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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Captive fish have been important
to mankind since prehistoric times.
Ancient Egyptians were the first humans known to keep fish not only
for food purposes but as a source of food and entertainment. As depicted in their hieroglyphics, Egyptians
mostly worked withTilapiaspecies and Mormyrids.
Goldfish have been selectively
bred in China since at least the 10th century.
However, Goldfish were not introduced into Europe until the late 17th
century (c. 1791). In 1853, the London Zoological Society established a public aquarium to display fish species. By
1864, public aquariums had been opened in Paris and Hamburg. The majority of the fish in these aquariums were
species that were local and could be caught in nearby rivers and lakes. In 1869, the first "tropical" fish was
imported from Asia, the Paradise Fish (Macropodus
opercularis). From that point on, more and more "tropical"
species were imported from far off lands.
In the early days, tropical aquariums
were heated by an open flame, a dangerous and inefficient means of warming an aquarium. Filters were large, noisy and expensive. Water
chemistry was poorly understood and good water conditioners did not exist. Fish suffered dietary deficiencies from
the poor variety of live and dried foods.
Only a small variety of species was available, of those, only a few
were well documented. The aquariast was at a loss of finding reliable information regarding fish size, feeding,
care, and social behavior. Almost all fish were wild-caught; and few were captive bred. During transport, mortality rates were
high, further driving up the cost of the hobby.
As a result, tropical fish-keeping,as it was known, was a hobby was
for the rich and scientifically inclined.
Today, aquarium technology has improved and fish keeping is much easier.
Today, most aquarium fish are
still bred in Asia, although substantial numbers are produced in Florida. These captive-bred species have several
advantages over wild-caught fish in that they are available on a more regular basis, are less likely to harbor
a wide range of parasites, are less expensive, and tend to be hardier. However, successive generations of captive
inbred fish tend to have less color and smaller fins than wild fish except in the case of selective breeding.
Tropical fish-keeping is becoming
more and more popular despite the advent of aquarium simulation programs on the computer where a person can keep
a fish tank without ever getting their hands wet.
The reason for the increasing popularity of the hobby is due to environmental
awareness, the great variety of species, and relative ease of care of fish. Fish are pets that do not require much
care, and an aquarium can add to the decor of a room.
Fish-keeping is an enjoyable hobby that can bring relaxation and enlightenment
for persons of every age and interest.
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Recent news
Atlantic sturgeon gains protection under the Endangered Species Act
(02/01/2012)
The U.S. federal government has listed the massive and bizarre Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) under the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Historically overfishing decimated the Atlantic sturgeon, while on-going threats include pollution and infrastructure, like dams and bridges that destroy habitat. Fishing for the Atlantic sturgeon has been banned since 1998, they are still caught as bycatch.
Photos: 46 new species found in little-explored Amazonian nation
(01/25/2012)
South America's tiniest independent nation still hides a number of big surprises: a three week survey to the sourthern rainforests of Suriname found 46 potentially new species and recorded nearly 1,300 species in all. Undertaken by Conservation International's (CI) Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) the survey found new species of freshwater fish, insects, and a new frog dubbed the "cowboy frog" for the spur on its heel. While Suriname may be small, much of its forest, in the Guyana Shield region of the Amazon, remains intact and pristine. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 91 percent of Suriname is covered in primary forests, however this data has not been updated in over two decades.
Featured video: tuna industry bycatch includes sea turtles, dolphins, whales
(01/16/2012)
A Greenpeace video, using footage from a whistleblower, shows disturbing images of the tuna industry operating in the unregulated waters of the Pacific Ocean. Using fish aggregation devices (FADs) and purse seine nets, the industry is not only able to catch entire schools of tuna, including juvenile, but also whatever else is in the area of the net.
Bycatch-reducing fish trap wins $20,000
(01/11/2012)
An innovative fish trap that allows small non-target fish to escape won a new content by RARE Conservation and National Geographic to fund solutions to overfishing. Developed through studies in Curaçao and Kenya with the Wildlife Conservation Society, the trap has gaps for juvenile fish to swim out of reportedly reducing bycatch by 80 percent. The entry won a $20,000 grant.
World's most expensive tuna
(01/05/2012)
A 593 pound Pacific bluefin tuna sold for $735,000 (56.49 million yen) in Tokyo's Tsukiji market today. This beats the previous record price hit last year by over $260,000. Why so expensive? Bluefin tuna, considered the best sashimi and sushi in the world, have been fished to near extinction with the population of the Pacific bluefin the most stable to date.
Top 10 Environmental Stories of 2011
(12/22/2011)
Many of 2011's most dramatic stories on environmental issues came from people taking to the streets. With governments and corporations slow to tackle massive environmental problems, people have begun to assert themselves. Victories were seen on four continents: in Bolivia a draconian response to protestors embarrassed the government, causing them to drop plans to build a road through Tipnis, an indigenous Amazonian reserve; in Myanmar, a nation not known for bowing to public demands, large protests pushed the government to cancel a massive Chinese hydroelectric project; in Borneo a three-year struggle to stop the construction of a coal plant on the coast of the Coral Triangle ended in victory for activists; in Britain plans to privatize forests created such a public outcry that the government not only pulled back but also apologized; and in the U.S. civil disobedience and massive marches pressured the Obama Administration to delay a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which would bring tar sands from Canada to a global market.
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