Russian Bureaucrats Kill $480K of aquarium fish
- Thread starter johnnyroastbeef
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Step Johns
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Yeah it does seem somewhat strange that there wasn't someone there waiting for the shipment and i also i would think they would send a notice to the government saying look we have a giant shipment of fish coming in and they need to be pushed through customs as quickly as possible.
cuda70bill
New member
no respect for life its a crime
Rangereefer
New member
One would think the folks who were importing the fish would have had their paperwork in order in advance...Then again this is the same country where folks, due to shortages of...well everything, would stand in line for hours without knowing what they were in line for.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
Passing through customs is almost always a hassle when you're bringing in animals, even if you have your paperwork in order. As a rule, there aren't enough wildlife officials to adequately cover the workload and none of them can be expected to be experts at recognizing what an organism is and what the relevant laws are.
On a recent shipment to the Turks and Caicos we had fish held up for almost a day and a half and had several fish confiscated and destroyed despite the fact that we had our paperwork in order, had been in contact with wildlife officials on both sides for over a month, and we had a local broker and two of our people there in Grand Turk to see the shipment through.
Troubles clearing customs with wildlife aren't unusual and certainly aren't unique to Russia. The magnitude of this case is what was unusual.
On a recent shipment to the Turks and Caicos we had fish held up for almost a day and a half and had several fish confiscated and destroyed despite the fact that we had our paperwork in order, had been in contact with wildlife officials on both sides for over a month, and we had a local broker and two of our people there in Grand Turk to see the shipment through.
Troubles clearing customs with wildlife aren't unusual and certainly aren't unique to Russia. The magnitude of this case is what was unusual.
Algae Growwer
New member
That just urks me.What a waste.:blown:
Marshall1385
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ostrow
It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Ok. Let the Russia Expert Chime in Here
Ok. Let the Russia Expert Chime in Here
Why do you guys assume the receivers were not there? They were there.
Had they notified in that manner or communicated that in any way, their total cost would have far, far exceeded $500M
I have to disagree with both points contained in this comment. Government anywhere can mess up. I believe we know that private industry can also mess up badly, and mess people up in the process (current home foreclosure crisis a nice, current example).
Russia is so far and away more oppressive, criminal and inefficient than ours it is not even worth responding in depth. Be thankful for what we have here.
Again, what makes you think they had not done their homework.
As for standing in lines not knowing what you were waiting for, well, I did that. And given the circumstances of that collapsed economy there was no choice. And, 95% of the time, if there was a long line, it was worth waiting for.
There are morons in this country who stood in lines in the cold for a book that would be readily available 6hrs later with no shortage (Harry Potter), or for extravagances that serve no real need (concerts, sporting events) on an existential level. The cheese or sausage procured from those long lines were life-sustaining in an environment which no person should ever have to or have had to endure.
Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. Except, the payoff may have come in for several people. In fact, it had to have. Someone else wanted in on the fun at the last minute.
Or, the directors of the Oceanarium, or someone else involved with the Olympic construction, tourism, or other aspect of the mega-billion dollar effort, crossed someone in customs or at the airport that left the fish as unfortunate victims.
20 years after the collapse of communism. Sigh. Russia had so much hope, and the US, the West, and Russia itself badly messed things up. Read all about it here: http://www.amazon.com/Consolidation...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258941553&sr=8-1
(sorry mods, but give a struggling academic a break on this one!) :wavehand:
Ok. Let the Russia Expert Chime in Here
Why do you guys assume the receivers were not there? They were there.
Had they notified in that manner or communicated that in any way, their total cost would have far, far exceeded $500M
I have to disagree with both points contained in this comment. Government anywhere can mess up. I believe we know that private industry can also mess up badly, and mess people up in the process (current home foreclosure crisis a nice, current example).
Russia is so far and away more oppressive, criminal and inefficient than ours it is not even worth responding in depth. Be thankful for what we have here.
Again, what makes you think they had not done their homework.
As for standing in lines not knowing what you were waiting for, well, I did that. And given the circumstances of that collapsed economy there was no choice. And, 95% of the time, if there was a long line, it was worth waiting for.
There are morons in this country who stood in lines in the cold for a book that would be readily available 6hrs later with no shortage (Harry Potter), or for extravagances that serve no real need (concerts, sporting events) on an existential level. The cheese or sausage procured from those long lines were life-sustaining in an environment which no person should ever have to or have had to endure.
Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. Except, the payoff may have come in for several people. In fact, it had to have. Someone else wanted in on the fun at the last minute.
Or, the directors of the Oceanarium, or someone else involved with the Olympic construction, tourism, or other aspect of the mega-billion dollar effort, crossed someone in customs or at the airport that left the fish as unfortunate victims.
20 years after the collapse of communism. Sigh. Russia had so much hope, and the US, the West, and Russia itself badly messed things up. Read all about it here: http://www.amazon.com/Consolidation...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258941553&sr=8-1
(sorry mods, but give a struggling academic a break on this one!) :wavehand:
Scott-CapeCoral
New member
Ouch, that hurts. Does customs get screwed for animal abuse ?
KeysGeezer
New member
Having spent time in Russia it is like any emerging country. The Russian people are kind, generous, friendly and have more soul than any other white people on earth.
However, the country is almost a third world culture that happens to be heavily armed.
When I was there the official exchange rate was 1$ to 1 ruble but on the street it was 130 rubles to $1.
Plus 1 - the payoff was probably not greasy enough to move the cogs of government entrepreneurs.
However, the country is almost a third world culture that happens to be heavily armed.
When I was there the official exchange rate was 1$ to 1 ruble but on the street it was 130 rubles to $1.
Plus 1 - the payoff was probably not greasy enough to move the cogs of government entrepreneurs.
ostrow
It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
When were you there? The currency is fully convertible and has been since late-1991. There should be no black market currency exchange any more. Unless I missed a big piece of news.
KeysGeezer
New member
Ostrow - I was there in 1992 and the banks were open but had no cash to even exchange. Everyone (general public and businesses) hoarded change (kopeks) because you couldn't go to the bank and replenish your supply.
We likened it to the "Wild West".
PM further if you wish so thread stays on topic.
Thanks,
Marty
We likened it to the "Wild West".
PM further if you wish so thread stays on topic.
Thanks,
Marty
Rangereefer
New member
It wasn't my intent to say that the standing in line without knowing what it was for was because they were not intelligent people just that is how it worked in Russia. The people who were standing in the lines were there because no matter what it was odds are you needed it. It was more of a comment on the bureaucracy that has always existed there that prevented people from being able to have essentials such as bread and meat available when they needed it. I apologize if it came off as the other way...
Big Country_IL
Member
Bummer...depressing even without thinking they were likely rare fish! Hopefully they "get it right" next time...
Tom Foolery
New member
This is awful 
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