HR 669 : CONGRESSIONAL HEARING BANNING NONNATIVE SPECIES APRIL 23, 2009 ACTION NEEDED

[Lupin]

Guys, please sign the petition as you post your thoughts here. Signatures are really needed to voice your opposition towards the bill.

And if anyone wants to write a letter opposing the bill, please keep it as positive and coolheaded as possible. Harassments will not help matters.

 

[captmicha]

yes, and that takes tens and hundreds of thousands of years. The intrusion of foreign species over a couple decades kind of destroys the adaptation theory. Thats the whole point!!!

Ever heard of the finches of the Galapagos? It didn't take them very long at all to adapt and evolve.

 

[tricksterpup]

There ought to be a form letter we can print and sign then fax or email to our representatives. Has anyone seen something like this out there? If we set one up, I believe many more people would send it in to the appropriate people.

This is an letter that was sent out from USARK.org

Sample Letter:
Cut & paste letter.
Subject: Oppose HR669number
(Del or Rep Name),
I oppose HR669. This Bill is not based in science, but in the ideology of powerful special interest groups. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that banning the import, sale and trade of any of these animals will have any positive effect on the economy, environment, or human or animal species health.
In fact, if passed it would destroy many families and businesses. It would have a decidedly negative impact on an already ailing economy by destroying a vital and growing industry at a time when our country is in need of jobs and growth. The USFWS has just made changes to the CITES export permit process which would allow quality captive bred animals to be more easily exported to international customers. Passing HR669 would negate all the work USFWS has done for over a year. This Bill is a disaster to American small business and families in a time of economic hardship.
(tell in your own words- what you do and how passing this bill would hurt you and your family)
Please do not pass HR669.
Thank you,
(Your Name)

Also, is there an online petiton one can sign?

There is but I am to tired to find it.
There may be one at USARK.org or at PIJAC's home page.

 

[tricksterpup]

FYI- Did anyone read this part?

Again, please read post 101 again.
The way the bill is listed that isn't going to matter in the long run.

6. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES.
(a) Prohibitions- Except as provided in this section or in section 7, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to--

(1) import into or export from the United States any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;


(2) transport between any State by any means whatsoever any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;


(3) violate any term or condition of a permit issued under section 7;


(4) possess (except as provided in section 3(f)), sell or offer to sell, purchase or offer to purchase, or barter for or offer to barter for, any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1);


(5) release into the wild any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1); or


(6) breed any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1), or provide any such species to another person for breeding purposes.

 

[herefishy]

How many of you have read the bill? We have come to this point because of callous, careless, and irresponsible fish "havers". We brought it on ourselves. We have allowed forum members, who won't listen to reason, to buy these fish, snakeheads, and other invasive species, and "wowed" when they posted pics of these beasts.

The fish out grows the tank, one's budget is strained to keep these critters and now we yell "foul". when we have failed to police our hobby. Shame on you all. I must clarify that not all of us are to blame. It is a select few. And we and they know who is to blame.

The bill is needed because we are irresponsible, down to the last hobbyist. We failed to police our own. It sucks but it's true.

The staff of every aquarium site, should have stepped in and banned every idiot that has tried to keep large invasive species. Sounds harsh, but very few are capable of maintaining these fish for very long. The novelty soon wears off when the food bills rise. And that's a fact.

And for the most part, we will not be hurt by this bill. Very few of the fish kept are invasive and predatory. Some invasive fish have become fare for our tables, tilapia being one. I highly doubt that guppies, mollies, tetras, and barbs will be included on the list. Nor will corydorus, angels, discus, loaches, or any other docile fish we keep. What will be banned are snakeheads, pirhana, some cool water gobies... The staples of our hobby will remain.

We brought it on ourselves. Time to pay the price of our lack of judgment and effort. Too late to cry wolf, we deserve the punishment. We should have thought of the consequences long ago. Shame on us.

Bob

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

FYI- Did anyone read this part?

Yes, it means you can keep your fish as long as you don't allow them to breed. So no more shrimp, snails and livebearers. And once they're dead of old age, that's it. After that, the hobby is dead in the US.

How many of you have read the bill? We have come to this point because of callous, careless, and irresponsible fish "havers". We brought it on ourselves. We have allowed forum members, who won't listen to reason, to buy these fish, snakeheads, and other invasive species, and "wowed" when they posted pics of these beasts.

