although they are geared toward the same outcome. I think that you are thinking more about who should be allowed to keep certain things (ie knowledge level) and I suppose that I am advocating a way...

Steve, I really think that this is a very good idea. I doubt that it would initially be popular with the masses but it would be a start. IMO it is really the hobbyists who have the knowledge to come up with that sort of rating system not the dealers. Also, sometimes it only takes a spark to...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by matt_rains: <STRONG>To stay "on topic" i would suggest that the GBRMPA (Park Authoritys) sit down with collectors, scientists and hobbyists and put together a list of species that are not...

Ah, I see that this thread has taken a new twist... oh well what the hell... Mary, Don't get me wrong, I think that it is excellent that somebody representing the import and dealers comes onto these boards to "face the music". Far too often, the people dealing in these creatures fail to...

I don't know Mary from a bar of soap but I feel that I have to come to DBW's defense on this point as I doubt that he will himself and I hope that he does not find that offensive. Dallas (DBW) has probably done more than anybody else in this country to promote captive propogation of inverts and...

A couple of points of clarification: 1) Fishaholic. I agree with probably 95% of what you say. What I don't agree with is that you seem to be saying that the proposed ban is based on a rational dissection of the facts on the Senator's part and a decision made on those facts. It is not. While...

James, The way that I read that quote,regardless of what else was said, is "you guys goofed off and now you are paying the price". I could could let that slide if the reef system in question was in a bad way, but it is not... If I have misread the intent of the statement then I appologise...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fishaholic: <STRONG>I feel for you all in Austrailia but these restrictions were going to start somewhere, maybe if you start advocating for people to buy more responsibly instead of making...

Fishaholic, I am a professional research scientist for for an organization that has as one of its main briefs, the conservation of Australian Fauna. Much of my work is ultimately aimed at conserving endangered species though perhaps not as directly as the kind of stuff that you have mentioned...

While it may have given some a nice warm fuzzy feeling to advocate the use of propogated corals in aquariums where possible, this type of discussion does about as much good for the world's reefs as Senator Hill's decision to ban coral collection on the GBR. Hobbyists should do as much as they...

A few salient facts for you anti-any form of wild collection guys, specifivally related to the proposed coral collection ban in Australia: 1) While I whole heartedly support propogation of corals, to get to the point where we have been able to propogate some corals with such ease, wild caught...