Peppermint Angelfish - Questions

They say they were captured around 120m depth? Blue harbor must know awesome local skin divers who can last 6 hours to bring the fish up (since its not allowed to use any aspiration help ie scuba gears)!

In other words, there is NO way they were collected legally. BlueHarbor is notoriously famous for that.

 

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. People like Rufus Kimura have been bringing up deepwater fish successfully for awhile now. Is gear illegal there?

 

It really depends of where they were caught. Everywhere has different regulation pertaining to the live capture or ornamental fish.

There is an increasing trend to regulate re-breather setups due to the increased bottom time and the ability to 'sneak' up on fish more easily.

As for the legality of this endeavor I can't comment, but I do know they were using re-breather setups and the expedition was very hazardous to the collectors.

 

I'm pretty darn in tune with collection regulations and I have not heard any country banning rebreathers for the use in collection of MO.... Some do not allow hooka, others don't allow SCUBA, but rebreathers is not one I have heard. Which countries have you heard this about?

 

I though I had heard of a fre places in the Pacific including Hawaii... I might be well off base. I read a few threads on RC saying that legislation is saying its unsporting to the fish and what not.

That being said your knowledge is far superior to mine.

 

You have no idea how much you encounter illegally collected stuff in Japan.. and yes its illegal use scuba gears there. Most Japanese tropical islands are restricted but "in rare cases," you might accidentally find them out side of that area. If thats the case, you can skin dive and capture them all you want. So if you dont catch a diver with a scuba gear on his back and fish in his hand inside of the restricted area, theres not much you can do. Besides the fine would be dirt cheap.

As far as these Peppermints go, they must have found them too when they captured narc angels in Tahiti with/by Rufus Kimura, and its safe to say that they went back to the same spot. They are too rare to find accidentally. I believe it's illegal use scuba gear or re-breather in Tahiti either.. (I hope someone can clarify on this..? Since I was just told that it is from different individuals, but I coulndt find any valid sources)

But who cares if its illegally captured, right?

 

Hey Gresham, alot of my expeirnece comes from place I might actually try and catch something, so I double checked the Florida codes and found Florida Regulations 68B-4.012:

(2) Rebreathers.

(a) No person diving in state waters by means of a rebreather shall harvest any marine species. Use of rebreathers for any nonconsumptive purpose is allowed in state waters.

(b) The possession of any fish that has been harvested by a person diving in state waters by means of a rebreather, aboard a vessel fishing or at rest in state waters, shall constitute a violation of this subsection.

(c) The term “harvest” for purposes of this subsection means the catching or taking of a marine species by any means, followed by a reduction of the species to possession, whether or not the species has been killed or wounded.

 

Yes seriously.. It's reckless to contemplate buying one of these if they're endangered.

 

This was what I was wondering and why I didn't understand your comment.

 

They are worth it to some, just because they are so hard to find in this hobby. Also, I think they should be in public aquariums just so others can view the fish. They aren't like California Condors, IIRC they have a pretty nicely sized range too.