The Lightning Project

With SOPA and PIPA making news this week, it’s all too timely to bring up a brief discussion about copyright.  I was 100% against these measures because they lacked the necessary protections of due-process…all it takes is an accusation to bring down an entire server, a server which could house dozens or hundreds of unrelated websites.  Never-mind whether the accusations are even true.

That said, copyright is some pretty serious business.  What people don’t realize is that some of the aquarium industries most valuable photographers are actually reducing what they publish because rip-offs are simply too prevalent.  To date, there have been only three people here in my home shooting high-quality photography of the Lightning Maroon Clownfish.

First is Tony Vargas.  He shot for over an hour, to the point of almost ignoring the other 16 tanks in my house!  Tony takes copyright so seriously that he releases few if any images from his work, and when he does, he’s forced to watermark right over the subject,  like this:

It’s a shame that Tony must do this, as a watermark is, in my opinion, very obtrusive.  However, Tony has been driven to this as a stern measure to help enforce the copyright over his work.  You (the vague, amorphous, internet community at large) are to blame.

Marc Levenson has been here too and photographed the Lightning Maroon.  It’s fair to say that Marc shares my dislike of watermarking over a photographs subject.  So instead, he places a photo credit within the picture, but off to the side or bottom so it doesn’t interfere.  For example, this:

Better yes, but certainly such a mark is easily cropped off this image.  I implemented such an image strategy in an earlier business, and routinely found my images being used by my competitors to sell competing products….they’d just cut off the watermark and use the image as if it was their own.  Policing this was a nightmare.  I invested thousands of dollars to create this photography to sell my products and they’re stealing it and underselling me.  You bet it drove me insane.  It was HIGHLY wrong and quite illegal to do what they were doing.

But in the end, I still did not choose to watermark my images as Tony had done.  So really, if I’m not going to watermark every image I put up here because I want this audience to enjoy unfettered images, what am I asking of you, the reader?

Well for starters, I’m asking you to not steal my images.  We’re not even through the first month of 2012, and I’ve already been notified of 2 unauthorized uses of my Lightning Maroon photography.  Certainly some of you may ask “what’s the big deal”?

First off, it’s because they didn’t ask.  Yes, often times all it takes is to say what image you want to use, why you want to use it, and often you’ll get positive response from the average photographer who isn’t doing it for a living.  Yes, Tony and Marc both gave their blessings for me to share their photography here on the website.

Of course, Marc and Tony were invited to my house.  They shoot photos of my property, without offering any compensation to do so, so there’s an understanding and respect there from the get go…i.e. I’d hope that these friends of mine would contact me and suggest me first if anyone came to them looking to license Lightning Maroon photography.  By the same token, Tony has one image that I’ve said “that’s the cover of my BOOK Tony, that’s awesome, and I’d hope he’d be kind enough to simply let me use the image gratis (since it is my fish in my tank afterall, shot with my permission)..but I’d still make sure he’s compensated in some way because man, a book cover of that caliber…he deserves it.

So yes, even with ALL of this “unspoken understanding”, I still showed my friends the courtesy of ASKING before using their images here on TLP.  And still, it’s important to note that technically, if Marc or Tony wanted to commercially use their photography of the Lightning Maroon in my home, they’d have to obtain a property release form from me in order to do so (and if I wanted to be a jerk, I could make them pay me for that release)- it’s that much more important because the Lightning Maroon is a one-of-a-kind, instantly recognizable fish that over time has also become synonymous with me.  Still, so much of this in the aquarium world functions on mutual respect and the understanding.  And despite that, every image I use in a story on Reef Builders is either creative commons, my own, or one that I’ve ASKED to use first.

But the fact that this month’s infringers didn’t ask to use my photography is almost trivial…in both cases this year if infringers had asked for permission, I would’ve said “no”, you can’t use this image in this manner.  But still, understand that I might say “yes” just as easily to some future inquiry, or I might say “for that use, I’d be willing to license the image”.

In the two cases this year, I didn’t get paid either way.  That’s theft.  Granted, I wouldn’t have offered to license these images either.  Doesn’t make it OK to steal them then.  If you can’t afford it, or it’s not available for purchase, theft is not the solution.  You’re not starving and my images are not a loaf of bread.

But the real conundrum here is that along the way, this iconic fish has become synonymous with my personal name.  So when someone uses my photography of a one of a kind fish that I own, people recognize it.  Instantly.  And I’ve found it directly associates back to me.

The use of my Lightning Maroon photography in commercial settings creates a connection between myself and the activities of the person who isn’t authorized to use the imagery in the first place.  It’s interesting because in both cases of infringement this month, I found out not by my own hand (it never happens that way) but because people contacted me to say “Hey, do you know this person that’s using the Lightning Clownfish in this way here on the internet?  What can you tell me about their product/service/business?”

