victoly Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/tropicorium-owner-and-employee-charged-with-federal-wildlife-crimes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I'm getting the picture that a lot of this kind of thing goes on. I imagine that part of the problem is that the profit margins are so slim that the temptation to take short cuts is overwhelming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Must be real thin, because the penalties seem pretty stiff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I wonder how much of this is due to ignorance of the law vs intentionally disobeying it. I'd like to think these people know the rules about having permits and knowing what they can and can't collect but perhaps in the case of the sea fans they were truely ignorant. Sharks/fish/alligators should be pretty cut and dry though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 That's disappointing to see but like Mlaw pointed out is probably more common than we think. With collectors either inadvertaintly or deliberately mislabeling species (like the endangered rhizotrochus typus being shipped as Elegance) we shouldn't be surprised to see more. Florida can be pretty strict on it's interpretation of the rules regarding transporting animals. I know Segrest Farms had a problem a couple of years ago transporting animals they had federal permits for and were collected in federal waters and were legally sold to out of state customers who could legally own said animals and they paid the fines because they were cheaper than the legal fees fighting the state. During the florida live rock wars in the early - mid '90s the aquaculture industry took Florida state to federal court and won when Florida tried to stop legally collected rock from federal waters from being landed in the state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 One more reason to keep Austin weird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 so I guess organizing a tropicorium group buy isn't a good plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I'm hoping to post the recap of Julian Sprung's talk at MACNA this year. It was a very ominous talk about the future legal environment that our hobby faces... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenver Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Who knows, everything might be on sale. so I guess organizing a tropicorium group buy isn't a good plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Who knows, everything might be on sale. so I guess organizing a tropicorium group buy isn't a good plan? You'll get a great price ! Unfortunately, you might have some black sedans show up at your door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nwehrman Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 I'm hoping to post the recap of Julian Sprung's talk at MACNA this year. It was a very ominous talk about the future legal environment that our hobby faces... Would love to see this recap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Grog Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 I know people who paid dearly for undersized redfish in their coolers in the 80's and 90's..... Wildlife violations are serious in Texas and should be. We can learn from the recreational fishing folks. They organized via GCCA etc. Wildlife can be managed effectively so that everyone can enjoy it. But it is only as good as you give. Involvement is key. We are the small guys and will get stomped if we don't speak with a unified voice, and deep pockets. Sorry to say but lobbying costs money and you have to pay to play..... Ignorance of the law, or being a scofflaw, doesn't matter... You get caught with the wrong thing (e.g. a bucket full of turtle eggs) and you are in deep doo doo! You may beat the rap but you won't beat the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenver Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 "Better Call Mlaw" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 !??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 You're gonna need a new dust filter for your Hoover MaxExtract PressurePro model 60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 call_mlaw.png !??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+etannert Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 "Scofflaw"... what a great word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Anybody know why lionfish would have been protected or are they talking about something different than a Volitan spp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I don't think it is protected like rare species are protected. I think it is restricted like an invasive species. Apparently they can be invasive when released improperly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Anybody know why lionfish would have been protected or are they talking about something different than a Volitan spp? Did you see lionfish on a list? Most I could find was about sharks, incorrectly sized fish, seafans, and directly collecting alligators. Maybe mlaw can pull the indictment from Pacer or the court it was filed in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 The article states "The indictment also calls out various species of undersized nurse sharks, angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasses, starfish, sponges, rock anemones, shrimp, tangs, and lionfish that were taken as well during this time frame." Why would lionfish, an invasive non-native species be protected from collection or is there native fish known in Florida as a "lionfish" and it's not reffereing to a Volitans spp lionfish we're all familiar with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Overzealous livestock list by the prosecutor maybe. Imagine the irony of being prosecuted for collecting volitan lionfish from Florida waters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Overzealous livestock list by the prosecutor maybe. . . Well, that would be worrisome if true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 i believe i found your answer:http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/permits/lionfish.htmlIt's not about taking the fish, its about the area in which you take them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thank you. Have to agree with Jestep about the irony of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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