The Aquarium Hobby CARES Preservation Program
The Aquarium Hobby CARES Preservation Program
Written by Thursday, 22 December 2011 00:00
A Word from the Founder
Twenty years ago, after attending a lecture on the dire plight of conservation priority fishes, I stepped up to the podium and asked the presenter what I, the hobbyist, could do to help to ensure a positive future for these fishes. My fishroom housed species that were among those discussed in the presentation; how could I help? The answer given to me was that my donation of money to ongoing efforts was the greatest assistance that I could give. While I would certainly continue to donate monies for critical causes, this answer wasn’t enough for me…I wanted to be involved.
In May of 2004, renowned ichthyologist and conservationist, as well as my dear friend and mentor, and inspiration for the founding of CARES, Dr. Paul Loiselle, spoke at our monthly Greater City Aquarium Society meeting. Paul came with a message. This was a message of challenge to hobbyists to utilize our collective tanks and knowledge as the last and greatest hope of finding safe haven for at risk species which were, and continue to be, on the perilous brink of extinction.
In my heart I knew immediately that we could rise to that challenge, and so went home and began to write. After seven months of creating, revising, and re-revising a program (if you could only see its primal intricacies, later to be left on the cutting room floor!), CARES was born, and I was ready to present it to the world. CARES was first implemented by the Greater City Aquarium Society in December of 2004, quickly to be followed by the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, and the Asociación de Acuaristas de Aguadilla in Puerto Rico, and subsequently many more organizations. It has expanded to include CARES outreach programs, such as Mountain Valley Middle School CARES, Aqua Haves CARES, and Lake Victoria CARES.
Although our work is miles from completion, we have now built the foundation for a solid base stock of a number of high priority species. The response of so many to rise to the challenge has been deeply moving, and yet there should be no surprise as we are a unique lot and I knew that we could do it!
CARES was built on the principle of allowing everyone, whether they are a beginner or advanced hobbyist, to be given a chance to play a role, be a part, and feel as if they are making a difference in the positive future of at risk fishes.
In recent years, conservationists and scientists have come to realize that captive maintenance and procreation of species at risk, both within the country of origin and outside of the country of origin, has become the quintessential answer for both short-term and long-term preservation goals. This has been successfully undertaken by aquariums and zoos; however, these facilities lack the necessary space and staff to come to the aid of all of the species in need of immediate help. It became apparent that this is a role in which we as hobbyists, with our combined total of thousands of tanks and shared experiences, can make a significant difference.
To their great misfortune, and ours, the reality is that if we are not to dedicate our tanks to these fishes now, and form the base stock of a reliable source of established at risk species within the aquarium hobby, many will become extinct as, sadly, have over 400 species of cichlids of Lake Victoria, with numerous species of Madagascar and Central America following (too) closely behind.
Along with its numerous activities of providing universal education and awareness, as well as hands-on conservation efforts, the CARES goal is to distribute these species nationally, and globally, within our tanks to save them from extinction due to man’s interference and the destruction of their natural habitats. When they are gone from the wild, scientists will have our hobby stock as a resource for research, and we, and our successors, will have them to appreciate, as we would have those 400 species of Lake Victoria cichlids had we acted sooner. Those fishes are gone...never to be seen again but in photographs. As we act together, now, this reality will not come to those species that remain.
My heartfelt thanks go out to so many who have joined in the CARES effort to volunteer your time, your efforts, and your tanks, and to those of you who continue to spread the CARES word and assist others in becoming involved. I am deeply grateful to Paul Loiselle, David Boruchowitz, Anton Lamboj, Juan Miguel Artigas Azas, Ad Konings, Greg Steeves, Troy Veltrop, Klaus Steinhaus, Marina Parha and George Reclos, Joe Ferdenzi, David Hansen, the Babes in the Cichlid Hobby, FOTAS, and so many of you, and as always to my dear SUBSEE, forever my inspiration.
When I was a child, my father used to ask us each day, “What have you contributed today?” He referred not to something menial, but rather something for the greater picture. I feel such great admiration and pride in all of you, for all that you contribute each and every day. I will never cease to be profoundly touched and heartened by all that you do for CARES and conservation priority fishes.
With Warm Wishes,
Claudia
Claudia Dickinson
CARES Preservation Program Founder and Coordinator
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One person cannot save them all, but we can each save at least one. Together, we are making a difference!
Thank you for your invaluable contribution towards preserving our fishes for generations to come!!!
The CARES Preservation Program is about our fishes, and it is about people.
We are one team, working together. Please, clear a tank ~ save a fish!
Because of you, we are making a difference!