Netting Fundraiser

[MikeP]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up - Mary Middlebrook of www.seacrop.com and Marine Specialties Intl is sponsoring a drive to raise funds for netting for fish collectors in the Phillipines. There have been great strides in training collectors to use nets instead of chemicals to catch fish but sadly they lack many of the materials to put this in practice. Check it out - I was thinking we could do a group donation on behalf of MAAST if not I was going to do one myself anyways - A good cause and one that can help keep our hobby alive and thriving!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...p;pagenumber=1

-MikeP

[witecap4u]

Ok, I know its for a good cause and all, but reading the post on RC, brought a couple questions to mind.

1) They said the net materials are really cheap, but they were trying to raise something like $3K, and said it would cost alot to ship it over there, well, why not transfer the money and buy the materials there. The Phillipines is where ALOT of stuff is made, including alot of clothing, so I would think that the materials would be readily available and possible even cheaper.

2) If the collectors are so interested in using nets, but cannot afford them, then how can they afford to constantly buy chemicals, but cannot afford the one time cost of some nets.....?

Not trying to put you on the spot mike, I know you were just relaying to post, but just some stuff that popped into my head....cs

[MikeP]

Chad, skepticism is a good thing. I can only say that Mary is a tireless champion of sustainable collection methods and a very nice person. There is a forum there you can pose these questions if you are curious - even if you don't want to donate. See what Eric Borneman has to say about the project and it's people - if no one else goes in I will probably donate 25 bucks on monday on behalf of MAAST.

-Mike