PlanetCatfish.com

Hi!!

The next meeting of the CITES commission will work on a proposal from Brazil to transfer Hypancistrus zebra from its current status of Annexe III of the CITES to Annexe I.
Mainly to stop the illegal trade that keeps going on, with "legal" export of wild fish from Colombia and Peru, despite the ban from Brazil dating from decades ago.
It will surely be a big blow to the Aquarium community
In France for exemple, keeping Annexe I animals required to a legal status (Capacitaire) and is very strict regarding the keeping and selling of such animals, many many people will be keeping them illegaly if the proposal is accepted. If caught, animals will be taken away from their owners and fine will be given.

Also a proposal to add severaly Potamotrygon species in Annexe II

A trend that was mostly with Reptiles is picking up with fish, especially out of Brasil at the moment.
A few weeks ago Colombia issued a 2 yrs ban on several fish species.

Cheers
Yann

Yann-

Right now I am able to import zebras from Bellenz farm in Indonesia. They breed them. Does the above mean all international trade in certified tank raised zebras will be stopped?

At this time to be able to receive them and for Bellenz to be able to send them they have to be accompanied by a certificate of origin. I assume this involves people with specific qualifications such as being a veterinarian etc.

I have a group of 14 imported from Bellenz in March of 2020. They have given me offspring. But I do not ship fish out of the USA. So I am assuming shipping them within the country would not be affected?

What amazes me about this all is that when it came to building the Belo Monte dam, nobody cared about zebras and the potential to eliminate the species in the wild as a result.

As I understand it, CITES I (for species threatened with extinction), it means you can't buy or sell them even to your next-door neighbour without permits etc but happy to be corrected.

Jools

Hi

Régulation for annexe I can vary quite a lot
But for sure:
Trade of wild caught animals is strictly forbidden, except special permit for scientific purpose

Trade of captive bred can be allowed under strict circonstancies

Only F2 and beyond generation can be sold but proof has to be given about the origin of the animals. Usually sell is allowed within the boundaries of the state. Paperwork for each transaction. Original to the buyer and copy for the sellers.
Usually breeders have to registered and can be subject to controls. It differ from
Country to another. In some case the owners have to registred
Bigger Annexe I animals are usually microchip, impossible with zebra… maybe a numeric photo id of every individual own could be ask.

Every mouvement should be Kept in a log book, birth, death, sell, buy…

International trade is basically dead, can be allowed under strict circonstances. It is not impossible but will need a lot of paperwork. Usually allowed for scientific purpose

Thanks for the info Yann,

Jools

No change, for now.

https://www.fao.org/3/cc1877en/cc1877en ... x7GW5zRvNE

Jools