Captive Aquatic Ecosystems attends national conference to support ocean conservation

THE WOODLANDS, Texas—Sustainability - a buzz word that we keep hearing about. But how many actually apply? Woodlands resident, Ben Johnson, the owner of Captive Aquatic Ecosystems, LLC, traveled to the annual Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) for a show of solidarity that the aquarium industry has a vested interest in ensuring the sustainability of their stock in trade.

“We’ve long since been supporters of sustainability,” Johnson said. “If we want to perpetuate our industry, it’s in our best interest to ensure the proliferation of exotic specimens.”

Johnson has been an aquarium enthusiast since the age of 16 when he went to work in a fish store. He has parlayed his hobby into a full-time profession for over 20 years. In the past couple of decades Johnson has seen the ecological footprint shrink instead of grow. This is in large part due to the efforts of people in the profession and their professional organizations like MACNA and MASNA (Marine Aquarium Society of North America).

“Aquariums, specifically saltwater aquariums, are a microcosm of the world’s oceans. They serve to remind us daily of the beauty of inner space, and what we have at stake,” said Johnson.

In addition to the exhibit hall displaying the latest in technology for the aquarium industry, attendees had the honor of meeting and hearing from Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of the legendary ocean conservationist, Jacques Cousteau, who founded the Cousteau Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ‘protection and improvement of the quality of life for present and future generations’ which has over 300,000 members. Cousteau's son emphasized at the conference the importance of industry professionals and hobbyists being good stewards of the oceans and their specimens.

The popularity of reality shows “Tanked” and “Fish Tank Kings,” which feature elaborate and custom-designed aquariums, has spawned a renewed interest in the hobby, as well as an appreciation for the wonders of the sea. Johnson’s Captive Aquatic Ecosystems business is based in the Montgomery County area, but services the whole Greater Houston area.

“In addition to being concerned about specimens we use in the aquariums, the fish and the live coral, our sources harvest them with a watchful eye on maintaining a balance in that delicate eco-system. In fact, many of the specimen are captive-bred, and captively propagated," said Johnson. "The real danger is the garbage, specifically plastic, that’s littering the world’s oceans, killing endangered species by the thousands," added Johnson.

To see a beautiful array of eye-candy and obtain more information about aquariums, view the Captive Aquatic website.