Why you should NEVER release any fish

[Chad55]

I hope to educate my child before he's old enough to be looking for wildlife by himself. If he did bring home a snapping turtle hatchling he would have to release it immediatly. I got my first pet when I was 7, I'm now 23 and still have the same animal, a red eared slider.

Not to jack the thread or anything but man I sure would love to see some pictures of that RES. That thing has got to be huge!

Chad

 

[sandtiger]

Not to jack the thread or anything but man I sure would love to see some pictures of that RES. That thing has got to be huge!

Chad

Not really, I have had people tell me he's large for a male (they average smaller then females) but IIRC his carapace is about 6". You can view pictures of him on the NANFA forum in the RES thread.

 

[ewurm]

WOW! What can I say. I cannot believe that anyone would argue against "the no release ethic". When this thread started, I thought that this policy was a given amongst native fish keepers, and the ecologically minded.

That's what I thought too, but I guess we are wrong. Well, there are plenty of people whose values and beliefs baffle me, so I guess I am not surprised.

 

[mjmc]

teleost, poly, I lost my email I sent to DoW earlier this month, so I resent it. Here is my exact email sent this morning to wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us:

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]Hi, [/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]I just wanted to clarify an issue I was concerned with. I'll first tell you of my situation. I recently purchased a florida musk turtle at a reptile show. I was hoping to set up an Ohio-type aquarium with various aquatic animals for my children to watch as they grow up (a 2 year old and a 2 month old). I was hoping to keep a couple of bluegill, some creek minnows, a crawdad or two and the turtle in my 65 gallon aquarium. I understand it is illegal to release fish back into the wild on public land. If I catch some creek chubs and they grow too big, am I permitted to release them into the creek I caught them from (on my parents' property)?[/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]If I am unable to release them, why is this law in place?[/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]Thanks for your time, [/FONT]



mjmc

The response received this afternoon:

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]There would be no problem in doing the things you described.[/FONT]
[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]If you have any other questions contact us @ 800-WILDLIFE during[/FONT]
[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]business hours.[/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]WILD INFO[/FONT]

If you do not believe me, email them yourselves. That's twice now I've emailed them with the same response.

Doing fine? Please, define for me what "doing fine" means? If it means habitat destruction, pollution, endangered species, disease outbreaks and alien invasives then yeah, I guess it is doing fine. The aquatic environment is a very complex system. You visit a creek and think it's healthy simply because there are fish swimming around but in reality you have no idea what is going on in there and for all you know, it may be falling apart. What is said child released diseased sunfish and the creek it comes from just so happens to be home to an endangered species and it kills off half the population? Endangered species exist for a reason, it's becuase people do stupid things.



I don't want to hear that as an excuse and I am fully aware of the fact that people will continue to do stupid things regardless of what you tell them. However, here on this forum we can educate people. People who commonly take animals from the wild. All you're doing is telling them it's alright to do illegal and possably harmful things that could effect the ecosystem.



I hope to educate my child before he's old enough to be looking for wildlife by himself. If he did bring home a snapping turtle hatchling he would have to release it immediatly. I got my first pet when I was 7, I'm now 23 and still have the same animal, a red eared slider.

What does habitat destruction, pollution and invasives have to do with releasing native fish? Stay focused. And there are a multitude of reasons there are endangered species. Let's not pretend the sole reason is "stupid people."

And I don't do things that I believe are wrong simply because others are doing it. I personally don't believe it is wrong, and ODNR agrees with me. While I appreciate your opinions, I do believe ODNR is probably a little more knowledgeable than some of the posters here. I simply believe that the foreign disease from an aquarium scenario is overstated, if not paranoid.

 

[sandtiger]

Just when you thought this topic was dead. And here I though it would make a decent sticky.

What does habitat destruction, pollution and invasives have to do with releasing native fish? Stay focused.

You said the streams/rivers in Ohio are doing fine, I listed some reasons why they are not.

And there are a multitude of reasons there are endangered species. Let's not pretend the sole reason is "stupid people."

Pollution, overfishing, invasive species, habitat destruction...all these result in endangered species and all are caused by people.

And I don't do things that I believe are wrong simply because others are doing it. I personally don't believe it is wrong, and ODNR agrees with me. While I appreciate your opinions, I do believe ODNR is probably a little more knowledgeable than some of the posters here. I simply believe that the foreign disease from an aquarium scenario is overstated, if not paranoid.

Parnoid and overstated? Perhaps, but IMO it's not worth the risk just so I can keep some creek chubs for a few months. If you're getting a fish get one you can care for it's entire life, why bother with a species that you won't be able to house for permanantly?

