SANFA http://www.sanfa.org.au/
ANGFA http://www.angfa.org.au/
ANGFA QLD http://www.angfaqld.org.au
Aggies Aquariums Serving Adelaides Native Fish &
Amphibians Needs
(08) 8359 - 7099 ph/fax
0416-226-512 mob/SMS
reklaw01 at bigpond.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave & Robyn Wilson <rwilson at octa4.net.au>
To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au <rainbowfish at pcug.org.au>
Date: Thursday, 30 August 2001 4:38
Subject: [RML]Fish kept by Govt
>When the scare about the Lake Wanam Rainbowfish disappearance was
>going on the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
>set up a captive population at the Territory Wildlife Park about 60
>kilometers south of Darwin. May this year when I parted company
>with the Govt Aquarium they were still swimming happily around in the
>Aquatic Plant Nursery, I hope they keep them going. It was the
>first non feral, non native species allowed into the Territory
>Wildlife Park because the Assistant Director of the Parks and
>Wildlife Commission thought it was a good idea to be involved with
>the Melbourne Zoo and the joint Zoo ANGFA captive maintenance program.
>
>Even though I no longer work for the Parks and Wildlife Commission of
>the NT I think their sustainable use of native wildlife program is
>one of the most sensible in the country. Here a landowner can get a
>permit to harvest a native species if it can be proved that the
>harvest is sustainable. It is happening with magpie geese, black
>cockatoos, crocodiles and many smaller reptiles. The main reason
>they have changed is that it is more likely a species will be
>conserved if it has some value. An example is the Estuarine
>Crocodile eats cattle, if the landowner can make money from the
>crocodile he is less likely to shoot all the crocs even though they
>take the occasional cow. As far as I know the program is working
>well.
>
>Cheers
>Dave
>
>>At 07:12 28-08-01 -0500, Cameron wrote:
>>>Over here (in my understanding) experienced hobbiests with the best
>>>of intentions hold little to no sway with the bureaucrats that
>>>determine who gets to help and how. So, again, how hard is it for
>>>experienced fish keepers in Australia to acquire an endangered
>>>species, not necessarily for the "hobby" aspect, but even for the
>>>higher goals of saving the fish in captivity?
>>
>>Almost impossible unless you know someone. Even organisations such
>>as ANGFA will find it almost impossible to get permission even to
>>visit some of these areas that alone collect any specimens. The
>>funny thing is that no Government organisations is even attempting
>>to maintain any endangered species in captivity. Most people in
>>environmental departments are of the 'conservationist' type that
>>would rather see the species disappear in the wild than to have them
>>in captivity. That thinking as far as I know is still current.
>>
>>The only fish that has been maintained in captivity by the
>>Government, as far as I know, was the Lake Eacham Rainbowfish kept
>>at Walkermin, and in my opinion the specimens being kept were not
>>true Lake Eacham Rainbowfishes, but cross with a splendida type.
>>However, there are a few Redfins being kept in the hobby - just how
>>many I'm not sure anymore. I think some were offered at the last
>>ANGFA Convention?
>>
>>Adrian.
>>
>>
>