>While people are willing to pay the high price for these fish the practice
>will continue and no tut-tutting from any hobby group will stop it. The
>interesting point of these shipments is that these fish are very very large
>and is almost impossible to bring them into this country without some
>"Official" help. One of the species mentioned has been imported irregularly
>for at least the last 5-10 years.
You are right about the "official" help aspect - I understand the Arapaima,
although only a baby, was still over a foot long and it is hard to disguise
such a beastie.
<if anything that is illegal can make money then someone will engage in it.
A
>prime example is the blossoming "illegal" trade in tobacco. Due to the
>increasing government tax being placed on tobacco products we now have
>"bootlegger" suppliers because it has become very "profitable". Perhaps we
>are entering another prohibition era :-)
Now, now Mr T. all you have to do is maintain a constant flow of overseas
visitors who can bring you in duty-free supplies. Of course you have to
strike a happy balance between making them welcome so they want to come back
but not so welcome that they move out here to live ;-)
Regards,
Bruce.
Bruce Hansen, A.N.G.F.A., Advancing Australian Aquatics.
Bruce Hansen, ANGFA, caring for our aquatic ecosystems.
Please visit us at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~fisher/angfa.htm