Well guess what kind of response your business / project / service gets when I find out you’re stealing my photography and along the way, creating the illusion of an unspoken, unofficial endorsement by me?  Do you think I have glowingly wonderful things to say about you and your business?

I’m not going to go into the realities of copyright law here.  Yes, I’m trained in it; understanding copyright was crucial in my professional line of work.  Here’s the important pieces of advice, both for me, and in general:

• If you’re re-posting a Lightning Maroon Clownfish image of mine on a forum or something to say “Hey, check out this new shot” and you attribute it to me and link to the blog, I’m not going to have a problem with that, I get that, and you’re not causing me any harm by doing that.  However…
• If you find an image of the Lightning Maroon out there in any other capacity, that wasn’t published by me, a vendor who handled the fish (Pacific Aqua Farms, Blue Zoo Aquatics), or someone who’s known to have photographed the fish (Ret Talbot, myself, Marc Levenson, Tony Vargas, and soon to be Gary L. Parr), please let me know immediately as it is probably an unauthorized use.
• The Lightning Maroon’s likeness will never be licensed out for use as part of any brand identity..i.e. you’ll never see a logo with the Lightning Maroon in it unless it’s something I’ve done, for me (i.e. if  I have babies to sell someday).  Anything even remotely commercial at this point,  chances are it’s unauthorized and I want to know about it.
• If you want to use any images of the Lightning Maroon, in a commercial or journalistic setting, please ask first so we can discuss whether I’m comfortable with the use, and any potential licensing arrangement.

• Any image, text, etc, is covered by copyright the second it is created.  It does not require a copyright symbol, sign, watermark or any other notation to be copyright protected.  Just because it doesn’t say “Copyright Matt Pedersen 2012″ on the image, doesn’t mean it’s not my image.
• All you really need to know is a very simple test – if you didn’t create it yourself, and you didn’t license it from someone else who did, then you don’t have any claim of copyright on that work.  Using it in just about any setting could have you violating copyright.  Again, not going to get into “fair use” cases because frankly, in the aquarium hobby world and industry there aren’t many likely scenarios for a fair use claim to arise.
• In general, if you’re just rumbling around the internet and find a picture you want to use for something, ask first.
• If you don’t know who’s image it is, find out.
• If you can’t find out, move on and find another image.
• Or go find an image on Flickr that’s available for attribution only license via Creative Commons
• Bottom line, real simple, if you want to stay above board, avoid public embarrasment, avoid nasty emails, and avoid a bad reputation, make it yourself.

It’s really simple folks.  Life is better for everyone if we respect the creative works of other people.  It costs real money and time to create and publish these works for you to enjoy.  It is one thing to share and attribute those works to promote them (although you’re probably still violating copyright law), but it is an entirely different story to use images in a commercial manner of any kind, let alone in a manner that appears to create an   endorsement or partnership where none exists.

After weeks where there was no news in 2010, I guess I make up for it with like 4 or 5 posts in a week and a two-for-one this Friday (it’s still Friday somewhere).

My friends at CORAL Magazine put together a couple really good nuggets of info that ran Thursday evening.  First up, a nicely reformatted and image-enhanced version of EcoEZ’s PNG SEASMART Press Release.  Followed up immediately by the eloquent and insightful commentary of Ret Talbot, who asks “What Price Sustainability” about this latest turn of events for SEASMART and Papua New Guinea.

As you may know, Ret Talbot is most certainly a friend of mine and a friend of the Lighting Project, being in Papua New Guinea working on his CORAL Magazine Article when the Lightning Maroon was collected.  Without a doubt, one of the first people from the states to see this fish in real life.  While Ret has a hectic schedule, he knows he has a standing invitation to contribute to, or be interviewed for, The Lightning Project.  As of late, Ret has been furiously making it his job to know everything he can about sustainability and it’s place in the current and future marine aquarium industry.  Keep an eye out for more from Ret, wherever it’s published (including the January/February 2011 edition of CORAL, which features a story on marine fish collection in Hawaii).

One of the highlights of my trip to MACNA in Orlando this year was getting to meet many of the people who were involved in bringing the Lightning Maroon Clownfish from PNG to my home aquarium in Duluth, MN.  While I documented this trip already in my 2010 MACNA recap on Reefbuilders, I wanted to elaborate and do something complimentary here.

I must admit that having been put in contact with David Vosseler by Ret Talbot, I’ve had the opportunity to share my questions, comments and concerns about PNG SEASMART in the past few months over email.  I must say, the conversation has admittedly been relatively one-sided and tangential to other discussions I’m having at the time.  For example, I still think that in the grand scheme of things, there is a big “fatal flaw” to the notion that a sustainable wild harvest industry will provide sufficient conservation and preservation of coral reefs.  I say this, not because I don’t believe in sustainability, but rather because I don’t feel that sustainability is enough.  Specifically, a sustainable wild harvest can defend a coral reef from localized issues such as shoreline or “upstream” development problems.  It can protect a reef from dynamite fishing or other heavy impact fishing for sustenance.  However, a sustainability program like SEASMART cannot directly stand in the way of ocean acidification or coral bleaching from rising ocean temperatures as a result of climate change.

