JessiccaTop Predators of the Reef for DINNER
January 14th 2009 01:43
Hi everyone,
Sorry it has been really a busy BUSY time for me and I have been trying to coup with my work and family matters... first it was a major moving exercise for my family, then it was Christmas, then New Year, then in just 2 weeks time it is going to be Lunar New Year... celebrations kept coming and going away and this is just more than you can think of, especially you are running around helping your family, and finishing your work for the office... *whew*
I have been waiting for the WWF news lately and I think I just managed to retrieve one 3rd issue of 2008... currently I am stuck trying to send virtual CNY card for the office (which I will post here later) and so, just a kind note about our world's environment and our beautiful sea is at risk, I have shifted last year's January post here.
Extracted from WWF Malaysia 2006
Image extracted from ukdivers.net
< repost from January 13th 2007 09:52 >
Top predators. We know that the most voracious, most highly skilled and most successful hunters in an ecosystem control the lives and populations of the animals and plants living along with it. Tigers keep deer and the other small mammals populations in controls. Raptors help keep rodents and snake population under control. On reeds, some of the top predators are groupers.
Groupers are effective and efficient hunters.
They are designed for speed, agility and killing. Some lie in wait for an unsuspecting fish to swim along and lash out with stunning speed. Others patrol the roof constantly, gliding along the corals and sponges, looking for their next meal.
Groupers are, without a doubt, one of the top predators on a reef. They are also some of the most beautiful fish on the reef. Some are bright red with iridescent blue spots. Others have gaudy yellow fins, offset my midnight blue bodies.
Unfortunately, groupers are also favourite food fish for people. Many consumers, particularly in Hong Kong, pay top prices for the privilege of eating one of these fish as fresh as possible. To achieve this, the fish are caught all over the Indian and Pacific Oceans and shipped or flown to restaurants throughout Asia while being kept alive. Consumers can then pick the live fish from a tank and have it cooked immediately. But this trade is stripping these top predators from reefs all over the region.
On many reefs in Sabah it is a rare sight to see a large red grouper. To make matters worse, the fish have become so rare that fishermen have resorted to diving underwater with bottles full of cyanide to squirt at the fish and temporarily stun them. Without this technique, it would be too hard to find the once common fish. But the cyanide also kills the corals and reefs they form.
Without better management of reefs and fisheries, this trade will change reefs forever. If one of the top predators is lost, it can mean that the whole ecosystem will become weaker and less robust. We can ensure that this trade, which is very important to local fishing economies, is sustainable., My implementing better controls over the fisheries, better enforcement of laws against destructive fishing, establishing strong marine protected areas and supporting the development of good aquaculture, this trade can be sustainable and support healthy reefs.
Next time when you order a live grouper from a restaurant, think about where it may have come from.
Sorry it has been really a busy BUSY time for me and I have been trying to coup with my work and family matters... first it was a major moving exercise for my family, then it was Christmas, then New Year, then in just 2 weeks time it is going to be Lunar New Year... celebrations kept coming and going away and this is just more than you can think of, especially you are running around helping your family, and finishing your work for the office... *whew*
I have been waiting for the WWF news lately and I think I just managed to retrieve one 3rd issue of 2008... currently I am stuck trying to send virtual CNY card for the office (which I will post here later) and so, just a kind note about our world's environment and our beautiful sea is at risk, I have shifted last year's January post here.
Extracted from WWF Malaysia 2006
Image extracted from ukdivers.net
< repost from January 13th 2007 09:52 >
Top predators. We know that the most voracious, most highly skilled and most successful hunters in an ecosystem control the lives and populations of the animals and plants living along with it. Tigers keep deer and the other small mammals populations in controls. Raptors help keep rodents and snake population under control. On reeds, some of the top predators are groupers.
Groupers are effective and efficient hunters.
They are designed for speed, agility and killing. Some lie in wait for an unsuspecting fish to swim along and lash out with stunning speed. Others patrol the roof constantly, gliding along the corals and sponges, looking for their next meal.
Groupers are, without a doubt, one of the top predators on a reef. They are also some of the most beautiful fish on the reef. Some are bright red with iridescent blue spots. Others have gaudy yellow fins, offset my midnight blue bodies.
Unfortunately, groupers are also favourite food fish for people. Many consumers, particularly in Hong Kong, pay top prices for the privilege of eating one of these fish as fresh as possible. To achieve this, the fish are caught all over the Indian and Pacific Oceans and shipped or flown to restaurants throughout Asia while being kept alive. Consumers can then pick the live fish from a tank and have it cooked immediately. But this trade is stripping these top predators from reefs all over the region.
On many reefs in Sabah it is a rare sight to see a large red grouper. To make matters worse, the fish have become so rare that fishermen have resorted to diving underwater with bottles full of cyanide to squirt at the fish and temporarily stun them. Without this technique, it would be too hard to find the once common fish. But the cyanide also kills the corals and reefs they form.
Without better management of reefs and fisheries, this trade will change reefs forever. If one of the top predators is lost, it can mean that the whole ecosystem will become weaker and less robust. We can ensure that this trade, which is very important to local fishing economies, is sustainable., My implementing better controls over the fisheries, better enforcement of laws against destructive fishing, establishing strong marine protected areas and supporting the development of good aquaculture, this trade can be sustainable and support healthy reefs.
Next time when you order a live grouper from a restaurant, think about where it may have come from.
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
It is a tragedy what is happening with the oceans and its inhabitants. Just today I went snorkelling and, even though it was beautiful - every now and again you would see a fishing hook, glass bottle, candy wrapper that would spoil the view. Ontop of that your peace and quiet is interrupted by the sounds of boats and jet ski`s whizzing past.
I hope my grandkids will be able to see groupers in their natural habitat one day, as well as they many others that are slowly being wiped out.
Ash
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Malaysia Found
It's good to know that there are still there who loves the treasures under the sea. I too hope that my future generation will be able to see the beautiful wonders of nature's treasure.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Jessicca
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I've never been able to understand how people can use the ocean as a rubbish bin. It's such a pity.
Great post as usual
Tracy
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Wonderful post, so beautiful, sad and haunting ... so much abuse and disrespect in our world sometimes I think I cannot stand it anymore, truly. I cannot think sometimes of what's become of this planet and pray we have the time to make the changes to our thinking needed to put things right...
tread lightly warrior sista and thanks for the information...
Lilla
Comment by Manda
Medicinal Nature
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Malaysia Found
Thank you so much for dropping by and placing your priceless comments. ^_^
Yes it is truly sad that any part of the world, people just don't realise that wherever we throw our rubbish, it is stuck in here still. It's like a giant room. The rubbish doesn't go anywhere. I just wish people will realise that.
Hi Ash
Glad that you are now aware of this situation. And please continue to spread this word out to as many people as possible. You won't know how great the power of one until you take action on it.
Thank you so much for dropping by again. Your comments are truly precious.
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Malaysia Found
Indeed it is truly haunting. After reading this I keep reminding myself not to eat a grouper.
Do pass this on to everyone you know so that they know that the key predators are coming to extinct and will effect our future world. But, how many out there actually will stop and listen, and stop thinking about themselves?
Thank you so much for dropping by. Your comments are always priceless.
Hi Manda
Oh you have no idea what people can eat and treat it as delicacy. It is sometimes so sad, but I too didn't know that groupers are near to exinct, in this rate of fishing. And the worse thing is the techniques they use to catch the groupers that spoils the reefs.
Thank you so much for visiting and posting your valuable comments here!
^_^
Comment by Manda
Medicinal Nature
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Malaysia Found
Thank you, thank you!
Comment by Manda
Medicinal Nature
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...