Recent content by Jaime Baquero

I was wondering if someone has gotten news from Manila. They had a very nasty storm. Most of the exporters facilities are in Manila City where the damage is very bad.

Dave, Yes, there are many lessons learned. We humans, do learn from mistakes. Since the beginning, many knew that MAC was dealing with complicate issues, one of the most difficult to deal with has been the lack of interest of the majority within the industry to get involve in the process of...

Oceanfish, I understand your concern about what is happening to a great percentage of marine ornamentals collected for the marine aquarium industry. However, I should say that the feedback I get from canadian fish buyers importing fish from Hawaii is that the quality is excellent and DOA and...

Peter, How many exporters in the Philippines are treating the shipping water TODAY? What is the percentage of marine ornamentals coming to NA from the Ph? It has been stated MANY times that the solutions to many of the problems this trade faces involve much more that net training. What is the...

Peter, The fact is that with all the information that was collected during ALL those years NOTHING happened to anyone of the major exporters in the Philippines. IMA/BFAR did nothing and exporters in the Philippines keep sending juiced fish around the globe. I understand corruption is one of...

Peter, The size of the sample ( dealings with very few dealers) you are considering can not be considered as representative of an industry that deals with thousands of fish in a single day. Jaime

Peter, When you (IMA) had the names of the exporters showing positive results, back in the late 90's early 00's, why you didn't make that public announcement? Jaime

Peter, It is sad to read that the same comments are being made since the early 80's when the PIJAC mission when to the Philippines. Almost 30 years saying that "something" has to be done to reduce fish mortality due to poor handling and holding to each one of the links of the COC. Thousands...

Well planted FW aquariums with a nice selection of fish could be as interesting as is a nice reef tank. Serious FW hobbyists are willing to put big money for the state of the art FW tank. It all depends on your display tanks. As you know FW is easier to handle. Fresh water fish disease can be...

Steve, Is there any way to help those families. We can collect some money. Jaime

Back in 97-98 I visited all exporters in Manila a no one had a single Yellow Tang in stock. Also I visited Cartimar in Manila and found that the pet shops had Yellow tangs for sale. I asked where are those fish coming from and the answer from the sales people was.... Hawaii. It is possible that...

[ Who said anything about going to Tonga? You could interview the guys with you and mail the tape, or you could write an article to try to reach an audience larger than this small forum, or you could create a podcast or a piece for NPR radio becasue you are actually with the guys. Perhaps you...

Hi all, What about banning the trade of ventralis? If there is not demand, collectors won't have to risk their lives to "satisfy" hobbyists and retailers who care very little about what could happen to divers during collection. Jaime

Hi Steve, When Meme gets back please say hello. He is the best Filipino fish collector and a very honest man, by now, he must know many more things about the trade of marine ornamental fish. Jaime

Steve, Thanks for sharing the information. I feel sad and worried for what happened to Jose. It is important to know what really happened. Must be difficult for you, as is for us far away, to see and know how the poor collectors are abused by Tongan exporters. Seems that fish importers in NA...