I can’t say I ever got a response from David Vosseler regarding this “fatal flaw” of sustainability, but I simply take that as an acknowledgement of the problem and the reality that SEASMART isn’t meant to address climate change or ocean acifidification.  No, it’s meant to create value to the local owners of the resource, as I learned that each village owns its own reef and ultimately decides how best to utilize that resource.  What is perhaps most promising is that this program was actually started not by a private individual looking to plunder a developing nation, but with the cooperation and blessing and integral support of the government of Papua New Guinea itself.

Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself, but I have to say that MACNA provided me the opportunity to meet with MANY people working in the SEASMART program as well as some of the government officials responsible for this program.  The first person I met on Saturday afternoon was Simeon Daple (a SEASMART FMA Team Leader and RAM Scientist) who told me about the PNG lifestyle and his hopes for this program.  Of course, the conversation took a turn when someone else (I think David’s wife Judy) recognized my name and realized that I was the person who has the Lightning Maroon.  Admittedly, I was a bit caught off guard and felt a bit like a celebrity, especially with Selma Pamolak, another FMA Team Leader and RAM Scientist, asked to have her picture taken with me.   Somewhere in the shuffle I got to meet Mark Schreffler (Communities & Market Development, Eco-EZ) and Philip Sokou, yet another FMA Team Leader and RAM Scientist.  I gotta say, Philip really struck me with his enthusiasm and energy.  He’s someone to keep an eye on, and someone I wish I had gotten to spend more time with.

In the short conversations I got to have with everyone from SEASMART that afternoon, I quickly realized just how much of an impact the PNG Lightning Maroon Clown had made not only on the marine aquarium world, but on the team @ SEASMART.  The fact that the Lightning Maroon graced the SEASMART T-Shirt should have told me how famous the fish was.  I must have told the story at least 3 or 4 times on Saturday of how I had let the Lightning Maroon go on its “first date” with the big Maroon Clown and how it went.  Ironically, the reality I took away from this was very simple.  My home is the USA residence of a very prominent PNG / SEASMART ambassador.  It’s an honor to be charged with the care of this creature, and since the fish cannot speak itself, it’s my job to speak on its behalf.  While I already do that with the website, it was definitely exciting to talk about the breeding prospects for this fish with everyone I met from SEASMART on Saturday.

Of course, I did finally get to meet David Vosseler, SEASMART Program Director, face-to-face.  I couldn’t have met a more warm, optimistic man.  I NEED some of that optimism…David do you bottle it?  Of course, I mentioned some of the “tough questions” I’ve asked him in the past and explained where I was coming from, but quickly, again, the conversation moved to Lighting Maroons!  There is just never enough time to talk.  Fortunately for me, and for many of the other people who approach a program like SEASMART with cautious and healthy skepticism, David Vosseler was the MACNA Banquet Speaker.  As a speaker, there is no higher honor than to be asked to present to a truly captive audience of over 1000 people.  Talk about pressure.

Well, I have to say, David’s presentation on SEASMART was exceptional.  He didn’t bore us with dull figures and a long lecture.  No, he hit all the truly key points and explained how the program works within the unique culture of Papua New Guinea.  What David may not know is that some of my other very hard questions, including one about the fledgling PNG coral mariculture program, were fully and adequately answered in this presentation.  Yes, there were people who saw this presentation and felt they were being “pitched” or “sold to”, but to that end, I have to say if you felt you were being “persuaded” it’s because you were.  The arguments put forth were BEYOND compelling.

Like I said, David didn’t drone on for an hour or longer with some boring presentation.  Instead, after maybe 15 minutes of talking, he brought a 30 minute video directly from PNG of the SEASMART program in action.  It covered the entire process start to finish.  Of course, the surprise of the night was seeing the PNG Lightning Maroon Clownfish featured for almost a full minute in the video.  Well, actually, that wasn’t the surprise.  The surprise was when the fish hit the screen, the entire room, over 1000 strong, erupted in applause.  Brian Blank says it was a standing ovation.  For a fish.  That is now living in my basement.  And has its own website.  All of which leads me to ask “what the hell was I thinking?”!  Talk about a feeling of renewed pressure!

