Maryland Laws

[sostoudt]

im pretty sure there all illegal in the US

check the federal lacey act ,Code of Federal Regulations §16.13.

 

[tokyogasmask]

So pretty much no channa then!
It is illegal to import any Channa or parachanna.

May be OK to own one in Maryland, but where are you going to get it . . .?

 

[sostoudt]

Maryland does allow dwarf tropical species to be kept legally within the state. However, only those bred within the state can ever become available until the federal trafficing laws change. There is a federal ban on taking any species of snakehead across state lines. This is why Maryland lfs do not bring any in. Stringent record keeping would have to be kept on any dwarf tropical SH displayed in a lfs. Why risk your pet business over a couple of species?

what is the species name of that fish, channa gachua?
because thats on the list now.

so the lacey act doesnt prevent ownership? only import and transport?

 

[Oddball]

I don't remember the species in question. The research I did was several years ago.

The Lacey Act is a federal document. Individual states still control what occurs within their respective state. However, every year, more and more states are aligning themselves with federal guidelines and statutes.

 

[Just Prince]

Sorry, but this is a load of old bull.
I think you will find the claus will cover new speices and variants.
Otherwise I could think of many many snakeheads that are not on that list that could just be variants of others or could be completely new speicies.

Where is this clause you speak of?

 

[JackMcD]

I boat and fish in the Patomac River and a few tributaries of the Patomac. My friends and I have caught dozens of snakeheads in Aquia Creek and Patomac Creek. Are they Illegal...YES. Here's what will soon happen.... They are indeed becoming a serious sport fish here in Virginia. Check out snakeheadpros.com. People in VA and MD are paying fishing guids to catch them. There's even talk of possible snakehead fishing tourniments this summer. They will soon be officially considered a "Gamefish" in these local waters. If this does happen, there might be a creel limit (the ammount of a certain species an individual keep with a valid fishing licience). If this happens, you very well may be able to keep one provided you have a fishing licience. If the creel limit on bass is 8 and you have one in your tank at home, you can keep 7 a day. I've raised several micro and cobras to over 3 feet and I would love to do it again (even though the local ones are ugly ass Northerns.

I wish people would calm down already... "I think people should never have snakeheads... too dangerous". Grow up already!!! There here to stay... get over it and enjoy cathing one.

 

[Greg31]

that sounds awesome. I may have to try to start fishing them. I live on the Patuxent.

 

[Andrewtfw]

"I don't think snakeheads should be allowed because there are just to many irresponsible people that would keep them in a 20g and after they get to big they release them into the nearest body of water they could find."

based on this statement, many of the fish sold in chain stores and lfs should not be made available. As a manager of an lfs, it is a daily experience to have a customer inform me that he has some 8"+ fish in a 20 gallon and wants to add more. I think in every hobby you will have responsible owners and irresponsible ones. Perhaps if owners had to provide evidence of a proper set-up, that would help alleviate the problem, but I don't see that ever happening.

 

[Brucki]

HI Andrew,

have a customer inform me that he has some 8"+ fish in a 20 gallon and wants to add more. I think in every hobby you will have responsible owners and irresponsible ones. Perhaps if owners had to provide evidence of a proper set-up, that would help alleviate the problem, but I don't see that ever happening.

Thats exactly my opinion. People that know nothing about fischkeeping, and not willing to learn something about it.

Thanks for that.

Cheers and merry X-mas