New Bill could make reef hobbyists offenders of federal felonies

[Orin]

Check out th is new house bill working its way through congress:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h669ih.txt.pdf
It would make a list of allowable animals (so far just goldfish on the aquatic end) and interstate movement or possession of any creature on the "bad" list or not on either list would be a federal felony crime under the Lacey Act. "Someone" has to pay for any animal to be considered on the good list. Many of the reef iinverts and live rock would be difficult to identify to the species level, let alone make it to the list. Unless there is an exemption written in for the reef hobby I'd be looking at serving 500 years or more for the corals and macros in one of my reef tanks. Am I missing something here?

 

[ctenophors rule]

wow, that is pathetic! gold fish, what i would say are the most abused of all fishes, are considered ok to keep. (and i can argue this point if need be)

i think that the bill is a bit extreme, a more conservative path of liscencing fish and inverts, with a prerequisite test that must be passed, is in need.

the bill is just too drastic of a change, imo, this is almost exactly like when hiolary tried to establish nationalized health care, to big of a step.

(please note, i did not voice any of my views, in fact i purposely used a liberal and conservative though, or person, to relay my message, i did not intend to, or imo bring political issues ino the post that weren't warrented, so dont yell at me, please)

notarized; lol

 

[greenbean36191]

This bill was pushed last year too and died before it even got to committee. This year's version still hasn't made it there either. It's extremely unlikely to pass because of the huge burden it places on FWS, or even to come up for a vote. Even if it did pass, it wouldn't instantly end of the hobby since all of our current livestock would be unaffected. Anything bred or fragged domestically would still be legal. Any new imports would have to be listed, but for corals that shouldn't be too hard since Tubastrea is the only invasive coral. Anyone can propose species to be listed though if they do their homework. Of course that won't be easy, but the other option, assuming this does pass (which is a huge assumption) is to just throw your arms up and say "oh well, that's the end."

In any event, every year or two some bill is proposed that "will kill the hobby." Almost none even come up for a vote. Of those that do, very few pass. So far, none that have passed have made much of an impact on the hobby. First it was the ban on FL live rock. Well that passed and the hobby just switched from mainly FL rock to mainly Indo-Pacific rock. Next was the California ban on Caulerpa that would end all liverock importation because it was a potential carrier of Caulerpa. Well, it passed and we still have LR and Caulerpa- still coming through California. Then there was an aquatic invasive species bill, which IIRC didn't make it to a vote. Then it was the string of Hawai'ian collection bills. Only one passed, in a highly modified form and has had no effect on the price or availability of Hawai'ian fish. Now it's this invasive species bill for the second time.

 

[Orin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14752094#post14752094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenbean36191
Anything bred or fragged domestically would still be legal.

You didn't look at the bill. Breeding or interstate transport of any unlisted animal would be a federal felony. A tank full of aiptasias (or nice corals) could net you a year or two in federal prison for each one under the Lacey Act. Admittedly it seems unlikely they'd prosecute in that way but the law as written would require it.

 

[greenbean36191]

You're right. I did look at the bill, but was just skimming by the time I got close to the end and I missed that part.

 

[JHemdal]

greenbean,

In addition, the burden of proof (and all associated costs) is placed on the petitioner - the importer most likely. USFWS would not be unduly burdened, and if applications would happen to arrive faster than they could be processed, the system would just slow down (Just like USDA-APHIS permits do).

PIJAC of course is working on stopping this, but my impression is that for some reason many aquarists are not too concerned, while the reptile people are frantic...perhaps because giant Burmese pythons loose is S. FL are being held up as the poster child for this bill (but then, so are lionfish!)

Jay

 

[jenglish]

I don't believe the ape attack awhile back helped either. I understand that the pythons and lionfish are real problems, but I feel passing a bill that makes it illegal to trade zoa frags in Missouri a bit kneejerk.

 

[JHemdal]

Jeremy,

I agree, that's why I've been advocating for regional control - Florida and Hawaii have every reason to restrict these animals within their state, but there is no way that soft corals are going to cause a problem in Missouri. If states would/could control this issue, it would be much better. They already do this to some degree with terrestrial arthropods - you can buy and sell certain tarantulas and scorpions in Michigan that you can't in Florida (where they might survive the winters).

Jay

 

[jenglish]

I would think that Florida would restrict these in the same way it does pond plants which have become invasive. I am unfamiliar what local regulatory powers states have. Is it a jurisdictional or funding issue? Is it that they just haven't stepped up hoping the federal government will regulate it? I don't know the answers to these questions. But a state answer seems like it would make more sense.

Florida has had a number of problems with invasive species in freshwater as terrestrially. I think there used to be a colony of monkeys near one of the airports. I approve of some stricter regulation but a simple blanket answer to a complex problem is rarely the most efficient answer

 

[returnofsid]

Keep in mind that this bill will effect current live stock. Also, keep in mind that for the most part, current problems with invasive species, have been brought about BY Governmental agencies, NOT by hobbyists. Non-native fish are released into a certain area to control mosquito populations. Next thing you know, they've wiped out the native species. Non-native species are introduced as a sports fish, BY a Governmental agency. Next thing you know, they've wiped out the native species.

Now take a lake near where I live as an example. Clear Lake, in Eastern Washington, has been totally taken over by schools of goldfish. There was a fund raiser about 20 years ago where Girl Scouts went door to door selling goldfish. A few years later, owners got tired of taking care of them and released them into the lake. Illegal as heck, but that didn't stop them. Now the entire lake is ruined and there are schools of thousands of 3+ pound goldfish swimming around. That's an example of a pet keeper causing a problem. Goldfish are ALLOWED under this proposed Ban...lol.

 

[pastelball]

ON April 23rd 2009 The Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. Congress will hold a hearing on H.R. 669,

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1614360&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[Anemone]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1616945