Sunday I was due to depart at 1:00 PM, which left me just enough time to catch a couple more presentations.  At 12:00 PM, I had to make the very tough decision between Ret Talbot’s talk on PNG and Ken Nedimyer’s talk on the Coral Restoration Foundation.  Honestly, were it not for the fact that Ret and I have chatted online for what feels like a couple years at least, we had only shaken hands the entire weekend and had never met before.  So of course, friendship, and PNG, win out over Ken.  Sorry too Ken, because I really, really, really wanted to be in your talk too – you’re doing very important work, keep it up!

So yeah, Ret’s talk on his trip to PNG provided another perspective on the country, the people, and the SEASMART program.

I even got to learn about the true home of the Lighting Maroon Clownfish, SEASMART’s first Fishery Management Area, known as Fisherman’s Island!

Of course, it figures that I’d be sitting in the front row snapping a picture when he puts up a slide of the Lightning Maroon and points at me!  I wish I had a better camera with on this trip, but we captured the moment!

If there’s one thing I could say about Ret’s talk – bring him and David out to your local club events and have them give their talks together…perhaps Ret’s first, and then David’s.  We’re at a time in our hobby when we need to think more about where our fish come from (I’ve seen talks on that topic from Richard Ross and Kevin Kohen as well), and we’re at a time when we need to talk more about the sustainability of our wild collection (another good person to talk to about alternatives to traditional collection might be Matt Carberry of Sustainable Aquatics, and their revisiting and promoting of “grown out” tank-raised juveniles offered under the Sustainable Island brand).

After Ret’s talk I actually got to meet several more people although my time was really limited (a ride to the airport with Tom Frakes was waiting for me at 1:15!).   I still remember once agian telling Bede Tomokita about the Lightning Maroon’s “first date” the week prior, and expressing my hope for the SEASMART program to continue strongly.  There was one big thing I wasn’t going to leave without, and that was this picture below.  Everyone from PNG and the SEASMART program left you filled with hope, optimism, and a deep desire to see this project succeed.

Back Row, from left to right:
Bede Tomokita – PNG National Fisheries Association (NFA) Board director representing the Commerce and Industry Dep’t
David Vosseler – SEASMART Program Director
Simeon Daple – Fisheries Management Area (FMA) Team Leader and Resource Assessment and Management (RAM) Scientist
Paul Nivori – PNG NFA Board Chair
Matt Pedersen (“me”) – 2009 MASNA Aquarist of the Year and very humble Lightning Maroon Clownfish caretaker
Felix Tapie - Fisheries Minister’s First Secretary
Kawoi Songoro – PNG NFA Baord Director representing coastal fishers
Ret Talbot – MACNA presenter, CORAL author, journalist and editor, all around cool fish dude

Front Row, from left to right:
Philip Sokou – FMA Team Leader and RAM Scientist
Selma Pamolak – FMA Team Leader and RAM Scientist
Jordan Ross – SEASMART Volunteer (makes me think of the unpaid interns in The Life Aquatic)

SEASMART as a project is only slated to go through something like the end of this year since it’s a trial project funded by the government.  The message we walked away with was BUY PNG FISH…this program needs to show profitability to continue!  Of course, I’m always a proponent of voting with your wallet.  PNG fish are available through multiple wholesalers / importers.  If you want SEASMART fish, you need to ask for them.  Some of the key points include all hand caught, all caught in less than 5 meters of water (no risky deep diving, it’s safe for fishers).  Fish are held in the ocean after collection, on site, and are screened before they ever enter the supply chain.  Those that don’t make the grade (i.e. could be something as simple as a split fin) are returned to the reef.

More than one person left that weekend mentioning that they were so inspired that they wanted their entire tank to come from PNG.  I have a project in the works and it will be a PNG biotope aquarium, the future home for the Lightning Maroon and his ultimate mate.  I’ve sent a request for information up the chain to Mark Schreffler,who I know is busy, but hopefully in the coming weeks and months we can talk more about what a PNG Biotope tank filled with SEASMART critters might be!

And to the government of PNG, I’ll send this open request.  Please do not let this project go unfunded.  This is a starting point, critical mass is just starting to form.  Do not pull the rug out from underneath and leave us all scratching our heads.  Everyone outside wants to see this project work and more specifically, wants to see your citizens derive the most benefit with the least impact.  I personally want to know that the person who collects my fish is doing so in a safe, non-impactful manner, bringing me a high quality fish, and all the while being WELL-PAID to do so.  We’ve all heard what we think are the right things being said and done as part of the SEASMART program, but we need to see it continue.  Efforts like this take time.  SEASMART is clearly employing many PNG natives (I see over 40 on the SEASMART Team Pages).   It is creating jobs in PNG, but in the worldwild Marine Aquarium Trade it is also creating a lot of hope for a shining example of a new, better way to get our livestock and create local value, and thus an incentive to preserve coral reefs, in the process.

