in case you didnt know

[Jesse]

The US hasn't made asian aros illegal. The Lacey Act states the US will abide by the laws made by the parent countries that a species belongs to. The home ranges of the asian aro have declared the wild populations to be threatened and have listed the species under CITES. The US Lacey Act merely supports the CITES status.
For the laws to change, change must start at the country of origin. Not in the US.

Phil, Asian arowanas are also listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which is why you can't import one even with proper CITES documentation.

 

[Oddball]

Phil, Asian arowanas are also listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which is why you can't import one even with proper CITES documentation.

Unless I've read them incorrectly...The US Endangered Species Act follows the Lacey Act which follows CITES. And, CITES follows Country of Origin laws.

If a Country of Origin changes their native species protection law, the CITES convention may alter their level of protection. The Lacey Act follows CITES rulings and will change to meet CITES convention/appendix changes. And, the US Endangered Species Act will conform to meet the new status.

 

[Oddball]

correct me if i'm wrong but how come canada has it legal to own asian aro? and other european countries? if they are legal in canada (just a border away) why not make it legalize in the US? isn't it weird that it should come from the country of origin where they already allowed canada? i strongly feel it is the US alone who doesn't want it legalize.

Because the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act are US laws.

 

[rkc772]

Because the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act are US laws.

okey.... but i hope he "Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act " would be revised and allow the asian arowana to come in. nothing to loose but all to gain. Tax? the government feeds on the taxation process and with the arowana comming in, they can definitely earn $$$ on it. Did you guys know that the US owes trillions of dollars? that's from what i read. maybe it's time to pay them back.

 

[Jesse]

Unless I've read them incorrectly...The US Endangered Species Act follows the Lacey Act which follows CITES. And, CITES follows Country of Origin laws.

If a Country of Origin changes their native species protection law, the CITES convention may alter their level of protection. The Lacey Act follows CITES rulings and will change to meet CITES convention/appendix changes. And, the US Endangered Species Act will conform to meet the new status.

The Endangered Species Act is the major reason why Asian arowanas can't be legally imported into the U.S. A microchipped Asian arowana with CITES documentation would arguably be "legal" under the Lacey Act, because the CITES documentation would be evidence of compliance with Country of Origin laws. However, CITES documentation does not get you around the Endangered Species Act prohibitions.

The Asian arowana is specifically listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Many other CITES species are protected through the Lacey Act alone without a separate listing under the ESA. They are two different, but related, regulatory schemes. Think of it as layers of protection, with ESA offering an additional layer.

The ESA is most known for its regulation of domestic species such as the snail darter, sea otter, spotted owl, and vernal pool crustaceans, aka fairy shrimp. Some of these species aren't protected by other regulatory methods.

 

[rkc772]

ah... whatever we do and say we can't make their minds change the situation. it is true that microchipped and certifated arowanas should be legal but their goes the US government again.... hopefully before President Bush goes down he will sign to lift the ban ... i think we need to just dream on... i'll keep my poster up.

 

[Josh]

The Endangered Species Act is the major reason why Asian arowanas can't be legally imported into the U.S. A microchipped Asian arowana with CITES documentation would arguably be "legal" under the Lacey Act, because the CITES documentation would be evidence of compliance with Country of Origin laws. However, CITES documentation does not get you around the Endangered Species Act prohibitions.

The Asian arowana is specifically listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Many other CITES species are protected through the Lacey Act alone without a separate listing under the ESA. They are two different, but related, regulatory schemes. Think of it as layers of protection, with ESA offering an additional layer.

The ESA is most known for its regulation of domestic species such as the snail darter, sea otter, spotted owl, and vernal pool crustaceans, aka fairy shrimp. Some of these species aren't protected by other regulatory methods.

Jesse, perchance is there anything that you don't know?

 

[vunitrepresenta]

hope these guys get off with minor charges. never know any of them, but it is difficult to see a fellow monsterfishkeeper go out that way. The guy own a pet store to keep guys like us happy. I just wish them the best of luck and hope they learn from their mistake and move on in life. for anyone judging them, shame on you! any of us could have been in that situation. we as fish fanatics love and keep exotics fish! I'm no better than anyone else and i have been guitly of wanting some for my self, but just couldn't afford. good luck guys and hope they go easy on you.

 

[rumblesushi]

Yes it's illegal but it's an absurd law, as stated Asian aros are legal in pretty much every European country, and Canada, probably because they have the common sense to see that endangered in the wild is a different story to being mass bred in captivity.

I hope they get off lightly. To be honest, if I lived in America I would be the first in line to buy a snakehead etc, the laws are ridiculous.

 

[rkc772]

i don't know but seems like the old concept of narrow minded are in some departments on the federal and state government. we need some fresh new minds to re-model the unjustified system. and besides... how can a snakehead survive in some parts of the country where the lakes freeze up. and who in the right mind would put snakeheads on the lake? snakeheads will be expensive and exotic to just release in the wild. people people.. snakeheads are even cooked as food in some countries. their not endangered! let's make a list of revamps on the banned fishes.