Schedule 6 of the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act
1982 has in it a list of allowable fish & aquatic invertebrates for import into
Australia. Importation of 'aquatic creatures' not on this list can only
*legally* be achieved by following the protocol set down by EA. This protocol
is used by all aquaria trade applicants whereas aquaculture applicants use
another protocol. Aquaria trade applicants include breeders who wish to import
brood stock to breed up and distribute.
The protocol is quite simple to follow and basically involves the following
steps:
1) Nomination of a species by the applicant.
2) AQIS check out the species from a disease risk standpoint.
3) Final submission for the species by the applicant. This involves filling out
a standard form and submitting all scientific documentation to support the
application.
4) Contracting of a suitable consultant(s) and argument over the cost of the
application between EA and the applicant.
5) Species application forwarded to the EA consultant(s) who will assess the
species concerned. A report on the species is written by the consultant(s). EA
then distribute these reports to all interested parties. The reports also go
out to all state & territory ministers responsible for nature conservation &
fisheries.
6) Each report recipient is given 30 days to support or scientifically dispute
the findings of the consultant.
7) The state and territory ministers also provide comment on the application.
8) The applicant is given the chance to dispute adverse comments received by EA.
9) EA distributes the applicants comments.
10) All paperwork generated thus far is passed to the lead state and territory
agencies, AQIS and the Dept. of Primary Industries and Energy. Formal advice
from these parties as passed back to EA.
11) This advice passed to the Minister for the Environment. Decision made.
12) EA advises everyone of the decision.
13) EA advise AQIS of gazettal\tabling in Parliament and make arrangements for
identification material of the species to be made available by the applicant.
This material is for the use of AQIS inspectors, etc.
Other points of interest:
1) If your application has been rejected you may appeal to the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal.
2) You cannot go through the protocol again with the same species for 5 years
if rejected.
3) EA 'interested parties' Register open to public. You can get your name on it
by writing to EA.
4) Every year, EA publish a list of all species rejected or approved to date.
5) 10 species are assessed at a time and when they are all finalised another
ten applications can be started through the protocol.
6) No Rainbows currently being assessed they are all cichlid species sponsored
by the same organisation. Regardless of what we where told by a good but very
brief RML friend early this year, no one can be applying to import Rainbows
from PNG. The protocol is the *only* way for the *legal* importation of new
fish species to take place.
I don't think I've missed anything but other ACT members will soon jump in to
fill in any gaps I've left. I have a species application form and can give you
an idea of what type of information you need to supply in an application. Maybe
tomorrow, if your interested.
Cheers.
Scott
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the author and in no way
represent official policy of the Department of Primary Industries & Energy or
the Commonwealth of Australia.