Frankly, I’m not convinced that such a program should ever be handed over solely to private hands.  No, I kind-of like that the government is involved and working with the scientists to set catch limits and such.  This partnership and collaboration, where the government works together with the people to create and regulate this trade for the long term benefit of the resources and the local community stakeholders is a very good idea.  I suppose there’s another open letter to David Vosseler in the making, with the question “how does SEASMART continue to do what it does if it becomes a private entity, and how does that open up the trade in PNG to other, less responsible operations?”  I chuckle, because I think I’ve already put enough on David’s plate for the month with some special requests..better let the guys @ SEASMART do their jobs and continue to secure this trade for the long term benefit of PNG and the local stakeholders in each costal village!

In closing, it was the people of PNG that truly impacted me in a way I can’t quite put my finger on.  I certainly want to visit, to see this program for myself.  I hope my path might cross with Simeon, Selma and Philip again, and that perhaps I might see their PNG home from their point of view, that I might have a deeper appreciation and connection.  While I may or may not ever travel to PNG, you could say that I’m a bit smitten with it still weeks after the fact.  That is only the result of the fine folks of SEASMART and PNG.

Since the PNG Lightning Maroon hit the online world, there’s been over 100+ threads on it.  I’m not about to link to them all here, but I found the conversations  I had with a few of my fellow TCMAS (Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society) members very interesting.  The original thread is here ( http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25958 ), but I’ve summarized my side of things here for easier consumption

Clint (who helped me fund this project by purchasing some of my fish) posed some really interesting questions.

#1.  Why did I start out with a larger female to pair the Lightning Maroon with vs. a smaller fish (to make the Lightning Maroon become female)?

Several people have posed this question and it’s a very valid one.  Afterall, pairing the Lightning Maroon with SMALLER fish would minimize the pairing risk, minimizing the chances of death.  Still, I had (and still have) several reasons for thinking keeping the Lighting Maroon male (if it is male) is the way to go:

Simple answer – Blue Zoo Aquatics was already sold out of all the smaller PNG juveniles before they even had a chance to set some aside for me, so the only way to go when the Lightning Maroon was shipped was to send me a big female.

More complicated answer – If I could keep the “Lightning Maroon” as a male, there was/is a greater chance of a quicker spawn by trying to pair it with a female vs. waiting for a sex change to occur. Additionally, since Maroons, most notably LARGE FEMALES, tend to lose their stripes as they age, better to keep this guy as a male so the awesome lightning bolts stay!

Really complicated answer – If SEASMART were to find a second Lightning Maroon, and IF I were to obtain it, I would have much greater chances of pairing “Lightning” with  “Lightning” if the first Lightning Maroon remains male.  If the Lightning Maroon is allowed to become female, and a future discovered Lightning Maroon is also female, I won’t be able to pair them.  So, pairing possibility drops by at least 50% if I allow the first Lightning Maroon Clownfish to become a female.

Hearsay answer – there has been talk that “male” clownfish have more influence on “patterning”, whereas females have more influence on “coloration”. I think that’s bunk, but at the same chance, I’m not going to dismiss it outright.

#2.  Is there any evidence to show that the pattern is a dominant or ressesive gene carried by the male?

My initial answer is that  genetically we can speculate anything we want. We are even speculating that the Lightning morph has a genetic basis in the first place. It may not be a genetic trait. We may never see another Lightning Maroon Clownfish even if I do everything perfectly.

#3.  To paraphrase Clint’s third question, he asked if there was any difference in the likelihood that Male Lightning X Female Regular = more Lightnings vs. the flipside, Male Regular X Female Lighthing = more Lightnings.

My Response: There are a number of things to remember about clowns, starting with the fact that they’re all born male, and the dominant one turns female. Any male can later become a female.

A rough genetic picture might be to look at a straight up recessive trait like albinism for a comparison. LL = Lightning. LN or NN = Normal fish. Thus, the Lighting Clown being LL, mated with a normally colored NN fish, will produce only LN offspring. No lightnings in the first generation (F1). Mating those offspring together would produce LL, LN and NN fish, at a 25%, 50%, 25% rate. So 25% Lightnings, 75% normally colored, with 2/3 of the fish carrying the recessive L.

However, a LL fish, mated with an LN fish, will produce 50% LL and 50% LN right off the bat. Given that there have been other “Lightning Maroons” seen in PNG, including the other one collected in 2008, the chance of this being a “possibility” is partially why it is so critical to select mates from PNG, ideally the same reef. It increases the chances that the normally colored mate may in fact be LN. Just as easily could be NN, and probably more likely is, but you cannot tell if the trait is recessive.

I think if the trait was dominant, we’d see many more Lightning Maroons out there.

Now, here’s the reality. Even if this genetic, it may not be a simple straight up recessive trait. It could be something like Platinums and Picassos, where there may be more going on.   Based on the breeding outcomes of Picasso Percula offspring as reported by David Durr and Tal Sweet, the “Platinum” and “Picasso” genetic mix is starting to look like the following:

Platinums = PP. Picassos may be PN. Normal Percs might be NN.

