August 11, 2008
Asian Arowanas still illegal in Australia for now …
Hi all,
Thought I'd share this with you. An arowana hobbyist (Thanks Simon for allowing me to share this) wrote to the Australian government to see when they would lift the ban but unfortunately not good news.. Guess Australians will have to wait a bit longer. How long? Your guess is as good as mine but don't lose hope.. it will come eventually!!
The reply from the Australian authorities is as below …
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Subject: Importation of Asian Arowana into Australia [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 15:09:51 +1000
From: Kerrie.Hankinson@environment.gov.au
To: simonchaw@hotmail.com
CC: Nick.Gascoigne@environment.gov.au
Our reference: 2006/07196
Dear Mr. Chaw
Thankyou for your email of 21 May 2008 seeking information regarding the legalisation of Scleropages formosus (Asian Arowana) in Australia.
The Asian Arowana is not listed on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) list of specimens approved for live import; therefore it is currently illegal to import this species into Australia.
An application was received by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) in August 2006 to amend the list of specimens suitable for live import to include Asian Arowana. This application was rejected for inclusion on Part 2 of the list by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on 26 September 2007.
The primary reasons for rejecting inclusion of the species on the live import list were:
There is potential for the species to establish feral populations in northern Australia. Their potential for establishment could have undesirable impacts on the Australian environment. For example two native species in the same genus occur in northern Australia and have the same habitat requirements as the Asian Arowana. Competition would therefore be probable if a population was to establish in Australia, to the possible detriment of both native species.
Asian Arowana is listed on the “grey list” under the Strategic Approach to the Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia, which was endorsed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers at the Natural Resources Management Ministerial Council on 24th November 2006. Species on the “grey list” are being reviewed under this strategy to decide whether they should be considered a noxious species. It is likely that states and territories would not accept the general keeping of this species if they were considered noxious and in this context, a decision to list such species on the live import list would be highly unlikely. Information on the strategy can be found at: http://www.affashop.gov.au/PdfFiles/ornamental_fish_report.pdf
Please note: Applications to amend the live import list to include Asian Arowana are not likely to be considered until the grey list review has been completed and would only be considered if the species is not a noxious species.http://www.affashop.gov.au/PdfFiles/ornamental_fish_report.pdf' \o 'blocked::http://www.affashop.gov.au/PdfFiles/ornamental_fish_report.pdf
The Asian Arowana is a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna) species and if listed would be an inclusion on Part 2 of the live import list. Restrictions may be imposed on Part 2 listings.
At this stage Asian Arowana cannot be legally imported into Australia due to the potential risks it poses to native Australian species, and the uncertainty of its status as a noxious species. As stated, an application to DEWHA to amend the list of specimens suitable for import has been rejected.
Further information about listing species on the live import list can be obtained from the Departments’ website:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/lists/index.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/lists/import/amend/index.html
Yours Sincerely
Kerrie Hankinson
Exotic Species Regulation
Wildlife Branch, AWD
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
ph: 02 6274 1242
fax: 02 6274 1921
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Filed under Arowana News - Others by Steven
Comments on Asian Arowanas still illegal in Australia for now … »
the OFPWG ( ornamental fish policy working group)
are currently working on ammending the noxious vs allowable species list in Australia. currently the fish is on the grey list..meaning that it did not make the grade for outrigh noxious list when they first looked at the lists.
people from various related sectors can make submissions to have them moved to the allowable list.
the old methods and process that allowed the import request to be canned through fear is over, this new policy will fortify their stance whatever that may be..
but now thankfully (and hopefully) they are looking at the species from a scientific point of veiw and whether it is likley to present much risk to the environment if we were to allow it in AUS.
they have a fairly comprehensive list of things they can look to to identify a species risk and a lot of framework that they can put in place to mimimise risk further.
the aim of governments is to allow money to be made by industry, retail, import, aquaculture sectors..while minimising the environmental risks. this species, seeing as it is endangered in the wild (among many other factors such as low fecundity and hardship for breeding) should find its way to the allowable list if subject to the process they have set in front of them. we know that a lot of risky species have made it to the allowable and stay there due to economics showing favour.
if that process doesnt culminate with them being legal in atleast some parts of australia then it is likley that a legal challenge of the descision could be made.
please note above, uncertainty of risk to environment..
if they decide the risk is low then they may be moved to alowable and then an import request can be made and then it would be up to AQIS to decide on whether they can further protect the environment by putting in quarrantine laws on the species. this way, we would not be exposing the country to disease risk through black market imports which does occur under the current status. i see no reasons why if they decide to allow them to be kept here that they should not allow quarrantine protection as per other species. arowana has no specific disease risk any more so than other species that are brought in and controoled by AQIS.
Good Point Arowboy,
I hope that they will allow asian arowanas into Australia soon. Such a pity as there is so much interest there.
Steven
i think what stops it happening here is that no body really stands up and points out that the fish should not be seen as noxious or in the same realm of other noxious fish. australia enjoys a clean image and the aquaculture industry has much regulations here, so much so that the industry overall has a hard time developing. we only have to ask how many new farms have been set up in my state in the last ten years and compare that to how many now sit idle or make very little money. if arowana became legal, even if they did get out and then somehow breed, we would not have large amounts of arowana in our waters, they would be caught up for good returns just as they are poached elsewhere.
for now black market imports will continue.
Arowboy,
Or is there one already???
Maybe you should start up a petition like what they did in the US.
Steven
no, there is no petition. there is a way, by making a submission to the ornamental fish policy working group and the more people writing submisions requesting them be allowed and pointing out that they should not be seen noxious under their risk assesment process the better.
however this was only advertised to farms and industry and not hobbysists so i feel not many people would have written.
i did try get support but feel that most thought it was too much bother to try change a law.
however that submission acceptance date has now passed. the time to submit i mean. they are having a meeting on the 7th of november to talk about all this stuff, including possibly arowana.
i believe they have already decided on about half the fish they had to look at on the grey list. as in the scientists.
arowana will likley not be seen as noxious by the scientists, i know what the risk assement process looka at and i can say for sure that arows dont make for a high risk but a rather low one.
but who knows what will happen when it hits the table for the final descision. it depends on who is sitting on the table i guess. it can be challenged through legal means if they get it wrong.
Arowboy,
Keep your fingers crossed!
Steven