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The Laws Regarding Us-native Fish Shipments Are Changing.

Started by Guest_BTDarters_* , Oct 23 2007 06:15 AM

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17 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 23 October 2007 - 06:15 AM

Dear NANFAns,

I've just received an email from a close friend of mine that works at the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) here in Wisconsin. He tells me that the DNR is developing some rules in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) regarding shipments of US-Native but non-Wisconsin-native fish into the state. He states that, in addition to the rules that are already in effect, in about 6 months there will be stricter rules for these species. However, for tropical pet species there likely won't be much regulation. I am going to be contacting Myron Kebus, the State Fish Veterinarian (myron.kebus@wisconsin.gov) for more information about this legislation, but I would suggest that if you live in Wisconsin and want to import US-native fish, or if you are a native fish exporter that has customers in Wisconsin, you may want to contact him and question him also. I understand that we have to protect Wisconsin's native fish from the VHS fish virus, but this legislation seems specifically targeted at the US-native fish keeper.

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#2 Guest_Mysteryman_*

Guests

Posted 24 October 2007 - 02:46 AM

Well of course it does. Tropical fish have no major reputation for spreading VHS, and the tropical industry has lobbyists. VHS is seen largely as a natives disease, with the notable exceptions of goldfish and carp, of course.

I think that you'll be out of business soon, by the way. I'm sure they won't be too keen about fish being exported from the VHS-ridden midwestern states. Maybe you'll be fine, but you can probably expect trouble.

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#3 Guest_ashtonmj_*

Guests

Posted 24 October 2007 - 07:11 AM

I'd say it definately has to do with VHS, Whilring, Didymo, the whole suite of things related. The other angle, with or without VHS, (how I see it at least) to look at this is as a means to stop the introduction of fish not native to a particular states waters but native to the U.S. These species, have a much greater chance of becoming established than say a S.A. tropical fish does, especially in northern states. Just one example, but look at what red shiners have done in the southeast. We've got banded and rainbow darters marching down streams they've been introduced into in Maryland and now two populations of rusty crayfish. N.A. fish that are introduced into a 'new' watershed can be just as ecologically harmful as a fish from anywhere else in the world. The fact is it is a whole lot easier to regulate interstate commerce such as with native fish too. I doubt someone crafted legislation to target the N.A. native fish keeper...do you really think they even know we exist? We're an incredibly tiny slice of the overall fish keeping hobby. I certinaly understand how this affects you, Brian, personally alot more than most of us, but this type of regulation has been coming for a a few years now and it will probably end up throughout most of the U.S. This hobby of ours is going to face major obstacles and challenges in the near future that very few seem to want to address directly.

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#4 Guest_Mysteryman_*

Guests

Posted 25 October 2007 - 08:19 AM

"... incredibly tiny slice of the overall..." = easy target for "Feelgood" legislation.

Whenever politicians get the idea that they can somehow do some sort of perceived good without pissing off anyone important, they tend to go for it.

Ironically, natives keepers tend to be among the more responsible aquarists who have the least impact. They won't care about that, though, assuming it even occurs to them, which it won't, and if it did it would be ignored anyway because it would get in the way of the feeling-good part.

Cynical, ain't I?

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#5 Guest_bullhead_*

Guests

Posted 25 October 2007 - 02:13 PM

If anyone finds out any detail, please post it. I, for one, am willing to call/write my elected representatives. A few phone calls from constituents can sometimes do wonders.

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#6 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 26 October 2007 - 03:00 AM

Sounds good. I'll post more after I hear back from Myron Kebus. I have left him a voicemail and am awaiting a reply. His phone, by the way if anyone wants to call him, is: (608) 224-4876.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

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#7 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 15 November 2007 - 07:26 AM

I HAVE SPOKEN TO DR. KEBUS AND THE STATE DNR. ACCORDING TO THEM, IT IS CURRENTLY ILLEGAL TO COLLECT NATIVE FISH IN THE WILD IN WISCONSIN AND TAKE THEM HOME TO KEEP IN AN AQUARIUM FOR ONE'S PERSONAL ENJOYMENT. WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS! MAKE IT A POINT TO ATTEND THE NOVEMBER SE WISCONSIN REGIONAL NANFA MEETING ON SATURDAY, NOV. 17TH IN PEWAUKEE TO DISCUSS AN ACTION-PLAN. THE MEETING WILL BE AT 6:00PM AT THE HOME OF CORBAN SCHULTZ. HIS ADDRESS IS:

1192 Turnbery Dr.
Pewaukee, WI 53072
Phone:(262)-695-9234

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

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#8 Guest_Cymen_*

Guests

Posted 16 January 2008 - 06:21 AM

How can this be when the DNR has pages like this active:

http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/faq/collect.htm

Argh!