Again, that is PURELY SPECULATION. It could actually turn out that Platinums = PPP, Picassos are PPN or PNN (A and B Grade anyone) and Normals are NNN. Or something different. We don’t know enough yet. Good observation and careful records, along with SHARING OF DATA, will be what reveals the truth.

#4.  TCMAS member “lr9788″ then asked, “How does breeding continue down the line? Since this is a one of a kind doesn’t it present genetic issues? Or can a lighting be paired with any maroon (in theory)?”

This question inspired a very long response!  So here it is, largely unedited, and I’ll let that wrap up this first post on “Genetics”, elaborating a bit on the thought process behind how I’m approaching the breeding of this fish.

Well, truthfully there are not any concerns about line breeding, generally in fish, until about the F6 generation. The parents here (Lightning PNG X Reg PNG) are F0. Their offspring are F1. I assume F1 will all be normal. Pairings of the F1 Offspring will produce F2, and it is there that we might first see Lightnings (of course, I could be wrong and we could see them in F1, but heck, we don’t even know if this is genetic yet!).

So, lets say you get F2′s that are Lightnings. It is here that we could first see “Lighting X Lightning” crosses. All are still PNG maroons as well at that point, having descended from the original PNG-collected normal & lightning pair. It is possible/likely/probably that the matings of F2 X F2 lightings would yield a much higher number of Lightning Offspring in that F3 generation.

Now, since Clownfish can be productive spawners for 10-20 years easily, we need to realize that we could work with F2 Lighting X Lightning crosses to produce all the Lightning Maroons needed for a long time. Why?

Well, let’s say we get this pair spawning in a year or two. So 2012-ish. Their F1 offspring could be spawning as early as 2014 perhaps? Which means the first F2 offspring were we likely see Lightning Maroons in quantity (if it all works) would be maybe in 2015. Any pairing that starts throwing lightnings could continue to do so for the next 10-20 years (so let’s say 2035 is when they start dying off). However, we could realistically continue to create new F1 pairs that *might* throw F2 lightnings for another 5-10 years with the initial offspring of the wild parents. So that means, time wise, we could have F1 generation fish still producing F2 offspring in 2040.

If we take another 2 years to get those first Lightning X Lightning crosses spawning, that puts us at maybe 2017 for their F3 generation. Again, conservatively we could go 10-20 years from the point this generation STARTS, so 2027 to 2037 easily. But again, same math for the F1′s that throw out Lightnings as F2. Based on that RANGE, knowing we could still get F2 Lightnings at 2040, means realistically we could still be producing line bred F3 Lightnings at 2050 or even 2060.

And we’re only at the F3 generation in line breeding which yes, is inbreeding. But remember, the general rule is that we can go to around F6 before we start seeing genetic problems as a result of this inbreeding in fish. So realistically, given the LONG reproductive lifespan of Clownfish, we could easily be into 2100 before we really have to worry about hitting that F6 generation.

The reality is that there are several other items at play. There may be more WC lightnings brought in…we certainly see that happen with Picasso Percs. That would open up all sorts of outcross possibilities.

Even if another Lightning never makes it into captivity, the reality is that we know these are PNG Maroons. Knowing the methodology that fixes the Lightning Strain, we could easily then take and outcross to other PNG Maroons to infuse new genetics and then go through the selective process again. So, long term, with either one crazy dedicated breeder, or the cooperative work of several, we could find ourselves with only semi-related Lighting Maroons. Pile on the simple fact that we are talking about mounds of sexual reproduction (and the inherent genetic variation that can occur), and the reality is that fairly quickly we could have a solid captive population that has descended from a tiny handful of seed stock from the wild.

Beyond THAT, it is also quite likely that the breeding of Lightning Maroons might leave the confines of only Maroons from Papua New Guinea (PNG). I think this is a big mistake, but I already know it will happen. People will take Lightning Maroons and cross them with Gold Stripe Maroons in the hopes of making Gold Striped Lightning Maroons. They’ll mate them with other abberant Maroon Clownfish varieties that show up (i.e. there are gray-barred Maroons..which honestly I kinda like). In the long run, this is where the guppification happens and we get into captive-produced varieties. This is what I don’t like, but know will happen. And yes, I will have played a part in it.

But for me, it’s about keeping the PNG location intact. Even if these fish never turn out another Lightning, we know that they were PNG collected and represent the genetics (and whatever distinct minute difference there may be) of Maroon Clownfish from PNG. To me, this is important. This is why I own “Sumatran” Fire Clowns and “Vanuatu” Pink Skunks (which also happen to carry that nice Orange “sunkist” color variation). I.e. on the Skunks, the color variant is a nice wild coloration, but who knows if it carries on to the offspring. Thankfully, the value for me comes first in knowing that they’re Vanuatu Pink Skunks vs. Fiji Pink Skunks…the fact that they have the more orange-yellow coloration is an interesting side benefit.

