saxat ur IMAC nyhetsbrev

[Tedb]

How many marine aquarium fish collectors will die before the marine aquarium trade becomes safe and sustainable?

In September another fish collector in Bali was killed while working to support his family with the meager earnings from his difficult and dangerous work.

In this case, Bacok and a fellow collector were diving near their village at depths of 30-40m to collect yellowlined anthias (Pseudanthias luzonensis), squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) and two color dottyback (Pseudochromis paccagnellae). As is usually the case in Indonesia and many other poor countries, the collectors had no dive watches or depth gauges. Rough weather caused the anchor to drag. A big wave caught the drifting boat and the divers were yanked abruptly to the surface by the air hoses attached to the tire compressor on board. Bacok was dead when he reached the surface, with burst lungs, leaving behind a wife and two young children. The other collector survived.

Bacok was only one of several collectors who die or are maimed each year while trying to fill their orders. Most of these deaths and other work-related injuries of collectors go unrecorded. The collectors are poor and may be among the few people in the village with work. Their death or incapacitation generally has catastrophic impacts on the family and friends who depend on their income, as social welfare support systems are limited or non-existent.

Yes, diving is inherently dangerous - but could this accident have been prevented? Bacok was an experienced collector diving at significant depths. What factors oblige these ill-equipped collectors to take such risks?

Unfortunately the relatively low prices paid for most shallow-water species create a strong incentive for collectors to seek out the rarer, more expensive species, many of which inhabit in greater depths. The industry and hobby need to be aware of the risks collectors take to hunt down species that occur at great depths and make more informed choices about the animals they buy. Support from the industry and hobby for adequate equipment and training as the norm for marine aquarium fisheries in all countries would certainly help to make collection practices safer. Improved prices for fish caught under safe conditions would act as an incentive to collect in shallower water - with the added benefit of creating a ‘depth refuge’ for the deeper reef habitat and stocks.

We should all ask ourselves, especially those buying marine ornamentals, whether industry member or hobbyist: What can I do to help prevent this kind of tragedy and help ensure dignity, decent earnings, and safer working conditions for the collectors who make possible my livelihood or hobby?

[Draedon]

tänkvärd läsning... :/

[chrilleus]

Fast å andra sidan kan man nog skriva en liknande snyftare om dom flesta icke "tjänstemannayrkesgrupperna".. Sorgligt nog..

[Jaken]

Jag måste säga att jag tycker detta IMAC urdrag var ganska patetiskt från deras sida. Snyftare är nog ett bra ordval.

Självklart ska ingen jobba under osäkra arbetsförhållanden, men det finns många arbetare både fattiga och rika länder som har detta problem, tyvärr.

Hur många här inne köper icke Kravmärkta bananer? Där kan vi snacka om att arbetarna far illa av alla gifter.

banan

[Manks]

Jag handlar rättvisemärkta, kravmärkta baner. Och rättvisemärkt kaffe. Dock kan man fråga sig hur det står till med mina adidaströjjor, basketkängor och liknande....