I really wish you'd explain. You haven't been able to keep endangered species for for decades so what did you comment mean?
Help Stop legal actions against future importations relating to the Lacey Act
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I really wish you'd explain. You haven't been able to keep endangered species for for decades so what did you comment mean?
What I mean is that the restrictions we face are broader than just the importation of foreign species such as this act. I have seen comments elsewhere like 'oh well, it doesn't matter, I can keep my local species and go out and collect the foreign species that are here now.' It doesn't work that way. You will not be able to keep any species which is restricted even the ones which are native to where you live - if they are endangered.
The whole purpose of the proposed law is about native species (their protection). It is naive to think that they will stop there. They are working on stopping us from keeping native species as well. I am not talking about this particular proposed law, but the laws in general we have now.
The threatened species lists are growing all the time such as the IUCN Red List whose purpose is to include "every species" on our planet so they can monitor their status. In a few decades it is conceivable that every species will be on a threatened list and it will be our responsibility (punishable by law in the state where you live) to check what its threatened status is. In other words check that it is of Least Concern LC. The model is moving away from 'threatened species' and 'non-threatened species'. EVERY SPECIES is now considered to be threatened in some way or other. That is what my original post means.
I am not against threatened species lists - simply pointing out that between these lists of plants and fish in your local state (which are growing all the time as more species become endangered - a general trend around the world which may have nothing to do with our hobby) and the restrictions on foreign imports we are being squeezed on two fronts.
I personally feel that zoos and hobbies such as ours are helping to preserve species, not endanger them. A good example is glossostigma elatinoides, a plant which is becoming endangered in some of its native regions. As long as there is an aquarium hobby that species will never become extinct - it is in thousands of aquariums around the world now and that is a good thing in my opinion.
The greatest ecological disasters of the past 100 years were committed by governments not individuals - though of course there have been some of those as well. And at the same time as they are cracking down on our hobby, feral dog and cat populations continue to grow and species become extinct through no fault of our hobby.
I will get off the soap-box now. This is my opinion - others are welcome to their own.
The whole purpose of the proposed law is about native species (their protection). It is naive to think that they will stop there. They are working on stopping us from keeping native species as well. I am not talking about this particular proposed law, but the laws in general we have now.
The threatened species lists are growing all the time such as the IUCN Red List whose purpose is to include "every species" on our planet so they can monitor their status. In a few decades it is conceivable that every species will be on a threatened list and it will be our responsibility (punishable by law in the state where you live) to check what its threatened status is. In other words check that it is of Least Concern LC. The model is moving away from 'threatened species' and 'non-threatened species'. EVERY SPECIES is now considered to be threatened in some way or other. That is what my original post means.
I am not against threatened species lists - simply pointing out that between these lists of plants and fish in your local state (which are growing all the time as more species become endangered - a general trend around the world which may have nothing to do with our hobby) and the restrictions on foreign imports we are being squeezed on two fronts.
I personally feel that zoos and hobbies such as ours are helping to preserve species, not endanger them. A good example is glossostigma elatinoides, a plant which is becoming endangered in some of its native regions. As long as there is an aquarium hobby that species will never become extinct - it is in thousands of aquariums around the world now and that is a good thing in my opinion.
The greatest ecological disasters of the past 100 years were committed by governments not individuals - though of course there have been some of those as well. And at the same time as they are cracking down on our hobby, feral dog and cat populations continue to grow and species become extinct through no fault of our hobby.
I will get off the soap-box now. This is my opinion - others are welcome to their own.
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We are in the clear for now, when the entire bill passed the house as it turns out, certain amendments, including the one that concerns us, did not pass with the entire bill
The people who added it in the first place are trying to get it back in before the whole bill passes the Senate, but there are also people making an effort to keep it out
The people who added it in the first place are trying to get it back in before the whole bill passes the Senate, but there are also people making an effort to keep it out
Incidentally I doubt 'elatinoides', one of the most loved plants in our hobby, can ever make a white-list. I know this plant very well. It will be top of the list of their targets. Despite its reputation for being difficult the fact that it survives in our aquariums at all proves how adaptable and resilient it is.
So is the threat posed by the Lacey Act amendment within the COMPETES bill gone now? I'm confused. Should I be hoarding my favorite species for future breeding, or are we in the clear? Are there any new or related bills that contain the same language that would devastate the aquarium industry?
The threat is not over. Each house has to go into reconciliation. We will see what happens there. I believe they are setting up committees for reconciliation now. If both the House and Senate come back with the amendment, then there will be trouble for the industry. Now is the time to call your representative and senator to voice your opinion. Remember be civil and kind to the staffer you talk to. This is an issue that ignites passion, but you are still talking to a person who is just trying to do their job.
It should also be noted this is not the first time this language has come up. Even if we win on competes the Lacey amendment will be back in another form. We need to educate our reps that this is not acceptable. Some are pushing the narrative as USFWS "reasserting it's power" that was lost in the lawsuit, but it is important to note that they never had this power in the first place. If they had this power they wouldn't have lost the lawsuit. This is instead a power grab by a federal agency. Remember for those tempted to see this as a party line issue Marco Rubio's office brought this language up. There are people on both sides of the aisle on both sides of this amendment. I know this forum isn't supposed to be political and I am thankful for this refuge from politics, but this does affect all of us.
You should also join your advocating organization. USARK-FL is free to join. By joining free you aren't just a freeloading member. Membership numbers are considered when they talk to legislators. The more member they have the more clout they have. That being said they have won some big lawsuits in the past and they could use your money if you can spare any. You also don't need to be a Florida resident to join. The Pet Advocacy Network is another good national organization to join.
Here is an article on the economic impact of the industry in Florida. That lab also does a lot of research that benefits the hobby. So if you need another place to give money that isn't a bad place either.
Florida Tropical Fish Farms Generate $172 Million For Florid (reef2rainforest.com)
It should also be noted this is not the first time this language has come up. Even if we win on competes the Lacey amendment will be back in another form. We need to educate our reps that this is not acceptable. Some are pushing the narrative as USFWS "reasserting it's power" that was lost in the lawsuit, but it is important to note that they never had this power in the first place. If they had this power they wouldn't have lost the lawsuit. This is instead a power grab by a federal agency. Remember for those tempted to see this as a party line issue Marco Rubio's office brought this language up. There are people on both sides of the aisle on both sides of this amendment. I know this forum isn't supposed to be political and I am thankful for this refuge from politics, but this does affect all of us.
You should also join your advocating organization. USARK-FL is free to join. By joining free you aren't just a freeloading member. Membership numbers are considered when they talk to legislators. The more member they have the more clout they have. That being said they have won some big lawsuits in the past and they could use your money if you can spare any. You also don't need to be a Florida resident to join. The Pet Advocacy Network is another good national organization to join.
Here is an article on the economic impact of the industry in Florida. That lab also does a lot of research that benefits the hobby. So if you need another place to give money that isn't a bad place either.
Florida Tropical Fish Farms Generate $172 Million For Florid (reef2rainforest.com)
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I see, thank you for your reply, a lot of food for thought. The US mid-term elections are this year. Republicans will win both House & Senate in a landslide. Republicans, unlike Democrats, tend to not favor government over-reach. The theory is that the industry & hobby will be safe for the foreseeable/near-term future.
In any case, nothing in life is a guarantee except death. We must fight against restrictions that would kill the aquarium and pet-keeping hobby!
Now is the time to reach out to your Reps. I am attaching a link from the Pet Advocacy Network to help you streamline making your voice heard. Lacey Act campaign - Pet Advocacy Network
At triple crown there was one talk addressing the fact that they took the amendments out.
