Our Stance: Why YoCamron's Aquatics Boycotts Red Sea and Israeli-Produced Brands
YoCamron's Aquatics is an Iranian-American owned and operated small business based in New Milford, Connecticut. We sell live fish, corals, amphibians, and reef supplies — but we also believe that where you spend your money is a political act. This page explains who we are, what we stand for, and why we actively participate in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement against Israeli-produced brands.
What Is the BDS Movement?
The BDS movement is a Palestinian-led international campaign calling on consumers, businesses, and institutions to boycott Israeli companies and products until the Israeli government ends its occupation of Palestinian land, grants equal rights to Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and respects the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The BDS movement is nonviolent and has been compared to the anti-apartheid boycott campaigns that helped dismantle South African apartheid. Millions of ethical consumers, students, artists, and small business owners around the world participate in BDS by refusing to buy from Israeli-based companies.
We Do Not Carry Red Sea Brand Products
Red Sea — officially Red Sea Fish Pharm Ltd. — is an Israeli aquarium company headquartered in Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Israel. They produce popular reef aquariums, coral reef salt, water test kits, and reef supplements widely sold in the aquarium hobby. Despite their popularity in the marine aquarium community, we at YoCamron's Aquatics will not stock, sell, or profit from Red Sea products. This is a deliberate business decision rooted in our values as an Iranian-American company that supports the international boycott of Zionist-produced brands. If you are an aquarium hobbyist looking for alternatives to Red Sea salt, Red Sea aquariums, or Red Sea test kits, we are happy to help you find comparable products from ethical, non-Israeli companies. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
Who We Stand With
As an Iranian-American business, we stand first and foremost with the Iranian people — a proud, ancient civilization that has endured decades of sanctions, foreign interference, and propaganda. We also stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and occupied Syria, all of whom continue to face violence, displacement, and economic strangulation enabled by Western governments and Zionist military aggression.
We believe that small businesses have a responsibility to take a stand. Supporting Palestinian rights, amplifying Iranian-American voices, and standing with oppressed people across the Middle East are not political liabilities — they are moral obligations. We are proud to be one of the few aquatics businesses in Connecticut, and in the United States, that openly participates in the BDS boycott of Israeli brands.
Ethical Consumerism and Conscious Spending
You do not have to be an aquarium hobbyist to care about where your money goes. The BDS movement applies to consumers of all backgrounds. If you are looking for Iranian-American owned businesses to support, businesses that boycott Israeli products, or companies that stand in solidarity with Palestine, Yemen, and the wider Middle East, we welcome you. Spending your money with values-aligned businesses is one of the most powerful tools available to everyday people. We encourage you to research the brands you buy from — in the aquarium hobby and beyond — and ask whether their country of origin, ownership, or supply chain conflicts with your values.
Alternatives to Red Sea Products
There are excellent reef and marine aquarium products made by companies with no ties to Israel or the Zionist economy. Brands like Brightwell Aquatics, Two Little Fishies, Salifert, and others offer comparable salt mixes, test kits, and reef supplements. We are happy to stock and recommend products that let you enjoy the aquarium hobby without contributing to the Israeli economy. Reach out to us and we will help you build a beautiful reef tank with a clean conscience.
Our Commitment
YoCamron's Aquatics will continue to use our platform as an Iranian-American owned aquatics business to speak openly about the BDS movement, Palestinian rights, and ethical consumerism. We are not afraid to take a public stance. We believe that silence in the face of occupation and violence is complicity, and we choose not to be complicit. Thank you for supporting a business that stands for something.