Call for governmental authorities to apply stricter regulations in exotic pet trade

Call for governmental authorities to apply stricter regulations in exotic pet trade

Started
September 21, 2022
Signatures: 63Next Goal: 100
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Why this petition matters

The ornamental fish trade is a growing business around the world, but also a major pathway for the introduction of potentially invasive species. The lack of accurate information in the live fish permits does not allow the full understanding and scope of live animal imports and their potential impacts. We call for more accurate information in the global aquarium trade by aiming to have much better tools to regulate the traffic of ornamental fishes. 

This business environment has facilitated the easy and fast exchange of species between distant regions; therefore, increasing the risk of introduction and establishment of exotic species. Some introductions have brought disastrous consequences for the environment, public health, agriculture, and biodiversity. Because of the increasing risk of introducing exotic species through human activities, recommen- dations have been made to all countries in order to control the import and export of species that may become invasive. Expectations were that the implementation of measures, such as risk assessments of species to be imported, could prevent the establishment of non-native species. However, despite the problems caused by the trade of aquatic organisms around the world, policymakers of most countries do not place strong restrictions on the import and transport of live non-native organisms. Even in developed nations like the United States (US), the majority of shipment records do not contain a scientific name in the taxonomic information. The trade regulation of exotic organisms must start in the exporter country (usually a developing country), be intensified in the intermediary (especially if it is a developed country), and re- checked at the final destination. 
Because taxonomic information and accurate information are imperative for risk assessments, they also could enhance the prevention and control programs of invasive species. Accurate information also provides added value for the consumer, as the real taxonomic identity of a pet most likely specifies better guidelines for its care. Additionally, many pet consumers are conscious of the problems associated with pet trade; therefore, a seal or certification that guarantees the reliability of the information provided with the product could encourage consumers to buy species even at higher prices. Traders could benefit from more opportunities when they follow high standards of commercialization or label their products as “ecological” as seen in commercial fisheries. Certification for the pet trade has been already proposed by others as a means to address many environmental problems associated with aquarium pet trade. 

Commonly, exporting live animals only requires a health certification issued by an accredited veterinarian. However, because of the increase in animals traded as pets and the expertise needed to identify some fish species accurately, we recommend that an accredited biologist should certify the identification of the exported animals. The export certification should assure that the identification and the origin of the individuals are accurate. Certifiers of exporters should be validated by entities of accreditation following international quality systems and procedures. The import permit should be filled through a web application provided by the government with information available about the fishes. The information available on the web should include the scientific name of the fishes for sale, the current taxonomy, the source of the individuals (caught at sea or in freshwater, or produced in aquaculture), the conservation status, the original distribution, and the historical information about adverse introductions, global introductions, and invasiveness. 

1) This is a call for governmental authorities to apply stricter regulations during the process of exotic species trade, and 2) to encourage similar analysis in other developing countries. We advocate for accurate and precise information throughout the supply chain as it provides a tool to evaluate risks and implement more objective and successful policies.

 

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Signatures: 63Next Goal: 100
Support now
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