steve sisson Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 If you don't make mistakes, you can't learn. I do know my plants are legal thank Henrys God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 im not defending what henry did but to be quite honest i think you should not buy something you know nothing about. i will never buy fish or plants if i cant ID it- not only because i want to be able to care for it properly but because i wouldnt want to end up in such a mess because of my own ignorance. i wouldnt buy from someone if they had even one suspect fish/plant in any of their tanks! steve- im wondering why you are off to kill plants that are legal :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 When I was visited by biosecurity they were only interested in the one plant I described that had been bought on Trademe. They would be aware of everyone who had bought that plant and I suspect would have had a visit also. When I had none of that plant alive they had no more interest and I have heard no more from them. I have also been contacted by the local Regional Council about what is permitted and not permitted aquatic plant (from selling plants on Trademe). When they were assured that I only had permitted plant I heard no more from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 I was a bit saddened and shocked to hear about the final outcome of the plantman legacy. As it's relevant to the NZ fish keeping scene it's my belief that this should be added to the discussion. If for any reason this is against the forum guidelines I apologize but it's hard to keep up. http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/press/070612tan.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 I too am shocked by the sentencing - I agree that the ministry has to send a strong message regarding this issue, but it this a little over the top? Maybe a suspended imprisonment sentence would be suffice plus the $25K fine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 I think it wasn't enough. We are far to often giving people a smack on the hand, you've been a naughty boy. People today do bad things because there are no consequences or don't think they will be enforced. The cost to clean up what has been done is enormous and $25k won't even come close to covering it. At least this is sending a good message and maybe someone else considering doing the same will think twice if they know about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coelacanth Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I think it wasn't enough. We are far to often giving people a smack on the hand, you've been a naughty boy. People today do bad things because there are no consequences or don't think they will be enforced. The cost to clean up what has been done is enormous and $25k won't even come close to covering it. At least this is sending a good message and maybe someone else considering doing the same will think twice if they know about it. totally agree wholeheartedly. The punishments for ecological crimes (for want of a better term) are pitiful and are in no way a deterrent to the perpetrators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I also totally agree with Warren, however it is a pity the authorities cannot show consistency when sentencing people in other categories of crime and then maybe some punishments would not look unfair to some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 The courts can only apply sentences as outlined in the law and the laws vary. This law allows for reasonable punishments-- others are not as severe. I am just gratefull that I managed to kill the plants I bought or they may have destroyed a lot of my other legal and not cheap plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Well, I don't know the whole story and can pretty much imagine that he was fairly warned the first time a package was intercepted and then continued to do it anyways. I had a scary visit from MAF where my tanks were examined last May related to this case and hearing that each charge carried a 5 year or $100,000 fine conveyed to me that with 36 charges he would be facing a very very long sentence and massive fines. 9 months and $25,000 is a slap on the wrist compared to what would happen if someone was caught at the airport with plants or fish in their bags entering the country. In the end this barely made page 3 of any newspaper so no one else will be educated to avoid making the same mistake... unlike the GE danios, which I'm still getting an earful about from anyone that knows I keep fish. Best of luck with your incarceration, Henry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 The pity is that I think many of the plants we have now were originally smuggled. Plants that were not permitted 25 years ago (Echinodorus sp. for example) are now permitted because they are already here. He made a big mistake, got caught and will pay for it. In my view he will then have paid his debt to us all. The death penalty never stopped murder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.