As the old adage goes ‘if it’s too good to be true, then it probably isn’t’ and this wholly applies to many different corals being classified as maricultured. Everyone who deals in and sells corals should be aware of what…
The Indonesian Coral Trade is Business As Usual
We all know now, that after mariculture corals were re-opened at the beginning of the year, wild coral collection was also re-opened right after. We can now enjoy a complete supply of corals from Indonesia, like back in the old…
Farmed Corals from Indonesia Will Never be the Same
After a few days of euphoria with everyone thinking that the unlimited supply of cheap maricultured coral from Indonesia is back we are feeling a bit hungover. We tried to communicate the message that things would be different in last…
The First Official Statement on the Coral Ban from the Indonesian Fisheries Dept.
It’s been 3 weeks, since a new fisheries department minister was appointed in Indonesia. Under the former minister who was responsible for the ban, there’s hasn’t been any release of an official statement on the subject of the suspension of…
Hoeksemai Acro is the King of Blue Staghorn Corals!
Acropora hoeksemai is a gorgeous blue staghorn Acro which been a classic Indonesian coral, produced in the thousands through mariculture. So you would think that this coral is probably available all over the world right now, through frag sellers, but its…
Not All Fish Are Cultured Equally
By: Michael Judson Ever since “captive bred” labels started popping up all over clownfish tanks, captive breeding has remained one of the flagship methods of reducing the ethical controversies plaguing the aquarium industry. Lessening what we take from the wild while…
First Sustainable Acropora spathulata Now Available from Bali Aquarium
Bali Aquarium has just come out with an Indonesian strain of Green Apple Acropora spathulata. After a collecting trip in central Indonesia last year, three fragments were collected out of the first ever colony of this species discovered in Indonesia. This…
Under Water in Okinawa
Okinawa, Japan is known for its great diving and lush coral reefs. Going into it, I didn’t know what to expect with this dive. I’ve heard all sorts of cautionary tales about diving in Okinawa due to its strong currents,…
Cherry-picking fresh Acros right from the Coral Farm
Cherry picking corals from an ocean based coral farm is very much like picking ripe fruit from a tree. Otherwise known as mariculture, growing corals in the ocean offers the same advantages and disadvantages as growing of food crops. On one…
New research shows live coral trade could actually help preserve reefs
As hobbyists, we’ve used to the perception that importing live coral specimens from the wild has a negative impact on coral reef ecosystems in the wild, but new research is actually showing the hobby is actually having a positive impact…