The fish out grows the tank, one's budget is strained to keep these critters and now we yell "foul". when we have failed to police our hobby. Shame on you all. I must clarify that not all of us are to blame. It is a select few. And we and they know who is to blame.

The bill is needed because we are irresponsible, down to the last hobbyist. We failed to police our own. It sucks but it's true.

The staff of every aquarium site, should have stepped in and banned every idiot that has tried to keep large invasive species. Sounds harsh, but very few are capable of maintaining these fish for very long. The novelty soon wears off when the food bills rise. And that's a fact.

And for the most part, we will not be hurt by this bill. Very few of the fish kept are invasive and predatory. Some invasive fish have become fare for our tables, tilapia being one. I highly doubt that guppies, mollies, tetras, and barbs will be included on the list. Nor will corydorus, angels, discus, loaches, or any other docile fish we keep. What will be banned are snakeheads, pirhana, some cool water gobies... The staples of our hobby will remain.

We brought it on ourselves. Time to pay the price of our lack of judgment and effort. Too late to cry wolf, we deserve the punishment. We should have thought of the consequences long ago. Shame on us.

Bob

This is apparently some kind of harrassment if the thread topic is not the subject :headshake2:

 

[Lupin]

How many of you have read the bill? We have come to this point because of callous, careless, and irresponsible fish "havers". We brought it on ourselves. We have allowed forum members, who won't listen to reason, to buy these fish, snakeheads, and other invasive species, and "wowed" when they posted pics of these beasts.

The fish out grows the tank, one's budget is strained to keep these critters and now we yell "foul". when we have failed to police our hobby. Shame on you all. I must clarify that not all of us are to blame. It is a select few. And we and they know who is to blame.

The bill is needed because we are irresponsible, down to the last hobbyist. We failed to police our own. It sucks but it's true.

Th staff of every aquarium site, should have stepped in and banned every idiot that has tried to keep large invasive species. Sounds harsh, but very few are capable of maintaining these fish for very long.

How are they expected to learn what responsible fishkeeping is if the staff simply bans outright every person who keeps large invasive species? This is really your own perspective and I understand it is. They have the privilege here however to share their experiences and opinions. While we do not encourage illegal activities posted here (and it is on his own risk), each person here is entitled to his style of wellbeing for the fish, his own pet. It's his own tank and so be it. We're not ones to shove advice through the throat of another thinking we are always right.

Not every large fish is invasive. When I look at it from my own perspective, it is a blanket statement. You fail to understand that there are fish that are unable to survive a certain area where climate is not in its favor.

And for the most part, we will not be hurt by this bill. Very few of the fish kept are invasive and predatory. Some invasive fish have become fare for our tables, tilapia being one. I highly doubt that guppies, mollies, tetras, and barbs will be included on the list. Nor will corydorus, angels, discus, loaches, or any other docile fish we keep. What will be banned are snakeheads, pirhana, some cool water gobies... The staples of our hobby will remain.

Unfortunately, Bob, you are again putting a blanket statement on this and underestimating the potential of the fish you mentioned that in your opinion will not likely be included in the list. Not all loaches really are not going to be invasive but there are some however that are such as dojo loaches. Dojos are already banned in a few countries. Look at Florida. Florida already is a home to several foreign species and this does not exclude guppies, mollies, mosquito fish and loaches.

Snakeheads are already banned and so are piranhas in most states. What does the bill need to add yet? Why not just issue permits and limit those questionable species to responsible hobbyists?

 

[Reefscape]

How many of you have read the bill? We have come to this point because of callous, careless, and irresponsible fish "havers". We brought it on ourselves. We have allowed forum members, who won't listen to reason, to buy these fish, snakeheads, and other invasive species, and "wowed" when they posted pics of these beasts.

The fish out grows the tank, one's budget is strained to keep these critters and now we yell "foul". when we have failed to police our hobby. Shame on you all. I must clarify that not all of us are to blame. It is a select few. And we and they know who is to blame.

The bill is needed because we are irresponsible, down to the last hobbyist. We failed to police our own. It sucks but it's true.