And finally, I’d like to simply take the question of Genetics and cite the recent article in CORAL magazine by Ret Talbot.

Ret put the question of genetics to two of the Marine Fish Breeding community’s premier experts, Martin Moe and Matthew Wittenrich.  Bottom line, you should read the whole article (starts on page 8 of the May/June 2010 issue of CORAL).  But I’ll tell you, it’s a 50/50 split as to whether the Lightning Maroon represents a genetic variation or not.  I’ll let you go find out which person held which stance!

My May/June 2010 issue of CORAL Magazine just arrived today. I knew what was coming, but still, it’s always exciting to get a fresh issue of CORAL.  Ret Talbot’s article in Reef News on the Lightning Clown provides yet another view on the story of the Lightning Maroon.  There’s a bit more about SEASMART as well, and a grew new photo of the collectors in PNG!  Ret knows I’m wanting to talk more about SEASMART (and sustainable collection) in the future here at the Lighting Project, and I hope we get to pull that together soon.   In the meantime, go look for the newest issue of CORAL Magazine – it looks like THIS!

Me? I was at MASC’s Reef Ed in Colorado all last weekend, got to hang out with Christina and Chris Pearson, Andrew Berry, Gale, Joe Thompson, Eric Borneman, Jake Adams and Guin Burnard.   I love events like this, and I’m going to strongly encourage hobbyists to patronize their clubs and events.  You get a whole different experience than reading or posting online.  Don’t think the talks are going to be boring because even if they ARE, you will STILL learn a lot that will make you a better marine hobbyist in ways you can’t anticipate.  So yeah, I finished moving, went to Reef Ed to speak on captive breeding, and returned home to spend every evening this week in birthing classes (my wife is due in 5 weeks).

Lightning Clown? It’s still living in a breeder net.  Happy with a good appetite.  I thought I saw some dislodged scales, but it’s hard to tell with the net.  I DO know that our Onyx Percs have come down with what may be Brook or Amyloodinium, it’s hard to say, but they’re doing white well and will likely pull out with no treatment.  I’ve seen ‘em worse.  It is arguably perhaps for the best that my attention to the fish is limited…it’s allowing them to just sit, eat, and recuperate from the move.

I gotta say, the “Breeder Net” kinda sucks.  I’m having to think about the long term home for the Lighting Maroon (any tank, filter and lighting manufacturers looking to sponsor the Lighting Project by giving ‘El BOLT a better home, I welcome offers!).  I also got some “news” this evening that’s made me smile, but I don’t want to speak prematurely!

Ret Talbot put together a great writeup on the back-story of the Lighting Maroon Clownfish from PNG.  He pulled in statements from many of the players and really provides a great synopsis.  Check it out on BlueZooAquatics – http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=416

Life Altering Chaos…light getting stuck by lightning!

I’ve been scrambling, working overtime, and bottom line, the timing of this opportunity couldn’t have been worse.  But you can’t really pick when Steven Paul is going to find and collect a unique Papua New Guinea Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus), let alone when it’s going to be offered to you.

It’s going to take a couple weeks to get the project website up and running, heck, being an interactive software developer I figured this project was a great excuse to learn to use WordPress.   Forgive me for anything you don’t like about the website, but do speak up.  Be a harsh critic, it will make me a better developer.

Anyone who knows anything about Clownfish breeding knows that we’re on their timetable, and that timetable is often measured in years.   And yet, the entire notion of The Lightning Project was conceived and blessed in 48 hours over email, internet and Fed Ex, all in the name of just sharing my ideas on what I would do IF I were to be the one to own such a fish, never thinking I would.  Lightning has struck in the Pedersen aquariums.

A Platform, A Pulpit, and a Roundtable

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Lightning Maroon Clownfish is that the anticipated waiting game gives project contributors and advisors the opportunity and excuse to discuss a myriad of issues ranging from sustainable collection and fair trade to clownfish genetics and the general direction of captive breeding efforts.  No doubt, some will take my decision to be a steward of the Lightning Maroon as a very hypocritical endeavor given my anti-hybrid, anti-guppification stance pertaining to marine fish breeding.  Nothing stirs dialog like a good bit of controversey, right?  Ultimately, it will all be put thrown to the wall, and we’ll see what sticks.  Perhaps the greatest thing that the Lighting Maroon might do is not produce more Lightning Maroons, but act as a magnet and bullhorn for dialog about a more responsible, sustainable, and ethical Marine Aquarium Industry.  Perhaps we may find a better path than whatever one we’re currently on.

