many many moons ago, my family imported the silver possum and blackbird to the Dunedin area. The silver possum was introduced for the fur industry but the mistake was made by allowing a few out as pets... these bred with the already established possum and added to the problem.
I myself have imported racing pigeons from Australia on many occasions untill they were stopped due to Newcastles disease in Oz.... Interesting that Newcastles disease is and has never been found in pigeons but I totally support MAFs decision as it may possibly become a carrier.
Every time those racing pigeons were imported, there were droppings and seed (the droppings also contained seed) that were on the floor of the containers. These are all possible causes of disease and unwanted plants here. In those days, we had to not allow the birds to come in contact with any other birds for 30 days. Although we never were instructed, I always gathered all the waste and burnt it.
With fish, we simply dont know enough about them and what the may possibly be carrying. I would love to see more Killis here and have problems with allowing one specie from one part on Africa but not allowing another from 10 miles away that is different by only say colour but those are the rules and untill they have been totally tested, I agree with them.
With Killies, we have lost several that we have had here in the past and I am contacting past members looking for old peat and fish that may well still be arround (with some success I might add) so as a hobby, its up to all of us to breed and keep what we have here going.
On the original question about MAF and "disscusing" things with you at the boarder. I always declared everything I had that may possibly have some thing to do with my then hobby (racing pigeons) and was stopped, questioned and serched several times untill I had a proven record. In the end, Boarder control knew that I was doing nothing wrong and were a lot easier on me.
I simply want them to be there and keep an eye on whats happening. We cant expect them to make different rules for different things.
Im not trying to take sides or anything else, just trying to put my experiances on importing live stock and the fact that they are trying to help us and other things that live here