The staff of every aquarium site, should have stepped in and banned every idiot that has tried to keep large invasive species. Sounds harsh, but very few are capable of maintaining these fish for very long. The novelty soon wears off when the food bills rise. And that's a fact.

And for the most part, we will not be hurt by this bill. Very few of the fish kept are invasive and predatory. Some invasive fish have become fare for our tables, tilapia being one. I highly doubt that guppies, mollies, tetras, and barbs will be included on the list. Nor will corydorus, angels, discus, loaches, or any other docile fish we keep. What will be banned are snakeheads, pirhana, some cool water gobies... The staples of our hobby will remain.

We brought it on ourselves. Time to pay the price of our lack of judgment and effort. Too late to cry wolf, we deserve the punishment. We should have thought of the consequences long ago. Shame on us.

Bob

Intriguing comments opcorn:

 

[ChilDawg]

The staff of every aquarium site, should have stepped in and banned every idiot that has tried to keep large invasive species. Sounds harsh, but very few are capable of maintaining these fish for very long. The novelty soon wears off when the food bills rise. And that's a fact.

Heh, you're calling on the owners of some sites to ban themselves...and their moderating staff. Awesome.

 

[teleost]

Guys...This is OUR hobby and WE have been warned EVERY year for MANY years that if WE did not clean up OUR act, WE would pay the price. Perhaps judgment day has come and what have YOU done to prevent this? Do forums actively participate in spreading the word of the dangers of releasing fish? Do you talk to the pet shops you frequent and tell them to spread the word? What pressure have you put on the industry that you're so willing to voice upon congress? Sure you care right now but what about the other 364 days of the year? Apparently Americans either do not take this seriously or we have our heads too far up our hind ends to realize what we're doing.

Below is a list from the USGS nonindigenous fish list. This link only covers fish.
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpeciesList.asp?Group=Fishes

I started to make a list but got sick to my stomach after my hands hurt before I got through Family "C" listed in alphabetical order. Below list is Families A,B and part of C. That's 23 more letters to go before the list is complete. These are introductions and not all are successful but an introduction is an introduction. many survive in places you would not believe.

whitespotted surgeonfish--Atlantic ocean

Sohal surgeonfish--Atlantic ocean

blue acara--Florida

spotted rafael catfish--Texas

butterfly splitfin--Nevada

climbing perch--Florida

deepbody anchovy--Hawaii

northern Gulf anchovy--California

bristlenosed catfish--Hawaii and Florida

shortfin eel--California

marbled eel--Hawaii

Sargo--New Mexico and California

bloodfin tetra--Florida

striped panchax--Hawaii

goldspotted angelfish--Hawaii

masked pufferfish--Florida

oscar--Arkansa, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,
Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Bairdiella--California and new mexico

tricolor shark minnow--Indiana

tinfoil barb--Florida

pike killifish--Florida and Texas

Siamese fighting fish
Siamese fighting fish- Connecticut and Florida

zebra danio- California, Connecticut , Florida , New Mexico

Cascara--Florida and New York

green jack--California

Goldfish--Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, new Mexico, Missouri Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming


crucian carp--Illinois

lemonpeel angel--Hawaii

flaming angelfish--Hawaii

peacock hind--Hawaii and Florida

darkfin hind--Hawaii

raccoon butterfly fish--Florida

vermiculated angelfish--Hawaii

northern snakehead--Arkansas, California, Washington DC, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia

blotched snakehead--Hawaii and Massachusetts

bullseye snakehead--Florida

giant snakehead--Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode island, Tennessee and Wisconsin

brownbanded bambooshark--Florida

mesa silverside--Texas

clown knife
clown knife--Florida, Missouri, North Carolina

humpback grouper--Florida and Hawaii

butterfly peacock bass--Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas

speckled pavon--Florida and Texas

Sinaloan cichlid--California

black acara--Florida

midas cichlid-- Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico

Guayas cichlid--Florida

red devil--Florida, Puerto Rico

firemouth cichlid--Arizona, Florida, Puerto rico

Moga--Hawaii

convict cichlid--Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, puerto Rico, Texas, Wyoming

Jack Dempsey--California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii

yellowbelly cichlid--Florida

blue-eyed cichlid--Hawaii

redhead cichlid--South Dakota

threespot cichlid--florida, Nevada

Mayan cichlid- florida