Steffen
Am 11.05.2006 3:36 Uhr schrieb "Derek Parr" unter <derekparr-in-earthlink.net>:
> It's great to hear from you. I presume that you are the one selling the
> chinese sturgeon we've been talking about? If so, there's a lot of
> information lacking, and it would be great to hear where the fish came
> from. We've been having a vibrant discussion on this subject and it is
> great to get your input.
>
> Thanks,
> -derek
>
>
> Steffen Hellner wrote:
>> Dear members of NANFA mailing list,
>>
>> from a friend I received notice that in this mailing list recently my name
>> was mentioned in a negative manner, discriminating me as a plunderer of wild
>> fish for commercial interest. I didn4t follow this list for quite some time
>> because I had to recognize that certain people don4t like foreigners to
>> collect fish in the USA and - even worse - possibly breeding them. It was
>> all about the Pteronotropis hubbsi, and welaka which I liked to get for
>> breeding attempts.
>>
>> As I didn4t find archives for 2006 I cannot proof right or wrong what was
>> colportated to me. However, putting me into the commercial corner or that I
>> was or am plundering nature is more than utter nonsense, it is disgusting!
>> I am aware there are people who are jealous upon my breeding successes
>> particularly with killifish, my work in books, talks, magazines, the species
>> named after me in honor of my fieldwork (keep belted, there is a third
>> "hellneri" on the way), the new species I discovered or whatever. Can4t
>> change this.
>> But I can proof that all my collecting in the tropics or neotropics was
>> legal, and under license of the appropriate authorities of the respective
>> countries. Even last year when I was guest-in-the Northwest Killies in
>> Portland, OR, all fishes I brought in and took out were checked and approved
>> by F&W. So what, ladies and gentlemen?
>>
>> Many of you know that many people, and for sure as well members of this
>> group, are violating federal or state laws over and over again when being
>> out for collecting. Mostly unintentional, sometimes without doubt by knowing
>> what the faults are. Or does everybody of you know all legislation for all
>> states you collect fish in? Must be more than a lawyer. Even people who
>> actively want to keep to any regulations are trapped by the constant change
>> and additional amendments in several states. Even FWS and customs sometimes
>> are not always up to date. Why are so many species endangered, particularly
>> by introduction of exotic or competitive native species: Tigersalamanders
>> throughout the USA, Gambusia elsewhere, snakeheads, catfish, Florida is full
>> of everything ever offered in the pet trade. There are species sent across
>> the USA which are prohibited to possess in certain states. Hardly anybody
>> cares for. Many species are illegal to keep or even import into e.g. Oregon,
>> and California, for example the Axolotl, snakeheads and others. Want to
>> check some public trade sites to proof reality?
>>
>> It is easy, but not really friendly, to publically accuse people off line
>> for things they never did or will ever do. I never have plundered any site
>> where I collected. In most cases there are only a few fish of a seeked
>> species to be found. If many, then a group of 50 out of 1000 is not
>> plundering, or is it? Then many of you must be ashamed for the thousands of
>> NANF collected every year in the wild for the only purpose to keep them in a
>> tank without even attempting to breed them. I breed ALL of my fish, not only
>> killis but as well SRBD with excellent success.
>> I DON`T NEED TO PLUNDER AS I CAN BREED FISH!
>> And I am convinced to the bones that I alone have already bred more fish
>> than those people who try to discredit me all together will ever breed in
>> their life. So better try breeding simple fish before you fantasize about
>> hubbsi or welaka.
>>
>> And regarding "commercialism": breeding fish not only takes time but
>> resources. And if one has nothing to change I will sell my fish, of course.
>> Anybody here ever payed 10.000 bucks for a collecting trip to Brazil or
>> Gaboon? No? And after donated first ever imported and bred fish to friends
>> or clubs? No? Well then, collecting fish for nill in front of your door
>> instead of buying in a petshop is not commercialism. Yap! Including all
>> honorars for books, articles, photos, talks or sold fish, I have spent way
>> more than the prize of a good Merc for my fish hobby over the years. Maybe
>> deficit spending works for states but without doubt not for private persons.
>>
>> My apologies to all honest people in this mailing list for my clear words.
>> But I hope you will understand that I can not keep quiet if such statements
>> are made in the public.
>>
>> sincerely,
>>
>> Steffen Hellner
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/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
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