OMG 40 clipperton angelfish, Holocanthus limbaughi,

[espocrespo]

http://www.reefbuilders.com/2009/05/07/40-clipperton-angelfish-seized-usfws/

WOOO

:eek2: :eek1:

 

[BangkokMatt]

Wow. If only the fish in the bottom pic was available!

 

[espocrespo]

i think someone should pay a visit, to where these are being kept

 

[coralite]

Holy crap! these fish haven't been imported since 2001. I bet the importer gets a big smackdown for trying to smuggle these fish.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Hear hear! As he deserves. I recall some chatter a while back from Steve (who brought in all the clarions) about importing some clipps. I hope it wasnt him.

 

[coralite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14969294#post14969294 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
Hear hear! As he deserves. I recall some chatter a while back from Steve (who brought in all the clarions) about importing some clipps. I hope it wasnt him.

Check out the hairy arm in the first photo, it almost certainly was him.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I thought that was sasquatch...

 

[espocrespo]

lol, i think they might be stock photo's, not from the exact import, but im only guessing

 

[sedgro]

Innocent until proven guilty... How do we know there was some screw up on the import permit? If it was Steve, I highly doubt he was trying to smuggle anything. I am sure Clipperton is likely visited by recreational as well as commercial fisherman who rape the waters of commercial species, but God forbid anyone try to take out a live fish to put in their aquarium.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

What do you mean screw up on the import permit? From what I have heard of this so far in its limited exposure, I dont know where fault can be applied except from the person of import. That being said, it is just from one account, secondhand, so it is certainly not fact yet (and has not claimed to be).

However, I stand by my statement that people who attempt, or succeed in illegally importing wildlife should ahve the book thrown at them. There is nothing but greed and disregard involved in those who intentionally try to do so. It makes the balck eye thats painted on this hobby even blacker when it happens. Whether this is the case here, we shall see. As I said, I hope not.

 

[Vili_Shark]

US F&WL, if it wasnt sad I'd laugh my *** off.

 

[espocrespo]

so what does this mean for the fish? public aquariums ?

 

[coralite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14969558#post14969558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sedgro
I am sure Clipperton is likely visited by recreational as well as commercial fisherman who rape the waters of commercial species, but God forbid anyone try to take out a live fish to put in their aquarium.

Clipperton Atoll is indeed visited by massive fishing fleets who take food fish out by the tons. I believe the main issue surrounding the seizure of these fish has less to do with how they were collected and more to do with how these fish were improperly declared. Only time will tell.

 

[coralite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14969721#post14969721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by espocrespo
so what does this mean for the fish? public aquariums ?

If the seizure is upheld then yes, the fish will only be distributed to public institutions. In the unlikely event that the seizure is overturned then these fish will be returned to the importer and distributed just like any other fish.

 

[Vili_Shark]

So F&WL are more interested in paperwork than in really protecting the fish/enviroment/nature or whatever?

Is it ok to over fish all the Tunas and sharks from Clipperton which can be the Angel's only natural predator, but when somebody comes and take out 40 fish which is NOTHING, they get confiscated ?...hmmm...

 

[Lrood]

My point exactly Villi, totally a double standard.

 

[sedgro]

whoops... Lrood post above should have been under my name.

 

[coralite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14969870#post14969870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lrood
My point exactly Villi, totally a double standard.

I am not sure where you are getting a double standard from because all livestock and livestock products must be properly declared to US Customs upon entering the country. I agree with you that it sucks that top predators and food fish can be harvested by the ton but that is not the issue here.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14969804#post14969804 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vili_Shark
So F&WL are more interested in paperwork than in really protecting the fish/enviroment/nature or whatever?

Is it ok to over fish all the Tunas and sharks from Clipperton which can be the Angel's only natural predator, but when somebody comes and take out 40 fish which is NOTHING, they get confiscated ?...hmmm...

Clipperton Atoll is not US territory, so how can the USFWS play any role in enforcement of commercial activities? Its no more the USFWS's fault that commercial fisherman are hurting the waters there, than it is their fault that they use cyanide in the Phillipines. However, what they CAN control is the manner in which said wildlife is brought into the USA, and thats what they did.

Again, you can thinks the laws are garbage, or that there are bigger fish to fry (no pun intended), but the laws are the laws, and they need to be followed. The excuse of "its only 40", or "There aere worse things going on there" doesnt make this supposed transgression of the law any less illegal. And illegally bringing fish is smuggling and poaching. And its a shame.

 

[SnookSlayer08]

The cipp in the last pic is gourgeous, I love the blue on the fins, but who'd illegally import fish. and i agree with everyone on why would they care about 40 angels and not care about hundreds of thousands of tuna. I think it would do a hell of a lot more harm to the eco system to kill thousands of tuna and sharks, which are already overfished than tot ake 40 angels that haven't been collected since 2001!