Bill that would end or limit our hobby

[marco67]

re;HR669 PIJAC a Bill that would end or limit our hobby

I've gotten a few emails regarding this in the last couple of days.

Have a look
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-669

It may be worthy of a few emails or phone calls.
Maybe even an official response from the club to our state reps?


(PS I hope it's not some April fools BS but being that the dates are right I thought I'd mention it)

 

[NateHanson]

Do you see anything in there that could apply to reef tanks?

"The purpose of this Act is to establish a risk assessment process to prevent the introduction into, and establishment in, the United States of nonnative wildlife species that will cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health."

I actually think this stuff is important to consider - keeping invasives out of our waterways and land environments. Just look at the havoc some non-native plants and animals have caused in other parts of the country and world.

If there are species in our reef tanks that could survive around here, I think they should be blocked from importation. But I'm not sure I know of any.

 

[Dragon2115]

If there are species in our reef tanks that could survive around here, I think they should be blocked from importation. But I'm not sure I know of any.

I took this photo over three years ago inside a wreck off of Nassau, Bahamas. Adult specimens are showing up and survivng all along the Florida coast up as far as North Carolina and they're not sure how far into the Caribbean they made it so far. Where they have no natural enemies in either the Atlantic or Caribbean there's nothing to stop them. The theory is that the species got loose after some specimens either got too big for their aquariums and their owners dumped them in the ocean or they got washed out to sea during one of the hurricanes when it destroyed the house the aquarium was in. In either case they're loose and they're a huge problem.

Unfortunately Nate this isn't a state bill. Where it's federal they aren't just looking at what might survive up here in New England or off any particular states' coast. What we have to worry about is politicians' penchant for going off half cocked without sufficient information and over reacting in their never ending quest to be seen as "doing something". And it wouldn't be the first time Congress passed a bill into law that had unintended consequences.

 

[Aquadiva]

Do you see anything in there that could apply to reef tanks?

"The purpose of this Act is to establish a risk assessment process to prevent the introduction into, and establishment in, the United States of nonnative wildlife species that will cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health."

I actually think this stuff is important to consider - keeping invasives out of our waterways and land environments. Just look at the havoc some non-native plants and animals have caused in other parts of the country and world.

If there are species in our reef tanks that could survive around here, I think they should be blocked from importation. But I'm not sure I know of any.

I would think most of the stuff could survive in Florida. Since, most is "not native" to Florida waters, I would have to side with Marc on this one. If the panel decides it could populate or "eat" native wildlife, it'll be banned. Not much is going to survive up here. Florida is another matter. Last time I looked Florida was part of the US. So... no Florida, no US.

 

[Aquadiva]

Nice pic..

... and you type faster than me.

 

[marco67]

I took this photo over three years ago inside a wreck off of Nassau, Bahamas. Adult specimens are showing up and survivng all along the Florida coast up as far as North Carolina and they're not sure how far into the Caribbean they made it so far. Where they have no natural enemies in either the Atlantic or Caribbean there's nothing to stop them. The theory is that the species got loose after some specimens either got too big for their aquariums and their owners dumped them in the ocean or they got washed out to sea during one of the hurricanes when it destroyed the house the aquarium was in. In either case they're loose and they're a huge problem.

Unfortunately Nate this isn't a state bill. Where it's federal they aren't just looking at what might survive up here in New England or off any particular states' coast. What we have to worry about is politicians' penchant for going off half cocked without sufficient information and over reacting in their never ending quest to be seen as "doing something". And it wouldn't be the first time Congress passed a bill into law that had unintended consequences.

They are collecting lions regularly off long island, juvenile lions.

 

[Jim Tansey]

Really there no way to to stop the invasion of nonnative species, we live in a global economy you can pass all the laws you want it will never stop importing them on a bunch of bananas, the bilges of ship's, packing crates, or aquarium rocks.

Jim

 

[estubbaly]

Just for the record some guy bought a couple of snakeheads to make a special soup thought to have medicinal qualities and when his sister recovered before he made the soup he let the snakeheads go....now they're all the way up and down the east coast as for north as maryland.These were northern Snakeheads channa argus, a specifically ugly species rarely imported for the aquarium trade....OUR government got a hold on this info and reactionarily BANNED ALL snakehead species from import,including several very pretty dwarf species that make great aquarium specimens....bottom line...without rational intervention all of out tank inhabitants are at risk of being banned.

 

[Behrmon]

Well we didn't ban cats in time and look what happend there!
Seriously though something to keep an eye on.

 

[jojo1n2]

If anything we'll have to rely more on fraging and breeding fish for our tanks, but honestly, I wouldn't worry.

 

[coralcor]

Well we didn't ban cats in time and look what happend there!
Seriously though something to keep an eye on.

but i love my cats

 

[Aquadiva]

If anything we'll have to rely more on fraging and breeding fish for our tanks, but honestly, I wouldn't worry.

Really?? Did you look at where the sponsors of the bill are from?? FLA and CA. What do you think the two have in common???

 

[Blueflu1]

Really?? Did you look at where the sponsors of the bill are from?? FLA and CA. What do you think the two have in common???

They both are where old people move to when they retire. Thats it, elderly people are ruining the world. j/k

 

[Shenlung]

Really?? Did you look at where the sponsors of the bill are from?? FLA and CA. What do you think the two have in common???

Well... California is known for trying to pass laws like the "no black cars" bill and the "no smoking in public, to include your own property" bill.....and florida doesn't know how to vote

 

[marco67]

Really though,
I think the point of concern here is that our legislators don't exactly have a strong track record when it comes to reading and understanding bills they are voting on
There seems to be this pattern lately of "knee jerk" feel good legislation and this is where we could help.
Some out cry from the aquarium and pet industry as a whole would help bring things to their attention so that hopefully when they read it before voting they'll better understand the negative impact.

 

[marco67]

I just found this link

http://www.govit.com/email_congress/

Email freely email often ...Don't forget to remind them They work for you!

 

[Aquadiva]

Well... California is known for trying to pass laws like the "no black cars" bill and the "no smoking in public, to include your own property" bill.....and florida doesn't know how to vote

It is hard to argue with this logic.

 

[Behrmon]

I just found this link

http://www.govit.com/email_congress/

Email freely email often ...Don't forget to remind them They work for you!

Great link!

 

[Mike McConville]

The reptile community's going crazy over this bill. They constantly come up, this is maybe the sixth in recent history, and they never get passed. One was just squashed last fall. This get tiring really fast as it's a constant battle to protect an unquestionable right.

 

[Bobbofin]

The reptile and bird community should be ashamed of themselves. People buy pythons, iguanas and birds not realized how big they will get, the cost to house and care for them and how long they will live. Some birds live to 80 years. A full grown python can and has eaten a two year old child instead of it's regular diet of baby pigs. Pythons and iguanas have been released in the southeast and they cause severe problems for fish & game departments as far north as South Carolina and across all southern states to Texas. I do not agree with this bill but I understand the reasoning behind it. As with things in religion and politics, you start off with a extreme view then negotiate. I my opinion large reptiles should require a license or permit.