Senate Bill 795 - Read this if you like keeping fish

[phil b]

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0537.pdf

Are you all aware of this bill that was signed and went into law on April 15th in Michigan?  The short version is that it is now illegal to keep any aquatic animal that is not on a "white list" that is yet to be developed.  I would strongly suggest all of you raise holy hell with your legislators about this bill.  As written, salt water fish would be illegal to own unless they were white listed.  Also forget about getting any new species as I would guess getting anything new white listed is going to be cost prohibitive.  You should read the whole bill, but here are three sections that really will impact the hobby, the industry and you, if it doesn't get changed.

(c) All nonnative aquatic species, other than aquatic plants, that, by the effective date of this section, were, as live organisms, lawfully in wide commercial trade in this state for at least 5 years, if there is no evidence of the species causing harm to human health or natural, agricultural, or silvicultural resources in the Great Lakes region. For the purposes of this subdivision and subdivision (d), within 1 year after the effective date of this section, the department of natural resources, in consultation with affected industries, shall determine which aquatic species, other than aquatic plants, were, as live organisms, in commercial trade in this state by the effective date of this section and whether each of those species had, as live organisms, been in wide commercial trade in this state for at least 5 years.

 (d) All nonnative aquatic species, other than aquatic plants, that, by the effective date of this section, were, as live organisms, lawfully in commercial trade in this state, that do not meet the requirements of subdivision (c), but that are approved by the department of natural resources based on a risk assessment under subsection (2). Within 2 years after the effective date of this section, the department of natural resources shall perform the risk assessment and approve or disapprove the assessed species for listing as permitted aquatic species.

 (e) All aquatic plants, native or nonnative, that, by the effective date of this section, were, as live organisms, lawfully in commercial trade in this state. Within 1 year after the effective date of this section, the department of agriculture and rural development, in consultation with affected industries including the horticulture industry, shall determine which aquatic plants qualify under this subdivision.

Time to speak up before it's too late. 

Phil

[kodyboy]

After looking the Bill over it appears that the list of prohibited organisms is fairly limited (except for all Chana species which is idiotic for some of them).   On the other hand species can be added to the list every year so it could be a huge issue for Michigan tropical fish enthusiasts and by 2017 the list may grow huge so we should all contact the legislature and make sure non-invasive species are not put on that list!  Since Michigan get cold enough to kill the vast majority of the tropical fish we keep I sure hope none of them end of on the list as that would be asinine.  Of course these people are politicians, but we can hope that the scientists will make better decisions.

[phil b]

The issue here is the State is creating a white list of approved species that can be kept.  Not a list of species that cannot be kept.  If the species is not on the white list, it can't be kept. This is not a black list of species that can't be kept.  Michigan already has a black list.   That is where the problem lies. What goes on the list to start, and just how long and how much money is it going to cost to add species to the white list should be of major concern to all.

Phil

[Marty]

The issue here is the State is creating a white list of approved species that can be kept.  Not a list of species that cannot be kept.  If the species is not on the white list, it can't be kept. This is not a black list of species that can't be kept.  Michigan already has a black list.   That is where the problem lies. What goes on the list to start, and just how long and how much money is it going to cost to add species to the white list should be of major concern to all.
Phil

Basically, the state is taking away your rights, and telling you what you can keep, instead of what you can't.  While I understand the need for regulation of invasive species, this is an ass backwards approach, as they'll spend even more of our taxpayer dollars "approving" fish instead of focusing on fish that could be a threat.  Now, everything is a threat until proven otherwise.

[kodyboy]

I read this wrong. This is supposed to eventually a list of what can be kept not what can't (which I originally thought) and therefore is a giant pile of $!÷×!!!! I will be contacting my representatives and vociferously pointing out my opposition to this law.  Unfortunately the current Michigan Legislators are awful and I expect nothing reasonable from them.