Coral - January/February 2011

Some QueStionS for Snorkel bob

I sat down recently opening my latest issue of CORAL, enthralled with reading and viewing the articles on Mantis Shrimp. I peacefully looked across the room at the 30-gallon nano I set up about three years ago, and in which the majority of its occupants have thrived for more than

2. 5 years.

Unfortunately, I opened my copy to page 8 and read your Reef News article on Robert “Snorkel Bob” Wintner’s article. I proceeded to read the rebuttals to Wintner as well as the contents of his full article on Sea Shepherd’s site ( http://www.seashep- herd.org/news-and-media/edito- rial-100821-1.html).

Like most responsible reef keepers, I was fuming at the inflammatory and slanted nature of Wintner’s writing. Fortunately your contributors have already mounted substantial rebuttals to Wintner’s charges.

There is an item that was not mentioned, though, one which a stop at Wintner’s company website hastens me to bring up. Where are all the products that he sells made? Are they made in Hawaii where they are bought and used or are they made overseas? If they are made outside the country, what are the conditions in which they are made?

Pray tell, could Mr. Winter care more about reef animals than human beings and the environment in which they live? If they are made in the United States, how much fossil fuel is used and types of wastes are produced as a result of their production? (Editor: Snorkel Bob’s says they are manufactured in California and Malaysia.)

Speaking of fossil fuels, last time I checked the only practical way to get to Hawaii was by using fossil fuels. Unless all of Snorkel Bob’s customers are people living in Hawaii, then one could ask whether his very livelihood is contributing greatly to global warming and thus coral bleaching. These islands can only sustain their current population via huge importations of supplies and fuel from the mainland. Without such influxes there would be no Snorkel Bob’s.

Wintner demonizes reef aquarists but looks not at
himself in the mirror. All intelligent inhabitants of Earth
understand that in every aspect of our lives we must con-
sider our impact on the environment for ourselves, others
around us, and future generations. But this does not mean
that we can live our lives with NO impact on the envi-
ronment. Moderation is the key,
and that is what reef keepers and,
from my experience, the aquari-
um industry in general practices.
Sure there are those who abuse a
situation, but that does not mean
that you should deny the majority
a hobby that is easily controlled to
be sustainable.

All thingS
mArine And Slimy

Just wanted to comment on Ron Shimek’s recent article on coral feeding (Is Your Reef Anorexic?

November/December 2010.) Excellent job! I love the rapport Dr. Shimek keeps with the readers! It reminded me of the online class he did earlier this year at the Reef Stewardship Foundation (which still continues to ring useful for me on a daily basis as I dabble around the home lab).

I still very eagerly look forward to reading more on the subject of Diodogorgonia feeding that he previewed at MACNA this year. For a long time now, I have kept many azooxanthellate species in very good shape and have at the same time argued with many reefkeeping friends and associates about the subject of keeping these “difficult” corals. Your article will hopefully help me make my argument locally but also help to turn the tides for the rest of us “plankton fools.” I consider Dr. Shimek a very good mentor and hero in the realm of all things marine and slimy.