Coming Soon to a country near you? #handsoffmyhobby

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From their site: What’s all the fuss about?

We’ve noticed that Brussels-based lobbying group Eurogroup for Animals has launched a #votes4animals campaign to put animal welfare at the heart of the European elections being held in May.

No-one can argue against the importance of animal welfare and we should all be concerned about and want to protect the animals we keep as pets. But the group is asking MEPs, who are now campaigning to win your vote, to sign up to a pledge to support its manifesto which includes a call for:

“Banning the import of wild-caught animals and restricting the number of exotic species* that can be imported and traded in the EU, in line with EU policies which tackle related concerns including human health, animal health and the protection of the environment.” See the full manifesto here.

So if you have a marine or tropical set-up that means everything in it – except the plants – could be under threat. Taken to its logical conclusion this manifesto promise could cover tropical marine or freshwater fish, corals, soft corals or other invertebrates because all these are either wild-caught and/or exotic (which means they’re not native to Europe, even if captive-bred in the EU). That means they’d no longer be available to buy.

*What is the definition of an ‘exotic species’?

An exotic species is a plant or animal species introduced into an area where they do not occur naturally – a non-native species.

An organism occurring outside its natural past or present range and dispersal potential including any parts of the organism that might survive and subsequently reproduce (organisms whose dispersal is caused by human action)

Do you adore your angelfish, go crazy over coral, can’t get enough of your guppies?

We know you do care for the welfare of your aquarium and put a lot of love, time and expertise into giving everything that lives in it a good home.

So please add your voice to our #handsoffmyhobby campaign and tell MEPs what the millions of European fishkeepers have to say about their hobby.

Here’s how you can support OATA’s #handsoffmyhobby campaign:

1. Contact the MEPs who have already signed up to the Eurogroup for Animals’ manifesto to let them know how much you enjoy your hobby and ask why they support this document. You can find the list of signatories below.
2. Contact any candidates for the European Parliament in your area to let them know about our #handsoffmyhobby campaign and why you support it. Share your passion for your hobby, let them know what it means to you, maybe introduce them to your tank – and what you’d miss the most if this manifesto pledge ever became law. Politely of course!
3. You can find the contact details of your local MEP here.
4. Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter or follow our LinkedIn page to find out the latest news on this campaign – and share updates with your fishkeeping friends in your own groups, forums and communities.
5. Use the #handsoffmyhobby hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to share what you’d miss the most from your tank if any wild caught animal ban came into effect. We’ll retweet and share what you have to say as well.
6. If you’re in industry why not help us spread the message among your customers by printing out our #handsoffmyhobby flyer for your shop (you can download it here), and share the campaign on your own social media and website?

Want to know what we’re up against?

You can find Eurogroup for Animals’ #vote4animals campaign website here.

And this is the list of the MEPs who had signed the #vote4animals manifesto (with the area they represent and affiliations):

• Bill Newton Dunn – East Midlands, Lib Dems
• Jill Evans – Wales, Plaid Cymru
• Keith Taylor – South East, Green
• Alyn Smith – Scotland, SNP
• Arlene McCarthy – North West, Labour
• Michael Cashman – West Midlands, Labour
• Catherine Stihler – Scotland, Labour
• Brian Simpson – North West, Labour
• David Martin – Scotland, Labour
• Derek Vaughan – Wales, Labour
• Linda Mc Avan – Yorkshire and Humberside, Labour
• Glenis Willmott – East Midlands, Labour
• Peter Skinner – South east, Labour
• Jean Lambert – London, Green
• Richard Howitt – Eastern, Labour

What is the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association?

We’re the ‘voice’ of the ornamental fish industry so our main job is to promote and protect the interests of that industry. We currently represent more than 700 members, from importers and wholesalers to suppliers and retailers. Our mission is to help businesses thrive within the industry by making sure there is a wide range of fish and related products to sell to customers. Part of our job is to identify threats and risks to the industry – like this wild caught ban campaign – and make sure the social, economic and health benefits that keeping fish bring to the UK is heard.

Our members sign up to a Code of Conduct and retailers must have a pet shop licence so if you’re looking for a reputable retailer or manufacturer why not ask if they support this industry as an OATA member?

Link to Hands off my hobby

Link to the manifesto

[Timfish]

Sounds like the bill introduced into the US House of Representatives 5 or 6 years ago that would have had the Department of Interior severely restrict the importation and selling of exotic species here in the US.

[subsea]

There is a similar movement in Hawaii. In Florida, the permits to mariculture live rock on offshore leases will be discontinued. No new permits are issued and when the present holders of these permits are no loger able to dive, this environmentally responsible sustainable resource will go away. The core value projected by these activist is that "it is not ethical to keep life forms in captivity". I shudder to think when they will go after cat fish farms and beef ranches.

Where is the beef?

Laissez la bonne temps roulee,

Patrick