L168 ...

[dammwoman]

I just wanted to make it know that the recent addition of the L168 along with 4 other different breeds of fish was brought about by PIJAC & QFAS lobbying the government and AQIS for these fish.  AQIS didn't just decide one day that they would allow a few more fish into Australia just for the fun of it and if the Tasmanin Commercial Salmon Farming Industry had its way ALL ORNAMENTAL FISH IMPORTATION would be made illegial.
Many GREEN GROUPS also feel the same. Both view aquarium fish importation as a disease risk to their industry.
PIJAC which is a group formed to represent the shops with these issues (they have other roles as well) & QFAS which is OUR ...the hobbists representative group go into bat for the Aquarium Industry against these other groups who would like to close down the whole industry.
PIJAC & QFAS have prepared and done endless studies and enviroment impact reports on 10 fish which were selected to be submitted as possible additions to the import list.
This was 12 years ago...yes 12.
It has taken all this time and huge amounts of effort to have 5 of the original 10 fish allowed in and then only 2 weeks to possibly wreck the whole thing as far as L168 go.
It has not been the little comments on forums that did it.  That was only fuel to the fire. The problem was with complaints made direct to AQIS ...
Anyway lets hope it all blows over and the next list of 10 fish gets through a bit quicker.

I did however want to point out that it was soely the effort of the shops and the clubs that made this possible and I don't think people realize just how much the shops and clubs actually do for the hobby or what the hobbist wouldn't have if it wasn't for the unseen efforts of these people.
Linda

[Cichlidkeeper]

Well said Linda, a bit of common sense goes along way and for those who did formally complain I hope your all satisfied with your results........We might end up with nothin from a potentially excellent situation. Good work and thanks to all those associated with the industries mentioned that fight fo rthe betterment and enjoyment of the hobby and hopefully any breakthroughs you are able to make in the future are treated with the positive reactions they deserve. Keep up the good work, Jeff

[GTR73]

Many thanks to the QFAS & PIJAC for taking on this fight.

All I want, and most people want, is to have the freedom to keep having access to a variety of the world's aquatic life, whenever I want, from whoever I want. After all Oz is supposed to be a free country.
I can understand when certain species should be banned and can run riot with our ecosystems, but if these other groups are worried about diseases or potential damage to Australia isn't that AQIS job after all?
Like all Govt organisations, the wheels can turn slowly at AQIS but as long as they maintain their integrity, that's all that's important to me - I think all we really need to worry about is corruption from government, the MPs and the legislators taking away our hobby.

[Stewart]

The list doesnt get changed unless someone makes an application to change it. Anyone could make the application ifthey wanted to put in the time.
AQIS has nothing to do with what changes are made to the allowable import list. They are given the power to inspect it and allow/disallow fish as they are imported but The dept of environment and hertiage get first dibs then biosecurity australia and there could be another goernment dept in there somewhere.
Also most of the groups that oposed the adding of certain species to the list do it for ligitimate reasons.

[ndoboi]

Very valid points raised there Stewart.
If you have a look through the web site (www.deh.gov.au) you will
find out the procedures to follow if you want to import live stock.
The submissions are required to be very in depth and impartial as
to what impact the species may have on the environment should they
be inadvertantly released.
If you have a look at the past submission for the 10 species you will
find that it was recommended that most of them NOT be allowed into
the country.

Good thing for us the Minister disagreed  :D

At least fish, to an extent, are an allowable import - Birds, other than
a couple of common ones (pigeons, etc), havent been allowed into the
country for commercial purposes since 2002. Even then they were only
allowed in limited numbers.  :cry:

Cheers
Steve

[dammwoman]

Yes any Groups and Departments who have objections to aquarium fish being imported do have legitimate problems mainly the introduction of disease and foreign fish being released or escaping into our waterways then destroying our own native populations.
All these things have to be considered and rightly so.
It is true that anyone can make an application for any type of fish to become an allowable import, in fact 1 of this current lot is from an indepentant application but you have to have so many facts and enviromental impact studies and time and patience and then more patience and plain pig headedness to get anywhere that it is way beyond most people.  QFAS will always ask the clubs to submit a list of fish that members think should be included and start the reserch from there but its a long (12yr) process.
My personal opinion is that ALL fish, with a few obvious exceptions like Piranha ect should be a legal import then all the fish that come into the country would be quarantined and managed properly easing the threat of disease and would also serve to make prices in general cheaper.
Linda