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Hi, I remember reading somewhere on the net years ago about the numbers of L46 collected for the ornamental trade in the years leading up to the ban. There was a drastic difference as I recall, going from thousands to, well, not many. I'm having trouble finding that statistic, and I was wondering if anyone here had it. I was hoping to possibly work it into an upper-level university biology class talk about conservation and dam building.

About 2000 weekly (gradually less) before the ban, about 500 weekly these days. Smuggled out illegaly of course.

Haakon

Haakon, roughly how long is the collection season?

I want to say that before the ban numbers had dwindled to 100 or 200-ish, but I can't remember for sure anymore. Anyone have that number? Thanks for the quick reply.

Interesting question, but I am not sure how there can be any reliable answers. Before the ban who was doing the counting to enable one to say it was X number of fish, And since the ban how can anyone possibly have real numbers? I do not believe smugglers send in data to anybody about their illegal activities?

Then lets not forget there is a world wide market for these fish. I find it easier today to buy wild caught zebras (yes illegal fish) than it was to buy them when they were legal. I mean in 2002 -2004 time frame when I first began trying to acquire them. And I would bet it was even harder for hobbyists to find them last century when demand was much lower and collection techniques perhaps were even more primitive and hence even more difficult.

As for collecting them, it is safest for the divers to do so during the period when the river is at its lowest so the current is the weakest and the depth to which they must dive is the least. This would imply the closer to the end of the dry season, the better. The info from below is for Altamira, Brazil.

"The probability that precipitation will be observed at this location varies throughout the year. Precipitation is most likely around April 4, occurring in 78% of days. Precipitation is least likely around August 28, occurring in 16% of days.

The fraction of days in which various types of precipitation are observed. If more than one type of precipitation is reported in a given day, the more severe precipitation is counted. For example, if light rain is observed in the same day as a thunderstorm, that day counts towards the thunderstorm totals. The order of severity is from the top down in this graph, with the most severe at the bottom. "
from http://weatherspark.com/averages/33427/ ... ara-Brazil

A point to note, is L46 have never been legal to export from Brazil and still are not.
It was Janne that said this on a thread somewhere, L46 have allways been and still are on the banned list !

AndrewC wrote:A point to note, is L46 have never been legal to export from Brazil and still are not.
It was Janne that said this on a thread somewhere, L46 have allways been and still are on the banned list !

L-46 are not on a banned list ... they are not on the allowed list

AndrewC- have a read here http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/art ... .asp?id=21

If that information is correct then zebras were exported with permission for some time. Considering who the author of that piece is, I tend to think it is accurate.

Wow thanks, that information really came in handy. I gave my talk a few hours ago, so all the information I was given has served it's purpose. Thanks guys

I should have paid more attention to your original post. I asked this question of Heiko B. on another site at the start of 2010 and he replied. I know you have done your presentation, but if you are curious, you can read the thread here: http://www.plecoworld.org/modules.php?n ... opic&t=449

H. zebra, was exported in large numbers under the 90's but no one really knows exactly amount since they first was exported as Peckoltia spp. later they was allowed under their correct name Hypancistrus zebra until 2004 when they was moved to the red list of endangered species in Brazil. At that time the former gold diggers complained they no longer could collect enough to make their living even that prices was higher, that was the reason for their protection... people complained they was much less of this specie than before.

Eevery week, almost all year around except March-June when it's difficult to collect this specie due the high water and heavy currents, approximate 500 per week are smuggled to Peru and Colombia, numbers differ probably between 100-500 per week and people bring them in their luggage to Tabatinga and then over the border to Leticia. No control at domestic airports of luggage. Than I dont agree with Heiko about the federal police, Brazil is corrupt but in different levels and the police that are least corrupt is the federal. The people that was cought was caught because they did breake the law, nothing to discuss about.

Janne