reef

Great job, will put my name down.

Its accurate. No doubt it seems MAF a hidden agent to make life difficult.,not mention the cost recovery agenda they seem to be on. They are charging for everything and at $100/hr it does not take long long to mount up. most importers pay MAF easy money of about $12-$15k a year. Enforcement of regulations and more proposed regulation is no doubt going to increase prices. Freshwater quarantine is reducing to 4 weeks , however there is no cost savings and likely more additional reporting. Time will tell us that pricing is going to go up, especially if they try to make the changers they have put forward. Can't see how, still three visits in 4 weeks.

Not really, need s to be done my others. What is the update with adding fish by FNZAS

I have too many other issues to attend to in addressing the new import standards. Have already added a Dozen fish which is to be added to the new standard in a few months. What the update with ERMA?

When did FNZAS make a application to ERMA.

How is the fish project going? what is being put to ERMA.

What is the update?

Power bill is about $200 a month, Other than that not much . On going maintenance once a month. The tank is equipped with the bets available filtration . costly to set up but long term works out better due to not having to replace cheap equipment . I have about 12 , started with about twenty 2 years ago. They breed all the time, however impossible to raise the young

If you find book with the info and say articles etc, will all help, some internet sites are ok like fishbase, However i found even fish base can be wrong. When i get time hopefully next week will look to get a group of us to start to get the process going to add fish, I have quite a few emails, so just email me if you will be able to help. Will look to get a template together.

Cost is only part of the problem its the stringent procedures that add fair amount of time/cost , all the procedures add no value. Importing small amounts is not viable as a business at all.

Again , baseless comments. so how do you know i make money. have you any clue what it cost these days to actually import. The fact that every year there is less importers will give you a clue.

alanmin4304 what a load of rubbish. you are still living in the past when you used to import fish in the 1900s. Just like the claim you made that Goldfish will never be imported, obviously out of touch what goes on in the industry since the 1900s. As you are the expert of nothing go and add fish to the IHS and do something useful, You are all talk and no action.

Was thinking more on marines not Freshwater, and in any case it is low risk anyway if water is poured in the garden. Again Education required not putting extra financial pressure on the hobby.

How? Water are in fish tanks. If you are looking for Zooplankton go and check the millions of tons of water being dumped by Ships? As mentioned, no system is perfect but importing fish has a far lower risk than importing Bananas vegetables etc. As for testing fish , there is more than just paying for a test, there is the also additional MAF visits etc,. And no doubt as the years go by the cost of testing will increase and so will the high risk fish list. MAF can test all it likes, however should be covered by them. Far more powerful actions would be to improve education, like big signs in stores to say things like. wash hands etc, no dumbing of fish etc, So far quarantine has worked so way add more costs to the hobby for things that might happen.

Sure , that is what we have argued in the submissions. Other countries in the world are having problems, however this is due to the number they import and no quarantine period at all. Also out cooler climate helps.

I have already advise you that they will be able to be imported , However very few if any importers will be interested. Carassius auratus, is this goldfish http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/consult/draft-ihs-fisornic.all-15-11-2010 I suggest more education has to go into hygiene. I handle more fish than any hobbyist and have never been sick or contracted any disease. that is proof. No system is perfect other than banning all fish. If it is a major concern for anyone then by not having fish they would avoid this and hopefully not get run over by a car instead. No one is suggesting that there should be no quarantine, however i don't think you understand the impact of having to pay extra to get fish tested. Especially if you get a over jealous MAF officer. It will make a big impact on fish prices, especially marine. fish are under priced already to keep them reasonable. A importer will have to allow most likely put a minimum of $1000 a month to be put aside for testing, even if they don't have to test , it would be good business practice to allow for future test On top of that the extra procedures has already increased some importers fees by 100% a month. FACTS is that there has been no outbreak of disease in recent times that has been the result of imported fish Maybe we should ban all swimming pools.

Goldfish will be able to be imported soon, however will have many conditions.

When? Found and released is two different things? What outbreak? ZERO. We have one of the longest quarantine periods in the world which helps. Freshwater is going to be 4 weeks,

Something i read and we should use it,

Exactly 100%. i have asked MAF many times to show me a case where in recent years disease have been spread by imported fish . They can't. Nz does not import many fish so the risk is far reduced.

really, i was told we need more competition.

yea sure, that is why every year we have less importers. So how do you pass on a potential $2000 plus fee for testing fish? In fact one import got charged $4000 in test, so no longer imports Freshwater fish.

MODS can we have a forum for this? have its own section. I think we all need to know what is going on .

FNZAS we need a new forum for this, Called , THE INDUSTRY BEHIND THE HOBBY. Need to discuss the issues. Searching the net shows its happening all over the world.

I found this in an overseas article, however lots of old news.