[GSAS-board] FW: FAAS Update of 4-3-09: Legislative Alert

FYI, I registered the GSAS with FAAS, the club of aquarium clubs basically. Here’s a very interesting thing that was sent to me by its boss. Discuss!

Phil

From: Rick Borstein [mailto:borstein@adobe.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 7:38 PM
To: phil@lacefield.com
Subject: FAAS Update of 4-3-09: Legislative Alert

Dear Phil,

Apologies for the earlier email which stripped out the links . . .

I’ve sent this from my personal account instead.

Please share this with your board members.

Rick Borstein
Federation of American Aquarium Societies

In this FAAS update, I've included information about HR 669, a new piece of legislation which should concern us all.

Best regards,

Rick Borstein

FAAS President

Update: April 3, 2009

HR 669: New House Bill threatens what you can keep in your tank

Last year, we emailed and posted here about US Bill HR 6311, the Non-Native Invasive Species Act. Ultimately, and in our opinion, correctly, this bill died in committee.

Unfortunately, a new bill, HR 669, has been introduced which has even greater restrictions.

Since virtually all of our aquarium fish are non-native species, this bill, if passed as is, would severely restrict the fish we can keep in our tanks. The bill would allow the US Fish and Wildlife Service to determine on a species by species basis which animals US citizens would be allowed to keep based on their potential to threaten native species.

While we are sensitive to the idea that some tropical fish could survive in sub-tropical areas of the country (e.g. South Florida), limiting someone in Minnesota from keeping a fish that could only survive in Florida doesn't seem to make sense. Legislation of this kind, if at all, should be left to the states.

Currently, the bill is in committee and a long way from passage. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council has set up a HR669 page and is working with industry to combat this bill. At this point, they do not feel that a letter writing campaign is necessary, or maybe even the best thing to do.

FAAS will continue to monitor the legislation. We've placed a copy of the HR669 bill (PDF) on the FAAS website for your review.

FAAS Publication Awards Entries: Judging Process has begun

Participation in this year's Publication Awards is down slightly from last year, but we still have lots of judging to do. The majority of societies elected to submit entries electronically this year. Thanks! That's good for the environment!

We expect to complete judging by early June and (hopefully) post the winner by the end of June.

Email for: Greater Seattle Aquarium SOciety