Asian Aros in the US.
- Thread starter lizardfishman
- Start date
beblondie said:
Good point Anne. But we'll need big hearted, generous farmers. They won't be willing to release their fish when they could sell them for high profits. Unless the govts in Malaysia and Indonesia buy them from the farmers and release them into the wild. I think the govts of Malaysia, Indonesia and the US need to get together and discuss this at lengths. That would certainly help restock the wild population and get them off the endangered list sooner. Of course at the same time, penalties for proaching need to be so severe that no one dares do it.
Any forumers here work for the relevant US agencies?
once again I'llpost this good thing i saved it lol
John Field, Fisheries Specialist
Division of Scientific Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 750
Arlington, VA 22203
USA
Thank you for your email concerning the importation and potential
downlisting of Asian bonytongue, Scleropages formosus under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). I have reviewed your email carefully, and would like to
share the perspective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on this
issue of international importance.
The species was listed as endangered in 1976 under the U.S. Endangered
Species Act. Endangered foreign species, such as S. formosus, cannot be
imported to the United States for primarily commercial purposes even if
they are captive-bred. Importation for personal or hobby use would be
considered commercial activity. Furthermore, any importation of an
endangered species, captive-bred or not, must enhance the status of the
species in the wild in some direct way. In the past, the USFWS has
approved the import of small numbers of bonytongue for research and
captive-breeding purposes. The applicants in these cases are involved in
research or re-introduction programs that should help bolster wild
populations of the fish. Importation of farm-raised and selectively bred
bonytongue does not, in our view, enhance the wild populations directly.
While captive-bred populations of S. formosus may be abundant in Southeast
Asia, their use does not necessarily encourage the conservation of wild
populations and may result in unsustainable harvest for breeding stock.
These fears have been echoed by Indonesian scientists who I've consulted
while visiting the country and examining arowana farms.
It's important to note that these provisions of the ESA apply regardless of
the status of the species in the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), but that body has
recently concurred with an Indonesian report that the species remains
endangered throughout its range. There are no current or planned research
initiatives known from any range country (Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia,
Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia) to study the conservation status of wild S.
formosus. Thus, there is no known scientific basis for downlisting from
threatened to endangered under the ESA in any part of the species' range.
Until data are presented to the USFWS or gathered, it appears that
downlisting is not warranted.
If we can obtain information that indicates that wild Asian arowanas are no
longer in danger of extinction, the USFWS will prioritize the species for
downlisting to threatened status. I am developing research initiatives to
gather this information. If the species is in fact downlisted to
threatened status, U.S. hobbyists could import captive-bred specimens with
the appropriate ESA and CITES permits. If you would like to learn more
about the Endangered Species Act, please visit our website at
http://endangered.fws.gov/. If you would like to learn more about the
USFWS, foreign species, and CITES, visit our website at
http://international.fws.gov/
Thank you for your interest in and committment to the conservation of Asian
bonytongue. I look forward to working with dedicated members of the public
such as yourself as we continue our investigations of this species'
recovery in the wild.
John Field, Fisheries Specialist
Division of Scientific Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 750
Arlington, VA 22203
USA
And further
They are CITES protected but that is not what makes them illegal here, they are listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Act and this is what makes them illegal. Many things that are available here are CITES protected including but not limited to Zebra Plecos, Arapaima, etc.
CITES paperwork is generally easy to get for most animals providing the steps are all correctly followed, it usually takes 2 weeks or so and requires a permit fee be paid.
Legally owning an Asian Aro in this country requires that it was placed into your care by an organization like a zoo that could no longer care for it, you must be able to prove ownership back to the zoo......even if you are the 3rd person that has owned it since the zoo released it
John Field, Fisheries Specialist
Division of Scientific Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 750
Arlington, VA 22203
USA
Thank you for your email concerning the importation and potential
downlisting of Asian bonytongue, Scleropages formosus under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). I have reviewed your email carefully, and would like to
share the perspective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on this
issue of international importance.
The species was listed as endangered in 1976 under the U.S. Endangered
Species Act. Endangered foreign species, such as S. formosus, cannot be
imported to the United States for primarily commercial purposes even if
they are captive-bred. Importation for personal or hobby use would be
considered commercial activity. Furthermore, any importation of an
endangered species, captive-bred or not, must enhance the status of the
species in the wild in some direct way. In the past, the USFWS has
approved the import of small numbers of bonytongue for research and
captive-breeding purposes. The applicants in these cases are involved in
research or re-introduction programs that should help bolster wild
populations of the fish. Importation of farm-raised and selectively bred
bonytongue does not, in our view, enhance the wild populations directly.
While captive-bred populations of S. formosus may be abundant in Southeast
Asia, their use does not necessarily encourage the conservation of wild
populations and may result in unsustainable harvest for breeding stock.
These fears have been echoed by Indonesian scientists who I've consulted
while visiting the country and examining arowana farms.
It's important to note that these provisions of the ESA apply regardless of
the status of the species in the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), but that body has
recently concurred with an Indonesian report that the species remains
endangered throughout its range. There are no current or planned research
initiatives known from any range country (Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia,
Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia) to study the conservation status of wild S.
formosus. Thus, there is no known scientific basis for downlisting from
threatened to endangered under the ESA in any part of the species' range.
Until data are presented to the USFWS or gathered, it appears that
downlisting is not warranted.