 

[ewurm]

teleost, poly, I lost my email I sent to DoW earlier this month, so I resent it. Here is my exact email sent this morning to wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us:

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]Hi, [/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]I just wanted to clarify an issue I was concerned with. I'll first tell you of my situation. I recently purchased a florida musk turtle at a reptile show. I was hoping to set up an Ohio-type aquarium with various aquatic animals for my children to watch as they grow up (a 2 year old and a 2 month old). I was hoping to keep a couple of bluegill, some creek minnows, a crawdad or two and the turtle in my 65 gallon aquarium. I understand it is illegal to release fish back into the wild on public land. If I catch some creek chubs and they grow too big, am I permitted to release them into the creek I caught them from (on my parents' property)?[/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]If I am unable to release them, why is this law in place?[/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]Thanks for your time, [/FONT]



mjmc

The response received this afternoon:

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]There would be no problem in doing the things you described.[/FONT]
[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]If you have any other questions contact us @ 800-WILDLIFE during[/FONT]
[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]business hours.[/FONT]

[FONT=PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif]WILD INFO[/FONT]

If you do not believe me, email them yourselves. That's twice now I've emailed them with the same response.




What does habitat destruction, pollution and invasives have to do with releasing native fish? Stay focused. And there are a multitude of reasons there are endangered species. Let's not pretend the sole reason is "stupid people."

And I don't do things that I believe are wrong simply because others are doing it. I personally don't believe it is wrong, and ODNR agrees with me. While I appreciate your opinions, I do believe ODNR is probably a little more knowledgeable than some of the posters here. I simply believe that the foreign disease from an aquarium scenario is overstated, if not paranoid.

I believe after reading an earlier post that the laws of Ohio contradict what that particular representative of Ohio DNR has told you.

 

[Polypterus]

teleost, poly, I lost my email I sent to DoW earlier this month, so I resent it. Here is my exact email sent this morning to wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us:

Dude.. sorry but I would not ask questions about specific wildlife law to some 18 year old temporary worker or intern at "wildlifeinfo"...That is not getting an authoritative answer to the question. I do not care what they say, what I'm telling you is directly from Ohio Wildlife law enforcement.

Mjmc I'm not a 13 year old that sits and plays on computers all day or keeps fish to amuse myself or masturbate my ego ... I actually work in the field of Native wildlife conservation as a professional. You would be wise to stop arguing with those that have much more standing, experience, and knowledge on this subject than you.

 

[Skipjack]

Because of my aquaculture permits, and my sales of native fish, I frequently am in contact with ODNR. I will check into this tomorrow. But I already know what answer I will get. I have spent alot of time reading up on Ohio aquaculture law, and am sure it is illegal. I sure as heck won't call 1 800 wildlife for the answer though.

Actually I will send the link to this thread to my contact at district 5 so that he may read it word for word.

 

[ewurm]

Dude.. sorry but I would not ask questions about specific wildlife law to some 18 year old temporary worker or intern at "wildlifeinfo"...That is not getting an authoritative answer to the question. I do not care what they say, what I'm telling you is directly from Ohio Wildlife law enforcement.

Mjmc I'm not a 13 year old that sits and plays on computers all day or keeps fish to amuse myself or masturbate my ego ... I actually work in the field of Native wildlife conservation as a professional. You would be wise to stop arguing with those that have much more standing, experience, and knowledge on this subject than you.

I hear that. Forget the 1-800 Wildlife number and respect the laws of your state.

 

[teleost]

Well this is interesting isn't it? I'll have to parrot what poly says (he he that's kind of funny "parrot what poly says)....talking to a teen at the DNR can be rather amusing when the answer to your question is already written in the books. You can't do what they said you could. I'll bet if you contact a different person, you'll get a different answer.

Again I'm disturbed at the fact that you're willing to take not only a creature from an entirely different watershed (BTW the Florida panhandle is over 1800 river miles from central Ohio) and let it contact native fishes you fully intend to release into the wild. Not only is that animal 1800 river miles from you, it's been in the "pet industry" and who knows what that animal has picked up! This is unbelievable you could even consider such a thing.

I'll now just guess that you're a child with an above average vocabulary and hope you sit down and think about the written law and not listen to a minimum wage phone center attendant that works for the state. Best of luck to you and would love it if you'd not bother to spread this crap that spews from your mouth. Please do us all a favor and simply kill any fish that gets too big for you to keep. It's not you that will be harmed by a nasty introduction, it's us...those who care about the native fishes. You may not have any respect for the water or the fishes but could just have a little respect for maybe your fellow man.