The great success of Finding Dory is being met with mixed feelings by experts. That's because though the movie can draw attention to our weak coral reefs (珊瑚礁) that need protection, it may lead to further damage to life at sea.
After the movie Finding Nemo came out in 2003, the clownfish (小丑鱼) became popular with every kid in America. As a result, the number of clownfish in the wild greatly dropped. Blue tangs (蓝吊鱼) also became popular pets because of the movie. Sadly, most blue tangs are caught with the help of cyanide (氰化物).
Cyanide works on the fish, allowing them to be easily caught and sold to pet stores. Cyanide is harmful to humans. It also harms coral and other life at sea. Even the fish that are caught by using cyanide are harmed. Many end up dying within months of being brought to the store.
It is not allowed to sell fish that have been caught using cyanide in the US. However, a 2008 study discovered that up to 90% of the 11 million pet fish brought into the country each year have been caught using this harmful fishing method. More recently, two researchers Craig Downs and Rene Umberger did a study to test if the fish sold in US pet stores had been harmed by cyanide. They found that of the 100 fish bought from stores in California, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, over half, including the blue tangs, had cyanide in their body.
To help people make better decisions when looking for fish for their kids, the researchers made a free mobile app, called Tank Watch－the app helps people to know whether a fish has been caught using illegal fishing methods.
The World Wildlife Foundation is asking fans of the movie not to "Find" Dory, but to "Protect" the beautiful fish! This means not rushing out and buying a blue tang after watching the film. As Ellen Degeneres, voice actress for Dory, says, the movie is not about "Finding" Dory, but about "putting it back to the ocean".
