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

[tricksterpup]

Also, filling out an online petition isnt going to do alot of good per-se. What you also need to do is contact those names that are listed via phone, letters and emails. You need to be professional, friendly and tell them how this would effect you and other companies finacially.

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)

 

[red_wall]

Even though I don't know if I like it or not, having no idea which species will be banned, I see where the makers of 669 are coming from.

Snakeheads have DESTROYED local wildlife.
I can't even remember what they're called but some type of lungfish as well.
People releasing fish into the wild happens everywhere, and then those fish breed, creating a temporary population of those fish in the waterways.

And it can get so much worse if people let out the right kinds of things.
I honestly can't say what species, maybe RTC's or some of the more exotic, faster, and stronger catfish that could overpower a lot of things in the water.

I really don't think it's the fishs' fault though, people are just dumb, and un-educated. Maybe if the STORES take more responsibility on educating people, this would never happen. Make a bill to require big flourescent posters in all shops on the basics of fish-care.

But, I do like keeping fish.
So, I'm opposed until they release a proposed list of what fish will be kept from trade.
Seeing as how that's probably not going to happen before April 23rd, I'm opposed.

 

[ChilDawg]

uh, no, the invasive species are destroying local species in the mainland. not in guam

Look at the bill's sponsor. That was my point, not that, of course, invasives aren't attacking things in the mainland. And your statement is wrong, too, as invasives are destroying Guamanian animals, too.

 

[ChilDawg]

uhh absolutely none. lmao. most everything we keep in this hobby are tropical species, which do not survive in most of the states in the wild.

I'm really surprised not a single person has gotten this here yet. really guys?

you think the importation of yellow tangs will stop because they might be set loos in ohio?...

It looks like they would have to be specifically put on the approved list, though, so who knows what will be banned just because it's overlooked by the folks behind the bill?

 

[bettabrat]

NH residents can contact Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter at this link (the one of the main page isn't working)

http://forms.house.gov/shea-porter/webform/issue_subscribe.htm
Or here http://www.shea-porter.house.gov/ and click "contact me"

 

[Nolapete]

reefplayground, you're sadly mistaken that most tropical species won't survive. Look at the canals in Florida. Post Katrina, here in New Orleans we have apple snails, bettas, and other species thriving. 76 texas cichlids were collected and measured at a local park last Saturday and the population continues to spread from its initial release location.

What isn't clear to most people is that if a species doesn't get a risk assessment and make it on to the approved list, it is automatically banned.

Even clearer for you. Every species seen in your pet stores has to be approved to be legal to keep if this passes.

The wording of this bill is different than those in the past. This one seeks to have a BLANKET catch all exclude all until approved law. Every single species in the pet industry is at risk.

Wildlife and Fisheries perception of a threat is different from ours. We use the logic that if there's only on how could they possibly survive and reproduce. They assume there's more than one and most likely male and female.

The biggest problem with a lot of species that are released is that they have no natural enemies to keep their populations in check. By the time those can be established, it's too late. The reproduced numbers outweigh the predation.

 

[ChilDawg]

Look at the bill's sponsor. That was my point, not that, of course, invasives aren't attacking things in the mainland. And your statement is wrong, too, as invasives are destroying Guamanian animals, too.

Wow, that was worded poorly. "That was my point, not that invasives aren't attacking things in the mainland--which they, of course, are."

 

[angyles]

I can see both perspectives here. I'm getting the impression though that most people on here think the congressmen are going to be creating this list. That's not really the way these things work. Personally, I don't see that this is a bad thing. Yes there is the potential for everything under the sun to be on the unapproved list. That doesn't mean it will be. We have Government Bureaus designed to assess these things, in an educated manner, and make a wise decision that goes beyond our desire to keep some rare exotic pet.

 

[ChilDawg]

I can see both perspectives here. I'm getting the impression though that most people on here think the congressmen are going to be creating this list. That's not really the way these things work. Personally, I don't see that this is a bad thing. Yes there is the potential for everything under the sun to be on the unapproved list. That doesn't mean it will be. We have Government Bureaus designed to assess these things, in an educated manner, and make a wise decision that goes beyond our desire to keep some rare exotic pet.

Like the ones that banned all Snakeheads because the Northern is invasive?

 

[angyles]

Like the ones that banned all Snakeheads because the Northern is invasive?

Sure...BTW, have you never walked into a fish store and seen something sold as one thing knowing very good and well it was another? So lets say a fish store sells an invasive species, but has it labeled as it's non-invasive cousin. Joe Bob buys it, it outgrows his tank, he releases it (cause remember Joe Bob is stupid) and oops. now we have an invasive fish loose.

AND, I do believe there are many more negative impacts a species of fish can have on an non-native ecosystem than just to be invasive.