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On another Matter the draft of the new standard is out for submissions, I would encourage people to take part, we need 100s of submissions. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/consult/draft-ihs-fisornic.all-15-11-2010 Basically MAF is trying to close down the hobby, they are subjecting importers with lots on increased cost. As per the allowable list you will see that some fish have to be tested, if many die, it can cost thousands , so expect prices to go up by over 10%. So far some MAF cost have increased by 100%, really great in a recession. Should have a new forum to discuss this. The hobby has not caused any major problems compared to Ships that release ballast water when they enter NZ. Due to the industry being small MAF can take advantage of it and add many conditions when fish are imported. overseas they are also having changes however NZ has the one of the longest quarantine period already in the world which add additional dollars to the Hobby. Its time to take action.

So it is $575 for rapid. You can add a number of species for that price.. But i think we should try one marine fish and one freshwater first, just to make sure we are on the right track. There will be so much work involved so best to have a trial run. email me, would be appreciated. I have done a few submissions, i got about 20 corals approved, Logic will tell you that tropical corals can not live in NZ, however some of the guys at ERMA tried to say otherwise, but still got it approved. Had to do loads of work. I think this time MAF is not a issue as they have a flow chart that should speed up the process if the genus is already allowed, the problem is ERMA and even if ERMA approve it can take MAF years to update the list as they only do it once a year. However if we get a few species approved we can push them to do it.

Then

I think finding more invoices/ info pre 1998 is going to be hopeless, you might get the odd fish but not the quantity we need, I have already exhausted that avenue and collect over 50 invoices from importers and stores. The next step is to to put thru a application with one fish for a dummy run to see if it will get approved. So who has a scientific mind that can put together a submission.

Since commencement of the new organisms component of the HSNO Act (ie 29 July 1998), all new organisms imported into New Zealand have required an approval under the HSNO Act.. Anything prior does not, so go and find the invoices

That is the point i made to MAF many years ago, they just fobbed it off. I tried to get them to provide me with invoices dated pre 1998 as MAF do collect copies of invoices. The key is people need to keep calling MAF and ERMA and complain how hard it is to add fish. MAF has done a risk assessment of all existing species so adding fish should be simple, but nothing is simple when dealing with Government Departments. Just keep calling them

Here is a option to add fish From MAF Maybe this might help a little.

You are not wrong. ERMA is trying to discourage anyone adding more fish species.

Just take your time when cycling, Rome was not built in a day

Most likely a no go as they are rated as high risk

I have done enough work on adding fish to the allowable list, However I can help coordinate it as i know what to do and have the correct contacts in MAF and ERMA. MAF have agreed to the flow chart i posted and i am working with ERMA currently to see what is the best way to go forward. ERMA can approve a application in 10 days. however has to meet the following BUT this really gets me Consultation: Release applications will normally involve some level of Maori Consultation. NOW as above rapid assessment The information is not that hard to find, so we just need people who can put effort into finding the info and collate all the data. Most of the questions above will not apply as the fish will be dead in cold water.

Do we have a list of volunteers to do this? I will look to provide a list of say 60 fish which will be split between volunteers. What we will need is say a picture of the fish and all relative information particular what temperature range it lives in etc. Any fish that lives below say 18c has no show to be added. Fish species selected will be the ones that has the Genus on the allowable list. Any other outside this list is too hard to do at this stage.

i wonder how this going?

Myself and i will be coordinating with 3 main freshwater importers. Then hopefully work can be progressed by a committee. not sure what you mean?

all we want is a list of species hobbyist want asap. We want to get a application in so we can use it as a test case to see how long it takes, If some species are hard to get then they can still be added , however aim is to get most species that are readily available added.

Adding a new genus is much harder as you need the basic information and then MAF have to do a risk assessment., This will also cost far more as they are going to charge, If a genus is on the list then it will be easier as they have already supposedly done a risk assessment on that genus. Uaru genus is on the allowable list so adding another species should hopefully be easy,

5 years ago and the L numbers a few years ago they have still not added all the fish, they lost the list. Have been speaking to MAF recently to follow up on the flow chart. They did say it would be better as it will reduce cost, and they don't have time as they regard adding fish not important.

Funny you should say that, Hypancistrus zebra and many of the L numbers of the MAF list was added by me

Suggestion how this could work, 1/ FNZAS to provide say 40 species of fish hobbies wish to add. initially we should work on genus that are already on the list. 4 list might be required. freshwater fish marine fish corals inverts. List then to be checked by selected importer who will work with other importers to see if its worth adding based on availability and risk based on our experience with what we have added so far. once we have the final list then a committee can start to get the paper work required. Committee should meet say every two weeks so that progress it made to meet deadline to get these in. could be a phone meeting or on the a special forum limited to committee members. People involved should be committed otherwise it will be a waste of time MAF would prefer that it is done once a year only and we only want one application. less work for MAF.

Generally mentality seems to be what is in it for me. not what is best for the Hobby. As the years go by less and less fish species will be imported unless more are added.

There is plenty of information. Big issue is putting it down on paper and continually following up with MAF.

freight, MAF fees, Permits. Volume of fish food sales is low in nz, so margins need to be higher If you work it out is is cheaper than going to the movies for one day. The best food like Fauna Marin is used by many aquaculture farms due to the high quality

The flow chart has been kicking around for 2 years. Just reminded MAF about it as the last person that was working on it left. The flow chart is a start and needs some changes as ERMA needs to approve the fish first, so a group of fish should be submitted. Would be a good idea to get a group who have skills in research and submissions to head such project.

With respect , i have not seen anything FNZAS has done to add fish, Warren Stillwill was the only one that actually did something 3-5 years ago. I still have his submission and still waiting for some of the fish to be added. Has anyone followed it up? I have sent a number of PMs a few years ago prior to the AGM as i was concerned that we need someone like a society to take charge and get involved as importers can only do so much, and you need more voices otherwise MAF do not do much as they always hear from teh same 3-4 people. Like i said it is better to get a few importers to coordinate submissions to add fish , however the Hobby needs a group to assist in completing most of the work going forward.