"Finding Dory" is set to be released next month, and marine scientists are worried about the real-life Dory -- the royal blue tang. In 2003, "Finding Nemo" began a clownfish buying craze that dramatically impacted the wild population. And the wild royal blue tang is less equipped to bounce back.
Unlike clownfish, breeding the royal blue tang in captivity isn't an option. There are no breeding programs, so they'll have to be taken from the wild where the cruel and dangerous cyanide practice is the norm. The fish are usually stunned and traumatically scooped up. In general, the royal blue tang isn't suited for captivity -- "they need algae and that is not easy to replicate with fish pellets and are prone to disease," explains marine biologist Anita Nedosyko to the Brisbane Times.
Do you really think Dory would want this fate for the royal blue tang? Let's take Dory's advice and let the royal blue tang "just keep swimming" where it belongs -- the wild.
Crucial education is missing from this conversation, and I think a lot of that falls on aquarium professionals. Sign and share this petition urging aquarium professionals to educate their guests and patrons of the real-life situation of the royal blue tang so that more informed decisions can be made.
Photo Credit: Kuba Bożanowski
