Bob Muller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jase Roberts" <nanfa_list-in-jaseroberts.net>
To: <nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 2:53 PM
Subject: NANFA-L-- Releasing (or not releasing) Fish: Some Suggestions
> Thanks for all the discussion on this topic. There were lots of examples
of potential problems when introducing non-native or non-local fish. My
main question was about the likelihood of transmitting diseases if you're
dealing ONLY with native and ONLY locally -- especially given all the other
transmission vectors that exist. Maybe we just don't know how localized and
isolated pathogens are?
>
> Based on the discussion and my own musings, maybe I could offer the
following summary/suggestions:
>
> 1) I get the point. Careful, experienced native fish keepers who collect
only locally and don't mix equipment with fish or live foods from other
localities are PROBABLY okay releasing their fish back into the collection
locations. However, the benefits of doing so are small (assuming you
collected responsibly in the first place), and the risks non-zero. It's
safer for NANFA to offer a blanket "Don't release, ever" statement, and let
individuals decide whether they understand the many variables well enough to
risk it. That said, I think it would be VERY valuable to have a detailed
discussion of all these risks and factors available somewhere on the site.
As Todd pointed out a while back, you need to have compelling information to
back up any blanket statements.
>
> 2) We probably all ought to be paying better attention to how we clean our
collection equipment between sites. I don't think there's anything to this
effect on the NANFA site currently? Are there folks within the community
who are qualified to comment on what *reasonable* techniques can be used to
wipe out the various pathogens we need to worry about (bacteria, viruses,
fungi, parasites, etc.)?
>
> 3) There's NO question that aquarium fish or non-local native fish/herps
should NEVER be released (this wasn't part of the original question, but of
course came up). There may be something NANFA as an organization could do
toward this goal (maybe in collaboration with the industry
http://www.habitattitude.net effort Brian Torreano mentioned... but is that
active / going anywhere?) I see two major issues here:
>
> A) Awareness -- As Todd mentioned, most casual fish keepers won't fully
understand the problems of releasing their pet fish. This gets right to the
"animal lover" vs. "environmentalist" issue I alluded to before. Most
aquarists would fall in the "animal lover" category, and believe it's a
positive thing to set their fish free rater than euthanize them. No matter
what you do, you're NEVER going to convince a lot of these folks to
euthanize their beloved fish.
>
> B) Given the above, there need to be viable alternatives to releasing
fish. There are myriad reasons why folks will need to get rid of fish, and
many/most will NOT euthanize them. So... then what? Some aquarium stores
have "adoption" tanks, but I fully understand why it's risky business for re
tailers to take back stock that could be carrying any diseases under the
sun. http://www.habitattitude.net/ has suggested alternatives to release
under "Prevention", but no detailed info -- and are those alternatives
enough? So... what *should* the average aquarist do when they can't (or
don't want to) keep their fish anymore? How can alternatives to release be
made readily available, and the average aquarist be made aware of those
alternatives?
>
> Anything meaningful would have to happen through aquarium/pet stores
(that's where you reach the folks with fish). Awareness should be pretty
easy -- wouldn't be tough to convince your local pet store to put up a
poster next to their live fish stock. Providing the alternatives to release
would be tougher. Can you convince all aquarium stores to have a few
"adoption" tanks (enough to keep non-compatible fish separate)? That costs
them money, and introduces risk of disease. How about convincing them to
offer a free "retirement" service to euthanize unwanted fish humanely?
Again, that's time and money, and is likely to offend many of their
customers (just as people protest shelters that aren't "no kill").
>
> Wow... what a can of worms...
>
> -Jase
>
> --
> Jase Roberts
> Lewiston, Maine
> on the Androscoggin River
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/ Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA,
/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
/ help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
/ http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml