Asian arowana in the States- I don't understand

[Pwn]

I've been seeing a lot of asian arowana being sold on an auction site and most of the sellers are from the United States. Tempting to say the least, but if these aren't actual people selling actual asian arowana , then what could it be? Are these federal agents setting "traps" ? Do we really have the time and resources to be spending tax payer money on such things?

I know illegal fish are kept by many different people. State to State legality would be the most common avenue. For example- It is illegal to keep piranha in Cali, but a short drive to a legal State or a vendor looking to make money could ship to you. Asian arowana are illegal in all States, yet somehow I see them for sale on a daily basis. Once they are here I would assume they would be as easy to ship/sell as any other fish would be , hence why I'm seeing them for sale.

So how are these being brought into the country? If the few articles of people getting caught are true as far as the fines and jail time go, then why even risk doing it? The only answer I could come up with is this- they must be making money doing it.

From what I understand of asian arowana farms, they are only able to breed their own stock or stock from other farms. Wild caught asian arowana are a prized possesion, and they are not allowed to just go into the rivers and streams and obtain them. Unless someone has been getting wild caught arowana illegaly shipped to them (highly unlikely) I will assume all of these asian arowana are farm raised.

Why can't farm raised asian arowana be kept legally? Their status in the wild is still endangered? If thats the case then I can see why, but if not I dont see how such a valuable and desirable commodity would be kept illegal.

Is there no way to petition a senator or other type of official to look into this? What exactly would be the reason or the organization actually blocking this? I've heard of CITES but I have no idea how they operate. Maybe this has been attempted before and failed. I've checked the sticky thread and the links are broken.

Sorry for the long winded wall of text. If you've made it through, congrats! I know someone smarter than I is reading this and would have answers or direction on this.

 

[Miguel]

This debate has been going on and on and on.

You are right. Makes no sense once they're farmed and documented animals.

But such stupid rules happen all over. We could not own snakes, in my country, untill 2009......

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

This debate has been going on and on and on.

You are right. Makes no sense once they're farmed and documented animals.

But such stupid rules happen all over. We could not own snakes, in my country, untill 2009......

Wow -_-

 

[BlackShark11k]

The ones you see on aquabid and auction sites are all complete scams. Yes there are tons of Asian aros being kept and sold in the US but on a you have to know a guy kind of basis.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Illegal is illegal, I fully understand the point about farm raised, no threat to the wild populations at all, but the point is simple, politicians have no common sense, there is no blurred line with them and once it's made illegal that's it, doesn't matter why it just is at some point in history it is illegal, then forever is.

Then it takes a hell of a lot of effort by some people to even get a good point across let alone over turn it.

Most of these things happen by accident, cannabis for example was grouped into the first illegal drug acts in the early 1900s over here. Research has proved that it has really good pain relieving properties but because it's an illegal drug there is a huge stigma attached in using with medical conditions. Once illegal always illegal. Yet I've seen various documentaries where an old lady had gone to prison for simply growing a herb for pain relief.

I'm not saying that cannabis use is great thing to do just using it as an example., Asian arowana are on the cites list so it will take a huge amount of effort for anyone to even notice the fact that farm raised arrows are even different to a wild caught fish.

I guess it comes down the simple point if your not allowed to have it it makes you want it even more?

 

[FL2008]

agree bro , but the more rules, the more people wants it

Illegal is illegal, I fully understand the point about farm raised, no threat to the wild populations at all, but the point is simple, politicians have no common sense, there is no blurred line with them and once it's made illegal that's it, doesn't matter why it just is at some point in history it is illegal, then forever is.

Then it takes a hell of a lot of effort by some people to even get a good point across let alone over turn it.

Most of these things happen by accident, cannabis for example was grouped into the first illegal drug acts in the early 1900s over here. Research has proved that it has really good pain relieving properties but because it's an illegal drug there is a huge stigma attached in using with medical conditions. Once illegal always illegal. Yet I've seen various documentaries where an old lady had gone to prison for simply growing a herb for pain relief.

