On the other hand, I do not want to seem too anti-hobbyist in this
matter. What I do want to do is see if this group can come up with a
responsible method of using hobbyists to help preserve rare fishes. If
we can, then it is time to approach federal and state agencies to
see if they are interested. But, in my opinion, responsibility must
include some form of liability. Do others agree?
James E. Johnson
jjohnson at comp.uark.edu
Arkansas Cooperative Research Unit
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
phone (501) 575-6709
On Thu, 18 Jan 1996, Dwain Kitchel wrote:
> At 11:50 AM 1/18/96 -0600, you wrote:
> Hopefully everyone is aware of the problems caused by the
> >illegal release of fishes into non-historic habitats. Pupfish and
> >poeciliids are creating the most problems, especially in Texas, New ...
>
> Mr. Johnson:
>
> Hello and by way of introduction my name is Dwain Kitchel and I have been
> keeping fish for some 10 years.I am what you experts would call a rank
> hobbyist, but I still have concerns for the preservation of hobby fish and
> others. I am a member of the ACA and was for years a member of the Texas
> Chiclid Assoc.
>
> I wonder from my reading if there isn't more of a problem from the release
> of "game" fish and "food" fish than all the "accidental" hobby releases.
> When a ship from over seas lets ballast water go organisms from its ports
> are let go in profusion. Is the release by hobbyist really that much of a
> danger compared to the damadge done by the Nile perch or tilapia started as
> food fish? Perhaps my thick skull could use the education you offer but
> every year in Texas there seemed to be a Piranha scare that was really just
> a pacu.This is not an excuse for the release of the pacu but it gets blown
> out of proportion it seems to me. Perhaps your point is valid sir but I
> wonder...
>
> Dwain Kitchel
> dwaink at iquest.net
>
>