lduncan Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 I while back I heard some rumours about Eric Borneman while chatting with some prominent US reefers. Basically it was about some dubious collection practises of restricted coral species by him and his associated company. Interestingly it was around the time he said his tank crashed (that never really did add up). Anyway, looks like he's managed to piss someone off enough for them to setup a website with some of the relevant documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act: http://www.opportunitylost.org/ Layton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 That will hammer his credibility, given he is so well respected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 It sure will. The reason it took so long to become "public" was because he had tried to keep it quiet, apparently threatening legal action against any who attempted to disclose the details. But now it's all out under FOIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Can't they just get more. I am sure there will be plenty of these corals in Florida. One thing i don’t understand is, if these are rare corals, would it not be better to get them propagating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Full on article http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-08/eb/index.php Good to see the work done on the reefs. Maybe it would be a good idea if we stopped the importing of coral/fish as it is pretty sad what is happening to the reefs around the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 more info http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic64492-9-1.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 I don't know the in's and out's of the permit systems. But relatively speaking Caribbean corals are rare compared with Pacific ones. The issues were, He took large corals which he was specifically instructed not to, because the Navy were required to be transplanted by law. He could not verify that reasonable steps were made to keep these Caribbean corals separate from pacific corals, meaning that reintroduction as required wasn't possible. This was done deliberately. He apparently used corals which he acquired for research purposes for his personal financial gain. Selling them, and running a "chop shop". He said that he had certain restricted species, which were not available in the collection zone. These were obtained illegally. His tank "crash" coincides with the formal letter revoking the permit. Those people that he said came to his home to sabotage his tank were probably the authorities repossessing corals. I think there is more to come here. The released info so far is not entirely complete yet. Layton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 I still have big respect for the man. Easy to throw stones but some of us have also bent the rules. He caved in to the same temptation we all face at some time and did wrong. I feel sadness at this, rather than gloating about it. The man is still a reefing genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 It's a little more serious than just bending some rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Sure it is. But Layton even just bending little rules is serious. Remember the painted apple moth multi million debacle? Luckily after several years hard work it ended well but could have been a national disaster. Cos someone just bent a little rule, probably "accidentally" forgot to declare an apple or similar at customs. I class all rule breaking the same. Just Eric being a well known coral propogationist will be a much bigger target for some, and some people take enjoyment in this type of thing. Since even bending those "little" rules can have seroius consequences, I'd say let him who has never done anything wrong feel free to throw the first stone, otherwise it's a little hypocritical to critisize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Just Eric being a well known coral propogationist will be a much bigger target for some, and some people take enjoyment in this type of thing. Maybe it's actually because he and associated company were granted these collection permits over other researchers and projects. And some people are probably pissed off that he squandered and abused the rare opportunity. I'd say let him who has never done anything wrong feel free to throw the first stone, otherwise it's a little hypocritical to critisize. That's an unusual statement. If that was everyone's attitude, no-one would ever be criticised for doing wrong, and no one would be held accountable for their actions. Layton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Whatever. I'm still saddened by it, don't like to see it being drawn out, argued about, & gloated over. I'm with Reef Can't they just get more. I am sure there will be plenty of these corals in Florida. One thing i don’t understand is, if these are rare corals, would it not be better to get them propagating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted March 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 The Japanese whale in a marine sanctuary under the understanding that they kill whales only for research purposes. They abuse this, and chop up whales they kill and sell it as food in Japan. But who cares, there are always more whales there to harvest right? A guy gets permits to collect corals in a reef sanctuary under the understanding that they are to be used for research into Caribbean coral diseases. He abuses this, collecting bigger corals than allowed, contaminates them with pacific corals, and chops them up for sale. But who cares, there are always more corals there to harvest right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 Whaling is a whole new can of worms. Personally I am not against whaling ( I know I am in a minority ), provided it is done humanely, and sustainably. I am against whaling in its current form though because I don't think current Japanese thinking meets either of those criterion. But back to topic, Eric did wrong, nobody denies that. However it would be hypocritical for somebody to gloat over him getting caught, if they themselves have ever bent the rules regarding prohibited species, dodgy importing, etc. I'll add here that I am not perfect in that regard, but nor am I critisizing Eric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 What was the outcome in all of this???. Did he have to return all corals or is it still under dispute? Read through the e-mails etc, but no conclusion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted March 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 Yes, some corals (the ones NOAA could get hold of) were eventually returned after a series of emails concerned about the condition and use of them, finally culminating in a formal letter requesting the return of all corals collected under the permit. Many were returned in "a very poor condition" (bleached and dying) Chopped up and unattached to bases. They were basically neglected. I think there are still some other outcomes pending, according to the rumours I heard last year, but I haven't seen anything "official" about it yet, so I won't comment on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 thanks Layton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 Wow, will be interesting to see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Once again you are using the forum for your personal bitching at each other. You were not satisfied with running someone's character down.. but now you start to run each other down. Take your discussions back to RC and give us all a rest. Topic is locked till further notice. Bill Mod. Thanks Pegasus, It seems a select few on this site are incapable of keeping their toys in the cot. The bitchy remarks have been removed and the topic permanently locked. Why do you guys always have to do this - it's childish? Oh well, you'll learn one way or another... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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