This thread was posted by Ken at Fishfarm over a MFK. Our Government At Work.This is scary!

Tropical Fish Ban

Mark

Now that's scary!...

that would suck

Damn, I am banned from MFK.

Mostlycichlids wrote:

Damn, I am banned from MFK.

He also posted it on Aquaria Central.

Tropical Fish Ban

Mark

Well I will take the five minutes to email my congress man for sure thanks for the AC link Mark.

I got nothing on both sites.

Try these links:
MFK Thread

AC Thread

Ken's threads were apparently removed (Hummmmmmm...)

Mark

Neo made it a sticky.

So what does this mean?

Basically, if it passes in its current form, any exotic animal (fish, mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian, insect, etc.) that might be considered a threat to any native animal or habitat, in any part of the United States or any of its Protectorates, would be banned from importation or any interstate trade anywhere in the U.S.

So for example, if the Government concludes that the Jack Dempsey could be a threat to the native Everglades Pygmy Sunfish in South Florida, then Dempseys could be banned from any importation or interstate trade. Thus, if you live in Maine, your LFS could no longer order any JDs from the Fish Farms in Florida, or California or anywhere else; and you could not buy any JDs that would have to be shipped across state lines.

It would also most likely be illegal to breed any banned animals that you already own.

Unless the laws have changed, a first offense of violating the Lacey Act is a $5,000 fine and up to 5 yrs. in a Federal Penitentiary.

Mark

i posted a response to this on MFK and also aquariacentral. basically my opinion is that this legislation is too late. here in wisconsin carp have overrun our lakes, purple loosestrife is choking wetlands , zebra musles have been found in local lakes and there is fear that a lamprey mutation has made it inland. this legislation is neccesary bcuz the world is full of idiots.it only takes one. ask farmers in australia how they feel about rabbits being brought down there. some idiot from texas turned a shitton of wild boars loose in central wisconsin and now theyre attacking livestock and dogs. hobbyists will find ways to get fish its just gonna be very expensive. im ok with that.

I agree but disagree...Why should a few idiots ruin it for everyone. Also why does government let something go for so long before doing something about it. Obviously this has been a problem for many years. Until now nothing has been done to rectify it. Now hobbyists are being blamed and possibly punished for the actions of others less responsible. Hobbyists are not the only ones going to be impacted by this. Mom and Pop fish stores will be impacted...Online retailers will be impacted.....people may loose their jobs....Places like AC and other fish forums could shut down due to lack of funding from sponsors...etc. Bottom line is people are still going to buy illegal fish and dump them into rivers and lakes.

I don't understand how this legislation is going to stop the ongoing problem and nothing was stated about what they are going to do about the fish already in the lakes and rivers. I personally think this legislation is bullshit and wont do anything for the problem that already exists besides ruin some peoples lives and possibly create more job loss around the world.

In my state they already can tell you what kind of dog you can buy and in Denver it is illegal to own a Pittbull...that is bullshit now some dumb ass lawmaker sitting on his ass pushing a pencil is going to try and pass a law telling me what kind of fish I can keep bred and such come on. I am in agreement that something needs to be done but the extremes outlined in this bill could prove to be devistating to the fish keeping hobby as we have come to love it.

Who need more garbage laws anyway....this is a democracy not a dictator ran country...lets keep it this way. I see so many people on a daily basis that should not be in my jail for the things they have done...It would be retarded to see someone come in for breeding aquarium fish now don't you think...seriously people think about it.

This is insane, if it's true. I am a bit dubious about it right at the moment thought.

I read this yesterday and immediately thought it was an april fools prank. Everyone is insisting it's not a joke, so I mailed the customs guys I know, and the park services dudes. Neither of them heard anything about it.

I'm waiting to hear back for sure, they both want to check. Customs really really really wants it to be a joke. They're understaffed right now and is dreading what that would mean for them if this were true.