A Humble Approach to “The Project” – Let’s Be Realistic

It is my hope to give periodic updates on our little Ambassador from PNG and SEASMART as he (or she?) settles into a new life in captivity.  I will spare no detail, explain my thinking, answer questions, solicit 2nd and 42nd opinions, and document it all.  In this manner, whether the actual goal is achieved, many ancillary benefits will come from this exercise.

Working with something so exceedingly new and rare has been a very thrilling and terrifying prospect, and arguably this is far more responsibility than one lone hobbyist probably should be handed.  While I’ve tackled arguably far more difficult projects, I’ve recognized the simple truth that if things do not go well, my legacy in the aquarium hobby could go from being “the guy who was first to captive breed Harlequin Filefish” to “the guy who killed the Lightning Maroon”.  But, advice that put my mind at ease came from none other than cowboy fishkeeper and outspoken aquarist Jake Adams, who said “Don’t regret the things you try, only regret the things you don’t try.”  Spoken like a true instigator Mr. Adams!

Ultimately it is an honor to have been considered and ultimately accepted as the individual to take charge of this fascinating fish.  It is my opinion that on technical and experiential merits, there were many people far more qualified.  It is my understanding that technical merit was not the ONLY consideration at play when decisions were made.  For what it’s worth, I will be inviting my most trusted breeding colleagues to contribute and function as advisers to the project.  I hope that any jealousies or resentments would be quickly dispelled when the full premise of the project is laid out before them.

Many times now, I’ve considered the reality that hobbyist failures are just as important, if not more so, than successes.  Knowing I have MANY failures in my past breeding efforts, far outweighing my successes, I’ve ultimately decided that 100% transparency in this project, even at the risk of public failure, will still be worth it.  History may decide whether the decisions that brought this fish to me were wise, but regardless, we ALL can learn something from this project.

Always Grateful and In Debted

Finally,  I owe thanks to many people and businesses for this opportunity.  Ret Talbot & Mark Martin, thank YOU for never tiring of the constant communication as we worked this out.  Thanks to the people who put Ret in PNG in the first place!  Steven Paul, thank you for collecting the fish!  Pacific Aqua Farms, SEASMART, and Blue Zoo Aquatics, even Fed Ex, thanks for handling this fish with exceptional care in bringing this fish from the ocean to my home!  Thanks to Jake Adams for your personal cheerleading, and Joe Lichtenbert, for being one of the first Breeding Advisors I knew I could bring into the fold immediately for advice and a second opinion on everything I might do!  Thanks to those people (including Clint Manchester ) who snapped up the fish I offered for sale at a moment’s notice, so I had the funds and tankspace to commit to this adventure.  There will be many, many people to tank in the future, and there are probably already many people I owe gratitude to that I may never ever know.  The best I can offer is my pledge to be above board, and to do my very best to not let you down!

Thank you to all who believe in me and my abilities, I am truly humbled and do not believe for a moment that  I was the ONLY “best choice” for this project.  I will be inviting many other people to advise me.

A Parting Thought from a Benevolent Dictator

Ultimately, this IS my project now, my work, and I’ll be calling the shots.  But I realize that this isn’t about “me”.  This isn’t just my fish, it’s the hobby’s fish, the industry’s fish, Blue Zoo Aquatic’s Fish, Pacific Aqua Farm’s fish, SEASMART’s Fish, Steven Paul’s fish, Papua New Guinea’s fish and before that, good ‘ole Mother Nature’s fish.   I will have a lot of people to answer to if I don’t consistently give this project my best.  Therefore, this is not “my” project,  this is OUR project.  The power of positive thinking has truly fueled some of the accomplishments I’m most proud of, please send all well wishes, good vibes, and extra karma to the SEASMART PNG Ambassador now swimming in my basement.

A NOTE ABOUT COPYRIGHT – being a multimedia developer, I’m especially careful about copyright.  You should be too.  All pictures I post that aren’t by me are cited AND I’ve received permission from the photographer to utilize them.  Please RESPECT the copyright ownership of contributors and do not repost their work without their explicit permission and credit.

(for the record, RET did not put me up to the above note.  I just don’t like seeing people who do good and generous things get RIPPED OFF)

I asked Ret if he had any photos I could post since I have yet to get a replacement camera transfer cord (lost it somewhere between LIRA’s NERAC V in Riverhead New York and my ultimate destination back in Duluth, MN!).  Ret supplied 4 shots taken on location in PNG that I had not seen until tonight.  Enjoy!

Lightning Maroon Clown, photo by and courtesy of Ret Talbot

Lightning Maroon Clown, photo by and courtesy of Ret Talbot

Lightning Maroon Clownfish, photo by and courtesy of Ret Talbot

Lightning Maroon Clownfish, image by and courtesy of Ret Talbot

Thanks Ret!