flipper Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 Have they set a date to when they will stop importing and bring in Batch testing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 nope.... anyone's guess as to when, how, etc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briztoon Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 I have been told by an LFS owner October next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 I have been told by an LFS owner October next year. So soon.. I was really hoping they would forget about it. We can dream right? Maybe they'll let it go.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 We would need massive support which I don't think we have. We can't even muster a thousand signatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper Posted November 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 TRy other breeders of other fish just dont stick with betta breeders. I have been told by an LFS owner October next year. I've herd 3 different dates now end of 2012, start of 2012 and now october next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Please forgive my ignorance but could someone please explain simply what this is about. Have only just started breeding betta. How will this affect me in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 There are discussion threads here: Batch testing and wild bettas Batch testing protest video Basically it means that very soon it's going to be difficult to get show bettas and wild bettas imported into the country because each shipment will be batch tested by Customs. This involves killing a number of the fish. Also affects guppies and cichlids. The cichlid people don't seem to be all that worried maybe because they think cichlids are easy to breed and this will allow local breeders to get a foothold. I'm not sure if they've entirely thought this through. And the fancy guppy hobby is not very well established here in Australia. The betta folk have been making a lot of noise (given that bettas are only a tiny part of the hobby). But we haven't been able to make enough noise to be heard by anyone that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Ummm thanks. That is a very scary proposition. It will kill the whole hobby. Going to do a bit more reading up on this. They might as well make it illegal to own a fish tank. I WILL add my voice to the cause and I hope everyone does as this will effect everyone that loves ANY fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Hey can I do anything? I can't legally sign petitions as I'm under 18. Of coarse I can tell people.. spread the word, etc. But is there anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splendidbetta Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Make your relatives sign it ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 How will they know you're under 18? Do you need to declare your age or something when you sign? What law says you have to be over 18 to sign a petition? (just curious). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Anyone can write a letter or email. Age not important. If you are concerned, YOU NEED TO WRITE. Read above link supplied by Bettarazzi and all details are here. This really will effect all fish keepers as well kill lots of business and cost jobs. WHY IS THIS NOT PICKED UP BY ANY MEDIA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Thanks. My dad seemed not happy at all when I told him a few weeks ago, I'm sure I could get people to sign. I thought being under 18 is some law, I should look into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Sorry Sarah, I did not mean to do what your parents advise against. As far as I know, there is no law against writing a letter. Maybe signing petition is different?? Not sure. Again, please listen to your parents and my above post was more directed to people that think "what can I do, I am just one person". Together, hopefully we will get a voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 No I mean he was not very happy to hear about the bad news. Not me. Yep, I'll ask around. Hopefully somebody will listen to us and stop all this.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briztoon Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 (edited) There are discussion threads here: Also affects guppies and cichlids. The cichlid people don't seem to be all that worried maybe because they think cichlids are easy to breed and this will allow local breeders to get a foothold. I'm not sure if they've entirely thought this through. Oh it's far worse amongst the QLD cichlid hobbyists. They really have no clue. I sold some fish to a member of the QLD Cichlid Group and we discussed the new importation guidelines and batch testing. He told me that at (the then) most recent club meeting that the belief was that the new legislation would not get passed through parliment so there was little to worry about. They did not understand that these new laws do not require new legislation to be passed. I can't talk for the African cichlid keepers, but there is a small segment of SA dwarf cichlid keepers that are fully aware of the impact batch testing will have on our hobby. Most breeders stick to the bread and butter varieties anyway, their only problem down the track may be excessive inbreeding and no new bloodlines to introduce to their breeding lines. It's the small number of specialised hobbyist that will be effected most. Edited November 22, 2010 by briztoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper Posted November 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 there still be be imported fish but not though the hobbist like our selfs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 but there is a small segment of SA dwarf cichlid keepers that are fully aware of the impact batch testing will have on our hobby. I think the specialist hobbyists eg. bettas, dwarf cichlids, fancy guppies all got on board very quickly because it was very obvious how we would be affected. The thing is even with the easy to breed, bread and butter fish, there will still be an effect. I'm very cynical about the ability of local breeders to breach the gap if importers decided that certain species were not worthwhile bringing in. TRy other breeders of other fish just dont stick with betta breeders. This issue has been discussed on this forum, AquariumLife, Addicted2Fish and I believe a couple of cichlid forums as well. There is also a group in Queensland that Fishchick is in contact with and here in Victoria there is committee which has been formed to respond to both the batch testing and grey list issues. There are industry and hobby representatives on that committee. I think it's fairly widespread but the industry and hobby are quite disjointed. As far as I'm aware there isn't a single body pulling together all the effort in different states and online. WHY IS THIS NOT PICKED UP BY ANY MEDIA? Good question. It's not for want of trying. We ran Twitter campaigns against Tony Burke (previous minister for agriculture) and bombarded Lateline, Tracy Grimshaw, Derryn Hinch, and a few others that I can't remember now. There is a Facebook group and a YouTube video. And that's just the efforts of people from AusAqua. Other forums, shop owners, importers, clubs, individuals have also made an effort. I'll happily get behind anyone that want to lead a charge. But forgive me if I'm a bit cynical about our ability to bring about a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Just a question that's been bothering me about this. It may have been answered before, but what will they consider to be a "batch" for testing. Is it a shipment or a batch from a particular breeder - coz the implications are very different. One thousand fish get shipped in a shipment and a small number are lost to testing... Whereas one fish delivered from one breeder is 100% loss of fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neffy Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 (edited) heres some numbers paul pretty drastic from jodi in the batch testing and wild bettas thread If an Importer brings in 20 Discus varieties, or 20 Frontosa species (at a minimum of 12cm) then the authorities will take away and test 19 fish from each batch. If you bring in 50 of any of the fish species mentioned, they will take away 35, if 100, they will remove 45, just to name a few. Edited November 22, 2010 by Neffy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 My head is spinning with what I have read today. Not a lot adds up. Can't believe that the industry is sitting on their hands. Can understand Bettazarri frustration. I was no. 26 to sign petition. What the? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Stupid! That doesn't sample a batch it destroys it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Am I correct in saying that all that really has to be done is to prove that the virus us already here? If it is so prominent overseas why wouldn't it already be here. If this is the case, why isn't the industry collectively testing fish that are here now? The sure would have access to sick or diseased fish that are already dead or need to be put to rest. Wouldn't this be cheaper for the industry in the long run? Please correct me if I am on wrong path. Seems to obvious to me. Am I missing something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neffy Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 nope it is that obvious and yet they havent/wont do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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