Proposed USA regulations ending fish keeping

[Oblio]

Whatever the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it means, as they would be given absolute authority in making that determination.

Yet another non-elected TLA (Three Letter Agency) will be making regulations laws contrary to our Constitution.

 

[itiwhetu]

Yes, my comment doesn't pertain to America, but topical for the subject as far as the hobby goes.


Wouldn't work in British Columbia. Federally, they've banned nearly all medication, with only a vet seeing the specific animal can prescribe antibiotics and the like. I work in one of the largest wholesalers in the country and we can't get any exemptions from this. The volume of fish that would have to go through a vets office is absurd. There are no vets who are willing to come on site as many times as would be necessary.

And that's ignoring the fact there's maybe one qualified vet in the region. And he's far too busy to take such a task on. Otherwise we could document all ailments, autopsies, microscope work, and the necessary treatments to give to a vet - but none of us have a degree to back up our industry knowledge so it's unlikely Canada would condone this method either.

I was subcontracted to a vet practice to do all their aquarium work, for several years. In general vets do not have enough training in fish to be able to help the aquarists.

 

[foxgirl158]

This is heavily concerning. I’ve barely even started with my fish keeping journey, and now it might get cut off before I can follow through with all of my ideas and plans?

 

[Rocky998]

Don’t rush it if it isn’t.

I'm actually getting a few nerite snails today. Dont worry, I already specially feed my pest snails, so they will be well taken care of. In the next few weeks I will be getting 2 more gudgeons and lambchop rasboras (harlequin if the lambchops arent in stock)

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

I'm actually getting a few nerite snails today.

What I like to hear.

I already specially feed my pest snails, so they will be well taken care of.

Why pest snail care?

I believe that before purchasing a fish, you must present a photo of your tank to the staff of the aquatics store to decide whether or not your purchase is suitable. Marine should probably be banned as well as large fish and bad-mutation fish.

 

[Tacocat]

Here's my take on this. It is extremely unlikely that these amendments to the Lacey Act are going to pass, as even though they was hidden inside the COMPETES act, several people have found it and want it removed, as it is too drastic and can cause too much harm and it also has far too many demands. There is also the part about regulation and that is just too broad, so I predict this will be removed from the COMPETES act.

If it isn't and the act passes, then this is the perfect example of a trainwreck legislative system.

 

[connorlindeman]

Here's my take on this. It is extremely unlikely that these amendments to the Lacey Act are going to pass, as even though they was hidden inside the COMPETES act, several people have found it and want it removed, as it is too drastic and can cause too much harm and it also has far too many demands. There is also the part about regulation and that is just too broad, so I predict this will be removed from the COMPETES act.

If it isn't and the act passes, then this is the perfect example of a trainwreck legislative system.

I really hope you're right

 

[connorlindeman]

Marine should probably be banned as well as large fish and bad-mutation fish.

Can you explain why you think that marine and large fish should be banned? I think that the government just needs to keep its distance. IMHO once they start taking away liberties they get "trigger happy" and won't stop.

 

[Rocky998]

What I like to hear.

Why pest snail care?

I believe that before purchasing a fish, you must present a photo of your tank to the staff of the aquatics store to decide whether or not your purchase is suitable. Marine should probably be banned as well as large fish and bad-mutation fish.

My LPS doesnt care... They sell it to whomever.

 

[Oblio]

Inspired by a thread elsewhere relating to this one ...

What (or who) do you think is the catalyst behind this bill?

As is often the case for bad (or nefarious) legislation, someone, or some group, stands to profit, or to put it more simply - Follow the money

Is PETA behind this?

Have they bribed the sponsor(s)?

Can it be proven?

I believe that the majority of people think that PETA are quacks, and exposing a connection would be devastating and the sponsors would drop this if that were exposed, especially with mid-terms looming.

 

[Rocky998]

Inspired by a thread elsewhere relating to this one ...

What (or who) do you think is the catalyst behind this bill?

As is often the case for bad (or nefarious) legislation, someone, or some group, stands to profit, or to put it more simply - Follow the money

Is PETA behind this?

Have they bribed the sponsor(s)?

Can it be proven?

I believe that the majority of people think that PETA are quacks, and exposing a connection would be devastating and the sponsors would drop this if that were exposed, especially with mid-terms looming.

Its PETA taking advantage of covid... They want to stop the animal trade to "avoid the spread of diseases" lol

 

[GaryE]

This dates from long before COVID. The narrowing of importations without permits goes back to George Bush II, as an odd control. Large companies can import what they want, but hobbyists have problems and face fines.
At the time, Florida was the reason. I have barely visited that State, but I have seen ecosystems there wrecked by the aquarium hobby. Well meaning people releasing oversized plecos, thinking they'll be free... well they are, and it's a disaster.
The hobby brought this upon itself by not being responsible.
Farm escapes with hurricanes and hobbyist releases have scared people who care about the legitimate issues involved, and groups like PETA have mobilized their base to push farther.

If you want to make it a partisan issue you can, but the same issues are being debated in many countries. I was just reading a white list debate in France, for example. America isn't exceptional.

