Blacklisted?

Hey guys since i joined here ive been coming across this term more and more and it seems like serious thing cos posts are even deleted, can someone explain to me what its all about? Never knew there was such a thing.

 

Basically in a nutshell it is a list of invasive exotic species (plants and fish) that will be able to populate in our water systems that are banned from being imported or traded in.

 

both the document can be found here: http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/forumdisplay.php?f=2

 

I don't think pet stores know about the blacklist. I've seen some of the listed species being traded. Now I know what NOT to buy.

What are the consequences if one is found guilty of trading a prohibited/blacklisted fish or plant species?

 

it starts with fines and ends up in jail if they keep on doing it

 

Thanks i learnt something new, ive even kept some of these fish before not knowing it was illegal

 

I've been doing some reading and would like to know what type of blacklist you speak of.

There is a General Blacklist where there are regulations against trading and breeding or capture of local/indigenous species of plants,and aquatic life.

Then there is a Import Blacklist where you cannot trade, import, breed or capture foreign species of plants and aquatic life.

It is really confusing because I really do think that the blacklist posted in rules and regulations refers to the Import list.

This does not mean you can keep local captured wild fish. There may still be regulations against most, if not all, local wild species of aquatic life.

I only could spot one fish found in local water on the blacklist - Bluegill Sunfish.
Since this species is also found in other rivers across the world, this gives enough reason for it to be named as a Blacklisted fish.

Could someone please confirm the type of Blacklist mentioned here?

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=78

 

Henk can confirm this, but I believe the blacklist we have provided is the blacklist of importation.

I then also believe that it is illegal to keep, breed or trade ALL indigenous species of fish to SA.

 

correct zoom

 

Guppies? Mollies? Swords? Platies ?Mosquito fish? and many other common fish. Even the common goldfish and koi can be found in some of our freshwater systems.

Click here to see a list of some of SA's freshwater fish

Some of the fish will be in the blacklist because these fish have been 'introduced' to South African waters as indicated in this list here

Regards

 

TankMaster stop being stroppy - you know the fish you list are not indigenous species. I dont think you are aware of the fact that DEAT trying to ban koi and goldfish under the new lists. If it wasnt for the uproar from the industry it would have happend.

MODS - why do we have to have issues about the black lists every 6 to 12 months?! It is law - deal with it. Till the new lists come out there is nothing we can do, no reason to debate, it just is....

 

It is not wrong to discuss this matter. It isn't an argument but all of this is for educational value. No reason going around locking and deleting threads. Nobody is learning from that.

Even if it is the law, dealing with something you know very little about does not sound like an intellectual decision.

I really knew nothing about the list till I joined this forum. I still am in the shade (dark) about the laws surrounding fish keeping and trading. I ,however, really want to find out from those who are educated about this topic.

Edit:

The whole issue is about the trading of fish that are already native to South Africa. If there is no official list of fish that are not allowed to be sold or traded, within South Africa, could our take on the whole Blacklist be wrong?

Like the first poster mentioned, as soon as a listed fish is discussed, threads are locked and posts deleted. If the species in the lists are already within the South African Border, how can the Import list apply to them?

The very popular Jewel Cichlid exists in most tanks already. There is no 'importing' being done so why are we prohibited from keeping these in our personal tanks?

I really need an educated explanation for the above mentioned issues.

Regards
TM

 

Okay TM and other new members. I have spend days with the current fish Blacklist, that was originally posted by Henk. Zoom also worked on the plant blacklist, at the same time.
Please go and read about it on this forum. :bigsmile:
There are different reasons for each species, ie: they are very prolific and can cause havoc in our systems, by competing with our indigenous species (that are their food!)
Others are very endangered and some are on the cites list, due to over-exploitation or endangered habitat, etc.
If you want to know the reasons for each species, search it, google it, or even take it up with DEAT or the relevant (provincial) authorities, as this has been discussed to the death, on this forum, and other local forums...
Hope this helps.
Gert.

 

It does help but my question(s) are still left unanswered.

Regards
TM

 

The import black list is applicable, because they don't want any MORE of the fish imported and distributed. - It is a problem Already!

" If you want to know the reasons for each species, search it, google it, or even take it up with DEAT or the relevant (provincial) authorities, as this has been discussed to the death, on this forum, and other local forums..."

If you don't understand my post, please ask DEAT to slowly, explain it to you...

 

The point I was making was......the Black list does not apply to listed fish you already own. Only to fish of the listed species coming into the country.....

So there is no problem with me keeping a listed fish just as long as it hasn't been imported illegally?

or

If I am in possession of a listed species, be it given to me by my grandfather who bred the listed fish before the law was passed or if it was bought from a pet shop before the law was passed, it is still prohibited to keep?

So basically, can I keep a currently Black listed fish that have already had in my possession before it was prohibited?

 

If you had the fish before the current list was issues you would have had to do to DEAT and go get a petmit within a time frame stipulated at the time. If DEAT does an inspection and find any of the black listed species in your posession they will fine you and kill the animal. If they find you with a blacklisted species again they will ask their enforcment arm to arrest you and the state to presue a case against you.

DEAT is in a massive clamp down mode - do not tempt them. They read this and other forums.

 

Are there any freshwater shrimp that are not on the blacklist? i want to stay on the right side of the law.

 

I think a good parallel to compare this to would be as follows...

In SA, we have various illegal hard core drugs in the country. The use of these drugs can be very detrimental and cause a lot of destruction. So, because these drugs already exist in SA, do we make them legal? (I'm sure some smart alec will answer this metaphorical question shortly)....

I hope you can see the point I am trying to make?

I am also a little confused as to why you say that we close and delete all threads discussing the blacklist? We actually only delete those threads were people are discussing the actual keeping of blacklisted species. Occasionally, we find that a more open discussion of the blacklist raises arguements, in which case we close or delete if the removal of any arguementative posts is not practical.

Ultimately, sooner or later in a thread of this nature, someone will comment on their keeping of X,Y or Z fish which are blacklisted, and things rapidly deteriorate from there!

When we do decide to close or delete a thread, it is usually for the protection of the users and TASA itself, as we do not want to end up in any legal minefields.

Getting back to the point in hand, as Henk pointed out, you need to have gotten a permit to continue keeping fish on the blacklist, IF you were keeping them before the species became stated as blacklisted. This however does not gaurentee that you would be handed a permit for them.

AS Gert also mentioned, the reasoning behind the fish being blacklisted is for several reasons...

Either they will have a huge ecological impact on the indigenous ecosystems by effectively wiping out or over competing with indigenous species....

Or they are already endangered species which are protected in their wild habitats as they have been overfished or affected by human development.

I'm sure there are other 'categories' that I have not described, but I gotta go tend to my baby boy, so I'll end it there!

Cheers
G!

Nope! ALL freshwater crustaceans are blacklisted!

Sorry!
G!

 

ok G - so why is fishwhisperer allowed to have a photo of his ILLEGAL/BLACKLISTED rainbow cichlid on his avatar?