If we can obtain information that indicates that wild Asian arowanas are no
longer in danger of extinction, the USFWS will prioritize the species for
downlisting to threatened status. I am developing research initiatives to
gather this information. If the species is in fact downlisted to
threatened status, U.S. hobbyists could import captive-bred specimens with
the appropriate ESA and CITES permits. If you would like to learn more
about the Endangered Species Act, please visit our website at
http://endangered.fws.gov/. If you would like to learn more about the
USFWS, foreign species, and CITES, visit our website at
http://international.fws.gov/
Thank you for your interest in and committment to the conservation of Asian
bonytongue. I look forward to working with dedicated members of the public
such as yourself as we continue our investigations of this species'
recovery in the wild.
John Field, Fisheries Specialist
Division of Scientific Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 750
Arlington, VA 22203
USA
And further
They are CITES protected but that is not what makes them illegal here, they are listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Act and this is what makes them illegal. Many things that are available here are CITES protected including but not limited to Zebra Plecos, Arapaima, etc.
CITES paperwork is generally easy to get for most animals providing the steps are all correctly followed, it usually takes 2 weeks or so and requires a permit fee be paid.
Legally owning an Asian Aro in this country requires that it was placed into your care by an organization like a zoo that could no longer care for it, you must be able to prove ownership back to the zoo......even if you are the 3rd person that has owned it since the zoo released it
Thanks for the info. Yeah, good thing you saved it. So, it doesn't matter that captive aros are breeding like crazy, all that matters is the fact that the aro is listed in the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
What I found disturbing in Mr John Field's reply is this :
"There are no current or planned research initiatives known from any range country (Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia) to study the conservation status of wild S. formosus. Thus, there is no known scientific basis for downlisting from
threatened to endangered under the ESA in any part of the species' range. Until data are presented to the USFWS or gathered, it appears that downlisting is not warranted."
So, it appears that nobody is doing anything! Or willing to even try. And as a result, the Asian aro will remain an Endangered Species until the end of the world. I am surprised at the stance taken by those in the US and in the "range countries". Its a pity that those who are in the position to do something about it, chose to look the other way. Or at best, waiting for the other guy to initiate something.
I maintain my position, which is this :
CITES and the ESA are two separate entities (as is obvious), but both are sides on a same coin. CITES ensures that trade in endangered species must be subjected to particularly strict regulation in order not to endanger further their survival. Hence, all captive bred aros are tagged and recorded.
ESA ensures that wild populations are not being harvested and brought into the US. In fact, all the "range countries" have made it a criminal offence to harvest wild aros (and I applaud them!).
Hence, ESA and similar laws of other countries make it a crime to trade in aros. And CITES ensures that only captive bred aros are being traded.
I quote Mr John Field again : "Furthermore, any importation of an endangered species, captive-bred or not, must enhance the status of the species in the wild in some direct way"
Wouldn't allowing folks to legally own tagged aros (from CITES registered farms) lead to a drop in demand for black market aros (which are mostly wild ones)? Less harvesting of wild aros, they can then re-populate. Thats a pretty direct way to enhance the status of the species in the wild , don't you think?
What I found disturbing in Mr John Field's reply is this :
"There are no current or planned research initiatives known from any range country (Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia) to study the conservation status of wild S. formosus. Thus, there is no known scientific basis for downlisting from
threatened to endangered under the ESA in any part of the species' range. Until data are presented to the USFWS or gathered, it appears that downlisting is not warranted."
So, it appears that nobody is doing anything! Or willing to even try. And as a result, the Asian aro will remain an Endangered Species until the end of the world. I am surprised at the stance taken by those in the US and in the "range countries". Its a pity that those who are in the position to do something about it, chose to look the other way. Or at best, waiting for the other guy to initiate something.
I maintain my position, which is this :
CITES and the ESA are two separate entities (as is obvious), but both are sides on a same coin. CITES ensures that trade in endangered species must be subjected to particularly strict regulation in order not to endanger further their survival. Hence, all captive bred aros are tagged and recorded.
ESA ensures that wild populations are not being harvested and brought into the US. In fact, all the "range countries" have made it a criminal offence to harvest wild aros (and I applaud them!).
Hence, ESA and similar laws of other countries make it a crime to trade in aros. And CITES ensures that only captive bred aros are being traded.
I quote Mr John Field again : "Furthermore, any importation of an endangered species, captive-bred or not, must enhance the status of the species in the wild in some direct way"
Wouldn't allowing folks to legally own tagged aros (from CITES registered farms) lead to a drop in demand for black market aros (which are mostly wild ones)? Less harvesting of wild aros, they can then re-populate. Thats a pretty direct way to enhance the status of the species in the wild , don't you think?
One more thing. In Singapore, if you're caught having an untagged aro, the fine is S$5,000 (US$3,000) per fish. And they confiscate the fish too. I'm sure a jail term would be mooted soon. Strong deterent punishment, plus easy accessibility to tagged legal aros are the solution to the problem. Anyone who wants (and can afford) an aro should be allowed and able to own one.
they are legal in singapore you idiot. you just have to buy them from the farmers so they have tags. i would move to singapore for two reasons. 1) to have all of the fish that i cant have in the US. 2) so i dont have to see my brother's (sharkhunter) face every day. J/K.
not on the first reason though.
not on the first reason though.
If only theres some knid of study to show that asian arowanas are once again doing well in the wild.........and the farms to show some kind of program to propagate the numbers in the wild.
Else it'll be a long long time before asian arowanas would be legal in the US.
Else it'll be a long long time before asian arowanas would be legal in the US.
Hi just want to know if asian arowana still not allowed in United states?Me want aro but cant
