Cyrus wrote:
>no paperwork, lets talk practicalities: Many aquarium shops owners need
>guidance. If they have got prohibited fish and especially aquatic plants
>tell them about it, tell them about the heavy fines, see what they have
>to say. If they don't care why should you care about what could happen
>to them after a heavy fine. In WA some highly prohibited aquarium plants
>being displayed to be sold can attract thousands of $$$ fines. Generaly
>there's first a warning. But I don't know if these fines have ever been
>taken out.
I am a firm believer in working with the "trade" - but we are not in a
position to be able to twist any arms - it needs to be a cooperative
thing. Basically, they need to want our help: some do, some don't.
But you have to understand their basic motivation - they are in the
aquarium trade for the money - it is their livelihood, they need to
feed their families. Our motivation as hobbyists is different.
>Another way to communicate to aquarium shops is by sending them a letter
>explianing ANGFA and info pack on what are rainbows and other native fish,
>what's not permitted and setting up The (far-fetched idea) "ANGFA hotline":
>an ANGFA rep to contact during certain hours if important info is needed.
Sounds good to me - but like all good ideas it needs some "elbow-grease" to
realise.
>Or how about making them one of us. "Corperate" membership: $50 or more a
>year gets all the staff to become members for a year! (But only one
>bullitin and Fishes of S. go out to the shop for instance. Will sure
>generate some great auction nights with their specials! Knowledge to
>share on both sides.
Interesting - but a lot of the local Canberra aquarium trade are
already involved as members - and I know a lot of the national trade
are involved as sponsors already...
>Educate the masses: its 10% or more of households that have aquariums,
>put aquarium displays and info sheets out in shopping centres. btw the
>organiser needs insurance.
>cyrus.ois.com.au
Again, great idea - but who is going to do the work? It's like the
National Register of Endangered Native Fishes concept - nobody speaks
against it (in public, anyhow ;) ) but it needs a lot of work to bring
it to fruition.
Regards, Andrew Boyd