first - what does KUDOS mean?
Yes, I am an activist in fighting exotics - but there4s nobody else. Except
those weird green fanatics who want to establish a prohibition of all
animals in human hands. Not really my brothers in arms.
In Germany we have interest or pressure groups which claim from time to time
that they want to do something to solve this problem or to prevent further
introductions. Well, they are fighting Nutrias as they damage channels. But,
years ago, a judge let an aquarist pay 100 bucks for collecting Artemia out
of an artificial saline pond because these "have become part of our fauna".
So more or less any exotic invader is included in one of our laws for
protecting animals, plants or nature in general. We are not allowed to kill
the Redcheek-Turtles as they are protected as animals which none of must be
harmed or killed without good reason. The Sunfish and Catfish are protected
by fishery law and you have to have a fishing license to fish them. They are
everywhere in public ponds, artificial lakes and also in natural habitats.
Actually they are fighting the bullfrog at the Rhine as it killes every
other amphibia. We have + 500000 kitties and some 100000 dogs living in the
forests but if a hunter shoots one he will be charged if observed. A friend
of mine within one year shot + 200 cats out of an area of 2 suare
kilometers. And there are Racoons, an asian kind of wild dog, parrots, minks
and Procambarus clarkii having established stable populations all over
Germany. This is not to fight! Public is weak in Germany. And politicians
are even less interested.
I understand that in the US the Feds, customs and cops are stricly working
on the regulations and that many species are protected. I know this from
Brazil. This is good as long as it protects against destruction or
alteration of habitats or commercial exploitation. How many species would
already be gone if they weren4t present in captivity. This is the only
chance to reintroduce them into the wild. But we as private enthusiasts have
the weakest lobby - at least over here. For people like us it is impossible
to work in organisations like Greenpeace and others. Those are
fundamentalistic, some are even terroristic as they want to abolish
everything - they claim "leave nature to itself and keep the people off
nature". It4s not even allowed to collect some tadpoles to show my boy how a
frog developes. But it is right to smash them on the roads by thousands.
Despite of all this - I think your propopsal is a very good one and I will
think about reporting this to people of our national aquarists union (VDA)
and our lobby-congregation for protection of nature and species (BNA).
You will hardly believe that our native sticklebacks are as rare as e.g. an
E. nianguae! You hardly find any left. Ditches and ponds have been filled
for the cattle and wheat. Small creeks have been channelled or tunnelled.
And in the few small creeks left they introduced rainbow trouts. Most of our
smaller endemic fish species are facing extinction. And you will not be
allowed to keep and breed them. Instead of, they are imported from other
european countries (as different subspecies) and partially are introduced
here and mix up with our natives. Try to find a goby here or a
"Schlammpeitzker" which looks like a giant loach. Or a native Bitterling or
Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). Forget about it. Sad to say but I am convinced
we are over the top already. Therefore I am glad to hear and see that other
countries are about going another, better way, e.g. the US, Brazil, and many
of the southamerican countries are about closing borders for native animals
and plants to private persons. Despite of I think the destruction of
habitats will many, many species wipe out. We in Germany don4t have an
institution like you have to breed natives for reintroduction. To found
something like this would be a good attempt. But first you have to find the
fish for it. My last native loach in the wild I saw 25 years ago, never
caught any Bitterling or Minnow though I was a fisherman for several years.
I4ll keep you posted on what I can achieve from your input and come back for
your advice and help on establishing adequate structures.
sincerely,
Steffen
----- Original Message -----
From: Denkhaus, Robert <Robert.Denkhaus_at_fortworthgov.org>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 11:12 PM
Subject: RE: NANFA-- NANFA - Black carp Part I & II
> Steffen,
>
> Kudos for making sure that you exotic North American fish will not be a
> problem for German waterways. BUT, I challenge you to take the extra step
and
> become (if you are not already) an activist that helps to prevent other
> accidental or intentional introductions form occuring in your country!
>
> What do you see in the local media about exotic introductions? Is it
> considered a probelm that everyone should be involved in? Or, are they
> encouraging the introduction of selected species to increase the local
> fisheries? Is there a German native species listserve that is trying to
> protect your country's native fish fauna? If so, how can we help YOU
learn
> from our mistakes?
>
> Rob Denkhaus
> Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Steffen Hellner
> > Sent: Saturday, January 18, 1997 3:10 AM
> > To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> > Subject: Re: NANFA-- NANFA - Black carp Part I & II
> >
> >
> > Sad enough! We have this problem in Germany with many exotic
> > species, from
> > Bisamrat/Nutria to NA Chrysemys-turtles and
> > Ictalurus-catfish, any kind of
> > Sunfish, Chinese Woolhand-Crabs ...even Piranhas have been
> > collected ... to
> > be continued.
> >
> > I am convinced that avoiding the introduction of exotic
> > species is one of
> > the biggest challenges we4re facing to protect native
> > species. The problem
> > is even worse in the USA as far as I understand. Whenever I
> > come across an
> > exotic invader, it will be its last encounter ever.
> >
> > In awareness of this I have my pond for NANF planned in a way
> > none of the
> > fish can escape - its far away of any water.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Jeremy Tiemann <jtiemann_at_inhs.uiuc.edu>
> > To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 8:08 PM
> > Subject: NANFA-- NANFA - Black carp Part I & II
> >
> >
> > > FYI -
> > >
> > >
> > > Part I - VERY disturbing news that the first black carp in the wild
> > > has been captured
> > >
> > > >I have attached pictures of the black carp collected by commercial
> > > >fisherman, Jim Beasley. Jim caught the fish from Horseshoe Lake in
> > > >Alexander County, Illinois. The fish was 783 mm long and weighed
> > > >5.8Kg. Evidently everyone's fears regarding the escape of this
> > > >exotic are coming true, our native fishes and mussels should be
> > > >nervous.
> > > >
> > > >Rob Maher
> > >
> > > Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:blackcarp11.JPG
> > (JPEG/JVWR) (0003A7F1)
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Part II - The follow-up
> > >
> > > Greg Connover (USFWS Marion office) made arrangements yesterday
> > > evening to have our black carp specimen tested to determine whether
> > > it is diploid or triploid. Paul Wills at Logan Hollow Fish Farm
> > > performed the test. Paul was able to succesfully extract a blood
> > > sample for testing. They first tested 3 known diploid
> > grass carp and
> > > 3 known triploid grass carp, to determine a reference regarding
> > > nuclear diameter of the red blood cells and then tested a blood
> > > sample from the black carp. The nuclear diameter of the black carp
> > > sample was identical to that of the triploid grass carp. Greg then
> > > checked with Mike Freese (aquaculture specialist in AR) to
> > see if the
> > > nuclear diameter of the RBC's were consistent between black
> > and grass
> > > carp and according to Mr. Freese they are. Therefore, it would
> > > appear that the fish in question is most likely a triploid. Greg
> > > cautioned that these results are preliminary and that they going to
> > > take some additional tissue samples to try to confirm that this fish
> > > was a triploid. I'll keep everyone informed on any new
> > developments.
> > >
> > > Rob Maher
> > > Illinois Department of Natural Resources
> > > Commercial Fishing Program
> > > 8450 Montclaire Avenue
> > > Brighton, IL 62012
> > > (618) 466-3451
> > >
> > > --
> > > Jeremy Tiemann
> > > Illinois Natural History Survey
> > > Center for Biodiversity
> > > 607 E. Peabody Dr.
> > > Champaign, IL 61820
> > > Phone: (217) 244-4594
> > > Fax: (217) 333-4949
-- > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org