I live in a country where it's too cold for tropicals to thrive (except one of the few hot springs that support the temps needed all winter, and that is full of swordtails). I've still seen goldfish out in rivers for the summer, til they die in the Fall. Stupid is international and very powerful. The US has a problem with climate - it's too good and warm in places to compensate for irresponsibility in the hobby..

 

[Colin_T]

Its PETA taking advantage of covid... They want to stop the animal trade to "avoid the spread of diseases" lol

If they really want to stop the spread of diseases, they should stop humans breeding and encroaching on wild habitats.


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The hobby brought this upon itself by not being responsible.
Farm escapes with hurricanes and hobbyist releases have scared people who care about the legitimate issues involved, and groups like PETA have mobilized their base to push farther.

The government and organisations that used to introduce non native species are also to blame. Gambusia are horrible little fish that were spread around most countries by various organisations to help control the spread of mosquitoes. Unfortunately they don't do a damn thing to mozzies.

In New Guinea, governments have release Tilapia (a predatory African cichlid) into lakes and rivers as a food fish for the locals. The locals don't like the taste of Tilapia and don't eat them, but the Tilapia eat all the native fishes and shrimp.

In Australia and I'm sure other parts of the world, governments release trout into native water ways for recreational fishing. Various game fishes were released into Lake Eacham in Queensland and those fish ate all the endemic species in the lake and caused Melanotaenia eachamensis (Lake Eacham rainbowfish) to become extinct in the wild.

In the south west of Western Australia, trout have gotten into natural waterway during floods caused by winter rain. These fish escaped from government fish farms and have eaten all the native fishes and introduced Fish Tuberculosis into the local waterways.

It's not just aquarium fish keepers that are responsible for introduced species being found in non native habitats. Governments and various organisations, as well as government run fish farms are responsible too.

PETA is simply using hobbyists as scape goats to push their agenda because if they accused the governments of doing this, their bill would not go anywhere.

I also noticed the bill was attached to a law banning shark fins. Whilst the law banning shark fins is a good law, it should not be attached to any other law, especially one put forward by a fanatical organisation that wants to outlaw/ ban all forms of pets and the farming of animals for any reason. My guess is, PETA attached the aquarium fish bill to the shark fin bill so it would get through parliament. Everyone wants to stop the shark fin trade and if they vote yes on that, it is also a yes for the other bills attached to it.

 

[Rocky998]

If they really want to stop the spread of diseases, they should stop humans breeding and encroaching on wild habitats.


--------------------

The government and organisations that used to introduce non native species are also to blame. Gambusia are horrible little fish that were spread around most countries by various organisations to help control the spread of mosquitoes. Unfortunately they don't do a damn thing to mozzies.

In New Guinea, governments have release Tilapia (a predatory African cichlid) into lakes and rivers as a food fish for the locals. The locals don't like the taste of Tilapia and don't eat them, but the Tilapia eat all the native fishes and shrimp.

In Australia and I'm sure other parts of the world, governments release trout into native water ways for recreational fishing. Various game fishes were released into Lake Eacham in Queensland and those fish ate all the endemic species in the lake and caused Melanotaenia eachamensis (Lake Eacham rainbowfish) to become extinct in the wild.

In the south west of Western Australia, trout have gotten into natural waterway during floods caused by winter rain. These fish escaped from government fish farms and have eaten all the native fishes and introduced Fish Tuberculosis into the local waterways.

It's not just aquarium fish keepers that are responsible for introduced species being found in non native habitats. Governments and various organisations, as well as government run fish farms are responsible too.

PETA is simply using hobbyists as scape goats to push their agenda because if they accused the governments of doing this, their bill would not go anywhere.

I also noticed the bill was attached to a law banning shark fins. Whilst the law banning shark fins is a good law, it should not be attached to any other law, especially one put forward by a fanatical organisation that wants to outlaw/ ban all forms of pets and the farming of animals for any reason. My guess is, PETA attached the aquarium fish bill to the shark fin bill so it would get through parliament. Everyone wants to stop the shark fin trade and if they vote yes on that, it is also a yes for the other bills attached to it.

Yes, PETA is basically just trying to be over controlling... After looking up about PETA, they irritate me... I dont like them and not just cause of this, after doing my own research I have found that they stage their commercials and some of their commercials have been banned from due to being to NSFW. And they want fishing to stop AND they want everyone to be vegans... Sorry cows, I really love a burger and a milkshake

 

[GaryE]

I've debated with PETA activists, and they sure do make easy targets when something like this comes along. But I still don't think the US Bill is a PETA driven one.There is a sound ecological argument behind it. It's using a cannon to wound a mouse, and is hopefully going to get dumped. But our hobby has failed dismally in regulating itself, and that makes us as easy a target as PETA is.
Yes, the introductions of invasives issue can be government driven, with Gambusia as the poster child and Tilapia right behind. In the south of the US though, it's Oscars, plecos, Midas Cichlids, etc. It's people who want arapaimas, northern snakeheads, etc. They're the "kick me" sign on the back of the aquarium hobby.