Hi Tom and all,
Something that has been bothering me for quite some time........
Living in FL invasive plant and animal species can have a devastating effect on local flora and fauna. We see this over and over in many states and countries, all over the world really.
My question is how much do we as hobbyists contribute to this via the swapping/shipping of exotic plant and fish species perhaps outside of customs and/or state laws...
For example, even rinsing a plant from another hobbyist, can I flush ANYTHING that may have come along for the ride down the drain (bacteria, plant, or algae matter, etc), and assume there is NO impact? I am NOT comfortable with that assumption at all.
Also there is both short and long term impacts. How can we know that in 1-5 years this will not have an eventual impact?
I realize we cannot and thus prompt a discussion
Are we being as ethical or 'green'/environmentally responsible as possible in trading plants and animals?
It doesn't quite keep me awake at night like war does, but it still is a concern...
Thanks.
Something that has been bothering me for quite some time........
Living in FL invasive plant and animal species can have a devastating effect on local flora and fauna. We see this over and over in many states and countries, all over the world really.
My question is how much do we as hobbyists contribute to this via the swapping/shipping of exotic plant and fish species perhaps outside of customs and/or state laws...
For example, even rinsing a plant from another hobbyist, can I flush ANYTHING that may have come along for the ride down the drain (bacteria, plant, or algae matter, etc), and assume there is NO impact? I am NOT comfortable with that assumption at all.
Also there is both short and long term impacts. How can we know that in 1-5 years this will not have an eventual impact?
I realize we cannot and thus prompt a discussion
Are we being as ethical or 'green'/environmentally responsible as possible in trading plants and animals?It doesn't quite keep me awake at night like war does, but it still is a concern...
Thanks.