[Brooklamprey]

Please feel free to ask questions, comment or relate experience you have in the matters of Exotic and Native fish laws and regulations.

Please just don't do one thing, Expect me to be the punching bag for your states
or countries laws. I did not write them. I'm just here as is this forum to disseminate the information.

Unlike many sites who will openly flaunt Illegal activity, We here have a Zero tolerance approach to this. This is because we feel it is important for the future of the Predatory fish hobby to obey and understand the laws regarding our fish. We have long been perceived in the media, community and by federal agencies as the "hooligans" and irresponsible ones in the hobby. We must change this perception or we can not be taken seriously when it comes to fighting the ever increasing laws restricting our hobby.


Understanding and working within the laws that affect us is the first step to becoming a force that can change them or prevent new ones.

It is the point of this Restricted fish forum to educate you and provide a space for open discussion on this subject.

Please try to stay in topic so we can be effective as possible.


Thanks much.
-Richard

[chiman2369]

I would like to know whats NOT legal in Washington state, Louisiana, Nevada and AZ? If you dont mind.

[Anne]

NEVADA -- the importation, transportation and possession of the following fish species (live, hybrids, viable embryos, or gametes) is prohibited in Nevada:

Common Name -- Scientific Classification
(1) Lampreys -- All species in the family Petromyzontidae
(2) Freshwater stingray -- All species in the family Potamotrygonidae
(3) Freshwater shark -- All species in the genus Carcharhinus
(4) Bowfin -- Amia calva
(5) Gars -- All species in the family Lepisosteidae
(6) Herring and shad, except threadfin shad -- All species in the family Clupeidae, except Dorosoma petenense
(7) European Whitefish -- All species in the genus Leuciscus
(8) Mexican banded tetra -- Astyanax mexicanus
(9) Piranhas -- All species in the genera Serrasalmus, Serrasalmo, Pygocentrus, Teddyella, Rooseveltiella and Pygopristis
(10) South American Parasitic Catfish -- All species in the families Cetoposidae and Trichomycteridae
(11) White perch -- Morone americana
(12) Freshwater drum -- Aplodinotus grunniens
(13) Grass carp, except certified triploids as authorized by a special permit -- Ctenopharyngodon idella
(14) Pike top minnow -- Belonesox belizanus
(15) Snakehead -- All species in the genera Ophicephalus and Channa
(16) Walking catfish -- All species in the genera Clarias, Heteropneustes and Dinotopterus
(17) Tiger fish -- Hoplias malabaricus
(18) Sticklebacks -- genera Apeltes, Eucalia, Gasterosteus and Pungitius
(19) Tilapia -- All species in the genera Tilapia and Sarotherodon
(20) Nile perch -- All species in the genera Lates and Luciolates
(21) Goldeye -- All species in the genus Hiodon
(22) Carp:
(I) Bighead -- Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
(II) Black (snail) -- Mylopharyngodon pisceus
(III) Crucian -- Carassius carassius
(IV) Indian -- Catla catla, Cirrhina mrigala and Labeo rohita
(V) Silver -- Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
(23) Rudd -- Scardinius erythrophthalmus

Source: Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 503.110 (Restrictions on importation, transportation and possession of certain species.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARIZONA -- this Arizona Game and Fish Commission regulations prohibit the possession of the following "restricted live wildlife" fish species without a special license or exemption:

1. American graling, the species Thymallus arctius.
2. Bass, all species of the family Serranidae.
3. Bighead carp, the species Aristichthys nobilis.
4. Bony tongue, the species Arapaima gigas.
5. Bowfin, the species Amia calva.
6. Catfish, all species of the family Ictaluridae.
7. Crucian carp, the species Carassius carassius.
8. Electric catfish, the species Malapterus electricus.
9. Electric eel, the species Electrophorus electricus.
10. European whitefish or ide, the species Leuciscus idus and Idus idus.
11. Freshwater drum, the species Aplodinotus grunniens.
12. Freshwater stingray, all species of the family Potamotrygonidae.
13. Gars, all species of the family Lepisosteidae.
14. Goldeye, all species of the family Hiodontidae.
15. Herring, all species of the family Clupeidae.
16. Indian carp, all of the species Catla catla, Cirrhina mrigala, and Labeo rohita.
17. Lampreys, all speice sof the family Petromyzontidae.
18. Mooneye, all species of the family Hiodontidae.
19. Nile perch, all species of the genus Lates.
20. Pike, all species of the family Esocidae.
21. Pike topminnow, the species Belonesox belizanus.
22. Piranha, all species of the genera Serrasalmus, Serrasalmo, Phygocentrus, Teddyella, Rooseveltiella, and Pygopristis.
23. Shad, all species of the family Clupeidae except threadfin shad, species Dorosoma petenense.
24. Sharks, all species, both marine and freshwater, of the orders Hexanchiformes, Heterodontiformes, Squaliformes, Pristiophoriformes, Squatiniformes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, and Carcharhiniformes.
25. Silver carp, the species Hypopthalmicthys molitrix.
26. Snakehead, all species of the family Ophicephalidae.
27. South American parasitic catfish, all species of the family Trichomycteridae and Cetopsidae.
28. Sunfish, all species of the family Centrarchidae.
29. Tetras, all species of the genus Astyanyx.
30. Tiger fish, the species Hoplias malabaricus.
31. Trout, all species of the family Salmonidae.
32. White amur, the species Ctenopharyngodon idellus.
33. Walking catfish, all species of the family Clariidae.
34. Walleye, the species Stizostedion vitreum.
35. White perch, the species Morone americanus.
36. Yellow perch, the species Perca flavescens.
37. Rudd, the species Scardinius erythropthalmus.

Source: Arizona Game and Fish Commission Regulations R12-4-406(F). The relevant text can be found on page 111 of the following pdf document:
http://www.azgfd.com/pdfs/inside_azgfd/all_azgfd_laws.pdf

[Brooklamprey]

I would like to know whats NOT legal in Washington state, Louisiana, Nevada and AZ?  If you dont mind.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We slowly will be getting around to posting all 50 state and a few countries
This is still a bit of a work in progress.

Thanks Anne

[Wisdom16]

What exactly makes fish illegal? Is it the threat of people releasing them and in turn that causes exotic diseases in native species or just because it MIGHT be able to live in native waters?

[Brooklamprey]

What exactly makes fish illegal? Is it the threat of people releasing them and in turn that causes exotic diseases in native species or just because it MIGHT be able to live in native waters?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This truly depends on the species and often the reasons are quite complex
There are two catagories:

Noxious and dangerous fishes:
These fish are usually restricted due to a real or precieved threat to the ecosystem, people, fisheries or "just because" (I.E. Ignorance or misplaced fear).

Conservation:
These are fish that are restricted by a state or country for reasons of protection
Examples being fish listed as endangered by a state, or CITIES appendix 1 species.

[Asterophysus]

Are the fish listed for a state the ONLY fish restricted or are there species that are restricted by the federal government as well?

[Brooklamprey]

Are the fish listed for a state the ONLY fish restricted or are there species that are restricted by the federal government as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Federal government restricts all CITIES species under the CITIES treaty of 1975 as well as Endangered species act listed fish. Under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act certian species such as Round goby are regulated as well.

Federally the Lacy act is the strongest federal law in regards to the trade and movement of animals. the Act prohibits the import, export, transport, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of fish, wildlife, or plants in interstate or foreign commerce that were taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of state, tribal, foreign, or U.S. law.

State law, NAMPCA, CITIES, ESA, and listed Noxious species such as the snakehead are all covered under this law.

Make special note of this, as it applys to the interstate tranfer of fishes from one state to the next. You can be found in violation of Federal as well as state laws should you take possesion of a fish illegal to your state.

[Anne]

Ok I have been searching for 2 hours looking for the stinking ''list''
of Federal banned fish Where the hell is it ? any ideas-Anne

[Brooklamprey]

Different fish are restricted under different laws.

Federally banned fish for importation can be found here
http://www.washingtonwatchdog.org/document...e50/part16.html
These are those deemed Injurious wildlife.

Endangered species are another layer and list as are the CITES listed fish.