You may not be able to legally buy a koi or a goldfish again, if.........

[louis]

I am not sure if this has been posted before, I could not find it.

If the crazy legislators in the Capital have their way and pass the proposed bill HR-669, ponding will cease as we currently know it.
 Basically it will make it illegal to import and sell any animal, fish, bird that is not native to the United States. That means that you will not be able to buy goldfish, koi, parrots, and the such. Big box pet stores, such as Petco and others will more than likely shut down.

Virtually all fish in an aquarium are not native to the United States
Most pet birds are species not native to the US
Most reptiles kept as pets are not native to the US
Hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and ferrets are not native to the US
Most pond fish are not native to the US

Here is a Utube video that will explain it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FPfL212CB8

Here is a web site to give you more information:

http://www.nohr669.com/

Louis

[JimMcD in SVAZ]

Below is a summary of HR669, lifted from GOVTRACK.US.  If you GOOGLE  HR669 you can read the full text.  The segment in blue below describes the criteria to be used to ban a species. 

1/26/2009--Introduced.
Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations establishing a process for assessing the risk of all nonnative wildlife species proposed for importation into the United States, other than those included in a list of approved species issued under this Act. Sets forth factors that must be considered, including the identity of the organism to the species level, the native range of the species, whether the species has caused harm to the economy, the environment, or other animal species or human health in similar ecosystems, and the likelihood of establishment or spread of the species in the United States.
Provides procedures for issuance and expansion of a list of nonnative wildlife species approved for importation and a list of nonnative wildlife species that are prohibited.
Establishes prohibitions on: (1) importation or transportation between states of nonnative species that are not included in the list of approved species; (2) permit violations; and (3) possession, purchase, sale, barter, release, or breeding of such species.
Exempts from such prohibitions actions by law enforcement personnel to enforce this Act or by federal or state officials to prevent the introduction or establishment of nonnative wildlife species. Declares that nothing in this Act restricts the importation or transportation between states of such species by a federal agency for its own use if the species remains in its possession. Authorizes the Secretary to issue permits authorizing otherwise prohibited importation for scientific research, for medical, accredited zoological or aquarium display purposes, or for educational purposes that are specifically reviewed, approved, and verified by the Secretary if the Secretary finds that there has been a proper showing by the permittee of responsibility for the specimen and continued protection of the public interest and health.
Allows the imposition of fees on persons who submit a proposal to include a species in either of the lists to recover the costs of assessing risks of nonnative wildlife species. Establishes a Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Fund into which such fees and fines for violations will be deposited.
Redesignates the Invasive Species Council established by Executive Order 13112 as the National Invasive Species Council.

[Lynda]

I have received email about this bill at least three times in the past couple of months and it has been discussed on two koi boards I participate on.  Being a retired govt. worker and past political consultant I can tell you that many, many, many bills are introduced each year that never make it out of a subcommittee, much less to the floor for a vote by the House of Representatives and then the Senate.  This bill or something like it, is introduced each and every year, and never goes anywhere.  The person who introduced the bill is a non-voting member of the House from the Territory of Guam, which has a unique concern about the introduction of non-native species of plants and animals and the impact on the island.  The goal of the bill is NOT to prevent people from owning pets, or farmers from being able to raise livestock, native or not.  That ship sailed a long, long time ago.



I checked the official Committee website and the subcommittee is not scheduled to hold a hearing until May 19th, and this bill is not on the agenda.  http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index....Itemid=99999999

[LeeAnne151]

This bill will not stop people from owning pets or fish. It is an attempt at stopping importation of animals that cause harm to our ecosystem and economy though it is more than a hundred years too late even if it does pass which isn't likely.

This would have been a great idea to stop that idiots who brought English sparrows and starlings to the US! and those other idiots who brought European wild boars and released them to hunt in the Southeast. The idiots who brought Nutria should also have been stopped and those that brought bullfrogs to the West and then released them when their frog leg venture didn't make any money.....

Poor Guam has no almost birds left because the non native brown tree snake has killed them all and millions of dollars are spent trying to keep the snake from Hawaii who already has enough problems with bullfrogs, cane/marine toads, feral hogs, feral goats, feral cats and rats!

[louis]

If this bill ever got past committee, and passed, although a slim chance, it would not make you rid yourself of your pets, it would prevent the importation of non native species.

With politicians of both parties trying to get into our wallets and trying to dictate how we live, what we eat and what we drive, we have to be very observant of what is going on. sometimes these things get attached to popular bills.

here in connecticut. two legislators, tried to sneak a bill into the house that would strip the catholic church of managing their finances, including the priests, bishops and cardinals. that decision would have been in the hands of a state approved group. the public went into an uproar and fearing their safety, the two legislators canceled the proposed bill and left town for a few days. the public reacted by staging a protest, 5000 strong on the steps of the state capital.

what might have been dismissed in the past as folly, might not now. you have to be observant.

louis

[Julles]

Let this post be a lesson to any of us who may have considered releasing koi, or turtles, or a hamster perhaps, or any other non-native species into the wild.  It's an easy thing to do, and a person could justify it in his mind if he tried hard enough.  But, with time, it could have the same impace as what Guam and Hawaii are now seeing.

[PondmaninAL]

I started a pond rescue in my county just to keep people from dumping aquatic plants and animals in the natural waters in this part of Florida. You wouldn't believe how many people have called or talked to me in person saying that they just released their pet turtles in the pond or lake behind their house. There is the possibility that the turtle is native but it was still a pet and not use to the wild. That is the same for any pet that some might consider releasing to the wild. There is a river around these parts that I've heard that there are schools of guppies in it. I haven't checked it out yet.