Just my ten cents worth -Anne
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adds all species of
snakehead fishes in the Channidae family to the list of injurious fish,
mollusks, and crustaceans. By this action, the Service prohibits the
importation into or transportation between the continental United
States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States. The best
available information indicates that this action is necessary to
protect wildlife and wildlife resources from the purposeful or
accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of snakehead
populations in ecosystems of the United States. Live snakehead fishes
or viable eggs can be imported only by permit for scientific, medical,
educational, or zoological purposes, or without a permit by Federal
agencies solely for their own use; permits will also be required for
the interstate transportation of live snakeheads or viable eggs
currently held in the United States, for scientific, medical,
educational, or zoological purposes. This final rule becomes effective
immediately upon publication.
LIL blonde girl summary of the above :Federal law only prohibits importation Into the United states,The district of Columbia and the commonwealth of puerto rico and transportation across state lines.Therefore If i live in a state ie. WI and there are no local ordinances against posession its legal for me to keep snakeheads as long as I purchase them localy ie within the state borders-Anne
Heres agreat example its was illegal to buy, sell or posess snakeheads in the city of Chicago before it was illegal to buy,sell or have in your posession in the state of Illinois
Federal law prohibits importation or transportation across state lines
for any of the following:
Channa amphibeus - Chel snakehead;
Channa argus - Northern snakehead;
Channa asiatica - Chinese snakehead;
Channa aurantimaculata - Orangespotted snakehead;
Channa bankanensis - Bangka snakehead;
Channa baramensis - Baram snakehead;
Channa barca - Barca snakehead;
Channa bleheri -Rainbow snakehead;
Channa burmanica - Burmese snakehead
Channa cyanospilos - Bluespotted snakehead;
Channa gachua - Dwarf snakehead;
Channa harcourtbutleri - Inle snakehead;
Channa lucius - Splendid snakehead;
Channa maculata - Blotched snakehead;
Channa marulius - Bullseye snakehead;
Channa maruloides - Emperor snakehead;
Channa melanoptera - Blackfinned snakehead;
Channa melasoma - Black snakehead;
Channa micropeltes - Giant snakehead;
Channa nox Night snakehead;
Channa orientalis - Ceylon snakehead;
Channa panaw Panaw snakehead;
Channa pleurophthalmus - Ocellated snakehead;
Channa punctata - Spotted snakehead;
Channa stewartii - Golden snakehead;
Channa striata - Chevron snakehead;
Parachanna africana - Niger snakehead;
Parachanna insignis - Congo snakehead; and
Parachanna obscura - African snakehead
banned
State laws:
The following states have laws, or have proposed laws on the table banning
the possession, sale of Snakeheads:
Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina,Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee,Ohio,New york,Hawaii and * Ontario Canada
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/regs/part180.html
*may be imported and kept but needs a license
Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The law covers all fish and wildlife and their parts or products, and plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and those protected by State law. Commercial guiding and outfitting are considered to be a sale under the provisions of the Act.
Felony criminal sanctions are provided for violations involving imports or exports, or violations of a commercial nature in which the value of the wildlife is in excess of $350. A misdemeanor violation was established, with a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment of up to 1 year, or both. Civil penalties up to $10,000 were provided. However, the Criminal Fines Improvement Act of 1987 increased the fines under the Lacey Act for misdemeanors to a maximum of $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for organizations. Maximum fines for felonies were increased to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for organizations.
Rewards are authorized for information leading to arrests, criminal convictions, civil penalties, or the forfeitures of property, and for payment of costs of temporary care for fish, wildlife, or plants regarding a civil or criminal proceeding. Strict liability is established for forfeiture of illegal fish, wildlife or plants, and marking requirements for shipments of fish and wildlife must conform to modern commercial practices.
Now after reading the above really is it worth it?