The sad fact of the matter is, this won't stop anything, people will still trade snakes, turtles, fish and anything else. The only things that will suffer from this are the animals smuggled in, because you can buy *anything* on the internet.

If this does turn out to be true, Wyite you better hurry up with that fish room, or you're gonna have it filled with goldfish.

Or just colorful sparkling water...screw that I will drive up and smuggle you some of mine!

Well unless Govtrack is in on the joke, its for real. Here's their site.

HR 669

I also see where this bill could increase the introduction on exotic species into the wild. Right now responsible exotic fish and pet owners who for whatever reason have to get out of the hobby, can legally sell or trade their unwanted animals to other hobbyist or their LFS. If this bill passes, it would be illegal to sell or trade a banned species. Many pet owners will still refuse to kill an animal they can no longer care for, if they can't legally sell or trade it, they'll dump it, thinking they're giving it a fighting chance to survive.

Also, most of the exotic species that are currently causing problems have nothing to do with pet owners, and will not be effected by this bill. Zebra mussels were originally introduced from the dumping of bilge water of ships into the Great Lakes and larger rivers. They then get transferred to smaller lake by larvae "hitching" a ride on Fishing and Pleasure boats, and wading birds. Most invasive aquatic plants are also transferred when boaters don't clean debris from the props and foot of the boat's motor. Most of the invasive carp species were actually introduced by the Government in an effort to control aquatic plants.

Mark

im aware of how the species got here. that isnt the point. theyre here and theyre weraking havoc

But nothing in the bill explains how they are going to clear the lakes and rivers of the already existing species. They are just going to ban fish and exportation that does nothing to prevent people from dumping fish in lakes and rivers.

its a start. for example that hillbilly redneck douchebag from texas or whereever who brought up a bunch of wild boars and turned em loose on his property so he could hunt hogs up here(somewhere in central wisconsin). well the boars have run wild and for whatever reason bred really fast and now theyve started killing livestock and peoples pets. that was in like a 4 year span of time. Im sure somewhere in the middle this legislation will address the hobbyist. i havent even read it but im almost certain the ban on import has to do with someone importing something for food. ie hmongs have notorioulsy turned carp loose into other bodies of water. i read somewhere that san fransico has entire feral ecosystems due to chinese immigrants importing wild animals for constant food sources.

For those interested in learning more on what the bill encompasses, here's a link to it's summary on the Library of Congress website.

Summary of HR 669

In the summary it does show who will be able to keep animals that are listed. These are Government Agencies, Zoos and Public Aquariums, scientific and medical research facilities, and accredited educational facilities (with permits). Hobbyist are not included.

One other rather stupid inclusion in the bill is that one thing that will cause an invasive species to NOT be included on the banned list, is if it is already established in the wild. So apparently you will be able to import all the Zebra Mussels and African Bees you want.

Mark

Markm0723 wrote:

...Hobbyist are not included.

One other rather stupid inclusion in the bill is that one thing that will cause an invasive species to NOT be included on the banned list, is if it is already established in the wild. So apparently you will be able to import all the Zebra Mussels and African Bees you want.

Mark

And snakeheads...

I can see it now...

(Fade In) Federal Penitentiary

Big Bubba: What are you in for?

Mark: I'm serving three consecutive life sentences for having multiple Jack Dempseys, and five Boa Constrictors.

Yeah, that will give me lots of Rep. Points in Prison.

Mark

that would suck to go to jail for owning fish

It happened back in the early 1980s for keeping banned snakes. The Feds raided snake keepers homes (with weapons drawn) to confiscate collections,and those it happened to, had to prove all of their animals were legally obtained. Basically "Guilty until proven innocent"; and this isn't hearsay, it happened to several people I know.

This is why I'm so passionate about stopping this Bill.

Mark

yeah i dont think it will pass personally i mean why would it?

jsorensen wrote:

yeah i dont think it will pass personally i mean why would it?

The only reason it will pass is if we, as conscientious hobbyist, don't voice our opposition.

Mark