I'm not saying that cannabis use is great thing to do just using it as an example., Asian arowana are on the cites list so it will take a huge amount of effort for anyone to even notice the fact that farm raised arrows are even different to a wild caught fish.

I guess it comes down the simple point if your not allowed to have it it makes you want it even more?

 

[Pwn]

Illegal is illegal, I fully understand the point about farm raised, no threat to the wild populations at all, but the point is simple, politicians have no common sense, there is no blurred line with them and once it's made illegal that's it, doesn't matter why it just is at some point in history it is illegal, then forever is.

Then it takes a hell of a lot of effort by some people to even get a good point across let alone over turn it.

Most of these things happen by accident, cannabis for example was grouped into the first illegal drug acts in the early 1900s over here. Research has proved that it has really good pain relieving properties but because it's an illegal drug there is a huge stigma attached in using with medical conditions. Once illegal always illegal. Yet I've seen various documentaries where an old lady had gone to prison for simply growing a herb for pain relief.

I'm not saying that cannabis use is great thing to do just using it as an example., Asian arowana are on the cites list so it will take a huge amount of effort for anyone to even notice the fact that farm raised arrows are even different to a wild caught fish.

I guess it comes down the simple point if your not allowed to have it it makes you want it even more?

Being from California, I didn't use the cannabis reference because it's debated pretty hotly these days and I wasn't looking to start an argument. But it is very similar. We can have a permit to grow it and to use it. If the feds cared enough to bust you then they legally could. They shut down clubs all the time....they just re open somewhere else.

I can see that legalizing asian arowana would be a painstakingly difficult task, but that doesn't mean it can't or won't happen.


We all know people keep these fish. Maybe what I'm trying to say is this- it's not as bad as it would seem to obtain one. It seems like they are out there to buy legal or not. And I do think saying I can't legally own one makes me want it more



edit for clarification/

I'm not trying to promote owning one illegally only because everyone esle seems to have one. You have to start somewhere to change this law, and I think these aquarium communities can get this done.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Being from California, I didn't use the cannabis reference because it's debated pretty hotly these days and I wasn't looking to start an argument. But it is very similar. We can have a permit to grow it and to use it. If the feds cared enough to bust you then they legally could. They shut down clubs all the time....they just re open somewhere else.

I can see that legalizing asian arowana would be a painstakingly difficult task, but that doesn't mean it can't or won't happen.


We all know people keep these fish. Maybe what I'm trying to say is this- it's not as bad as it would seem to obtain one. It seems like they are out there to buy legal or not. And I do think saying I can't legally own one makes me want it more



edit for clarification/

I'm not trying to promote owning one illegally only because everyone esle seems to have one. You have to start somewhere to change this law, and I think these aquarium communities can get this done.

Not wanting to start a debate, just using it as an example of how things can get tagged up with other things. I'm not trying to debate the good or the bad of it, I don't use it myself just saying it's been tagged as illegal regardless of the proven science behind it as a pain killer, I used it because I know a few sick people who it helps.

Same thing with a farmed Asian arrow, no reason why it should be banned, farm raised, chipped and certed, no harm to wild population.

I'll bow out now from this thread I didn't want to sir up a different debate.

 

[Pwn]

Not wanting to start a debate, just using it as an example of how things can get tagged up with other things. I'm not trying to debate the good or the bad of it, I don't use it myself just saying it's been tagged as illegal regardless of the proven science behind it as a pain killer, I used it because I know a few sick people who it helps.

Same thing with a farmed Asian arrow, no reason why it should be banned, farm raised, chipped and certed, no harm to wild population.

I'll bow out now from this thread I didn't want to sir up a different debate.

Wasn't bashing you in anyway. I agree with everything you said. What I was saying is I had the thought to compare the two but did not for reasons stated. I valued your opinion and I hope you stay involved if this thing keeps going.

 

[ftech69]

Don't understand it either. I'm in AZ and I can't own anything cool I want. The only point I can think of is that some wack job could start releasing red bellies or something like that into the lakes here. In the warmer climate they would probably thrive. I understand your fustration as well. getting ready to purchase another tank and I would love to own an Asian too.