keeping illegal fish

[mrblah]

Simply put...it's their responsibility. No one else is going to do a survey for them. Just because people want the nice farm-bred reds, gold, blue, etc. doesn't mean that poachers aren't still out there getting Greens for people who just want to say that they have an Asian Arowana. And I have yet to hear of any farms helping the wild Asian Arowana population. Every country has their own issues to deal with and legalizing Asian Arowanas is at the bottom rung for us as well.

wut?

the farms in singapore, thailand and indonesia were initially funded by the govts of the respective countries in an attempt to quell the illegal trade.

and guess what? it worked! the farms abided by CITES law and the farm raised asian aro trade was born. countries took notice and allowed for the importation and local sale of the fish. The united states is the only country that didn't. its not rocket science. SE Asia complied with CITES, the rest of the world recognized them for it and allowed the trade except for the USA.

 

[shamrock]

I know in Texas (though I see them in Pet Stores all the time) Hujeta Gar (arent real gar) are listed as illegal. It only gets 10 inches and is very frail-where as something like a Pacu isnt illegal-makes no sense?

 

[shamrock]

JCardona is right though a lot of fish in Texas are illegal but I see them in LFS all the time!

 

[Oddball]

the funniest thing about the arguement for asian aros is the mods here will cling to that cites ruling like its the hand of god, even though that law now is completely outdated and without merit. i mean, for those saying "where's the study showing populations have increased" why not say "where's the study showing the populations haven't increased"...

Fine. Provide us a link to any authoritative documents showing any sort of population study of this species' wild population levels.

In the meantime, this site will continue to maintain the ideology of not promoting the capture, transportation, trade, and/or possession of illegal species.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

if its illegal its illegal bottom line, read up on snakeheads in america, or look at the inavise species list in florida, that is why illegal fish are illegal

Well because of the threat from one species of snake head they banned the whole family in the entire country. Their are more threatening species of south american fish present in our trade sorry. I don't believe that any animal save for ones that threaten personal health or (more importantly) if they escaped potentially the lives of neighbors, should be regulated(IE poisonous animals) No fish really fall into that category. I don't imagine a lung fish growing over 6 ft crawling next door and eating a sleeping neighbor ya know. They might make it illegal to release animals and put harsher more realistic penalties to deter that behavior. Also holding sellers to a higher standard if they carry high risk animals like a northern snake head.

As far as keeping native fish illegally I think that is probably one of the largest pieces of BS I've heard of. I know businesses that stock their tanks with wild caught fish without permit. I also formerly kept native jeuvies and fry for fun. With an american fishing industry/sport being what it is you really can't fault the minority of people who catch and keep natives compared to fishers out of season or in season for that matter.

I don't think illegal being illegal is something that always makes sense life isn't that binary. Theres plenty of legal things you should never do with regards to animal keeping. But you can, so I don't think the laws really consider things from the perspective of actual hobbyists.

 

[Oddball]

BTW, it's alot simpler than

the hand of god.

It's the law and this site promotes following the law. If you don't like a law, don't whine about it or belittle those who choose to follow the law, take the matter up with your representatives and seek to change the law.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Agreed it was a good law when they passed it and has since stiffeled the recovery of that animal. If they even allowed breeding here it would be a 100 percent domestic animal in no time.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I agree it is stupid for some of the bans (i.e. piranhas in Ky) as for california, everything is illegal there

I think 100 percent of my fish care products are known to cause cancer in the state of California. Keeping fish in California must be hard with cancer killing them all.

 

[nicholasdances]

I bet alot of the mods here could honestly care less if you have illegal fish, they are just doing there best to make sure the board doesn't get shut down for something dumb

 

[Chefken]

I think the op is upset that Pirahna are legal in RI and NJ but not CT which makes no sense at all. CT is way colder than NJ....State laws are more fear driven than federal in many cases. And I cannot buy beer on a sunday!!