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#9 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 16 January 2008 - 06:46 AM

Yeah, guess they missed that link! :wacko:

I will be posting a formal announcement in the next day or two, but I would like to point out that we will be having a Southeastern Wisconsin Native Fish Club meeting on Saturday, Jan. 26th to discuss these sorts of things. The meeting will be at 6:00pm and will be in Okauchee, WI 53069.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

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#10 Guest_Cymen_*

Guests

Posted 29 January 2008 - 10:05 PM

Shucks. I missed your post until now as I got sidetracked. To be honest though I probably couldn't have made it anyway as I have to plan for that (2 hour trip one way from Monroe). I trust everything went well?

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#11 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 03:51 AM

Yes, the meeting went well. We discussed briefly the collecting of native fish by the home aquarist and bait dealer. For me, "bait dealer", I have to have a special permit and only collect from approved locations at approved times. It's a hassle, but I feel privileged to have gotten even that. For the home aquarist, it's illegal to collect right now and we are unclear what the regulations are going to be going-forward. Anyone who wants to collect for home enjoyment should contact Ted Treska of the DNR at (608) 267-7659. He should be able to tell you what, if anything, you can do to collect for home enjoyment.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

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#12 Guest_sunny17_*

Guests

Posted 14 February 2008 - 09:02 PM

So does anyone know if it's alright for us to order fish native to Wisconsin from out-of-state sponsors on this site? I'm assuming it's o.k?

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#13 Guest_Skipjack_*

Guests

Posted 14 February 2008 - 09:35 PM

I would assume with a bill of sale it would be fine, but I would recommend contacting DNR first and confirming it yourself.
BTdarters will surely have some insight on this.

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#14 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 15 February 2008 - 03:12 AM

I, too, am "fairly certain" that this is still legal. You best bet, though, would be to call Ted Treska at the DNR at (608) 267-7659. Be sure to mention when speaking to him that the fish are for "ornamental" purposes.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

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#15 Guest_SeaweedGuy_*

Guests

Posted 04 March 2008 - 10:39 PM

I'm guessing you're going to tell me to call Ted Treska, but do you know if this is for all waterbodies? I personally haven't heard anything about VHS in streams, but I'm not the expert. Just holding out hope I could collect from streams and not lakes.

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#16 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 06 March 2008 - 03:09 AM

I'm guessing you're going to tell me to call Ted Treska, but do you know if this is for all waterbodies? I personally haven't heard anything about VHS in streams, but I'm not the expert. Just holding out hope I could collect from streams and not lakes.

SeaweedGuy,

Sorry, this applies to all water bodies. I know, ](*,)

. I'm still trying to get one of these DNR guys to come and talk at one of our local Southeastern Wisconsin Native Fish Club meetings. Maybe if I can get someone to come and talk, we could get more info. I'm going to keep trying. I'll post more info as available.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

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#17 Guest_SeaweedGuy_*

Guests

Posted 08 March 2008 - 11:44 AM

As an unrelated sidenote, when and where are the meetings of the SE Wisconsin native fish club? I have some US natives and was hoping to start a tank of WI natives before reading this info, so I would be interested in joining.

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#18 Guest_BTDarters_*

Guests

Posted 09 March 2008 - 03:31 AM

As an unrelated sidenote, when and where are the meetings of the SE Wisconsin native fish club? I have some US natives and was hoping to start a tank of WI natives before reading this info, so I would be interested in joining.

SeaweedGuy,

Our next meeting is this coming Saturday at 6:00pm in Pewaukee. You can get all of the details here.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489