How the Reef Trade Works with TMC CEO Brian Schaff

In this episode, Chris, James, and Gareth are joined by Brian Schaff, CEO of Tropical Marine Centre (TMC), the UK’s leading suppliers of marine livestock and aquarium equipment.

We take a closer look at how marine livestock makes its way from the ocean to our tanks, with Brian walking us through the central role TMC plays in supplying the UK reefing hobby.

Along the way, we get into wild vs captive breeding, the positive impact the hobby has on local communities, and why the trade is often more responsible and sustainable than it’s given credit for. We also touch on fish ranching, as well as the complexities around topics like biopiracy.

If you’ve ever wondered where your fish and corals come from — and what happens before they reach your local fish store — this is a detailed look inside one of the UK’s most important reefing operations.

We’ve also filmed a separate video tour of TMC with Brian to accompany this episode, so keep an eye out for that coming soon.

Find out more about Tropical Marine Centre:

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