Earlier in the year, we witnessed a failed Hawaiian Senate Bill (HB580) initially seeking to outlaw marine aquariums in the state.  Just this month, a County Council resolution seeking a statewide ban on all marine aquarium collection passed.  There has been a lot of vilification of our hobby by the anti-aquarium activists in 2011.  But what’s the real story and the real science behind this issue?

Ret Talbot heads to Hawai’i to find out first-hand what is happening.  I encourage you to follow Ret Talbot’s blog series on MASNA’s website to learn more about sustainable marine aquarium fisheries.  As advanced and conscientious aquarists, we are obligated to educate ourselves on the important issues of our times, and sustainable harvest certainly ranks right up there.  It is imperative that science is not drowned out by emotional rhetoric, irrational scare tactics, and outright lies.  We will need to voice an honest defense for the hobby (and the coral reefs) we love, and the only way for you to do so is to educate yourself.  Ret Talbot’s blog series is a very good start.