International exchange of killifish (was Re: [Killietalk] Aquabid)

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

"Tim Addis" <timaddis at killifish_force9.co.uk> wrote:

With regard to shipping fish to the UK...Al wrote:

> > If they do manage to slip into the country then customs keeps it for days
> > or even weeks before letting it move on not to mention all the x-rays that
> > it will have to go though.
>
> I think the trick is to declare them as 'soil samples' on the custom
> sticker.

That would be a guarantee that they would not get *into* the US, as our 
Ag. Dept. is very much on the lookout for anything that might contain 
harmful nematodes (soil). Plants must come in with very special 
root-cleaning methods or they don't make it at all.

"Live fish eggs in sterilized peat moss. Open only in a controlled 
environment." would be safer labeling, if sending in this direction, I 
suspect, for eggs.

Each country has its own problems. KLM into Holland used to be our best 
for polar flights from the west coast of the US until the 
"squirrel/chipper" incident. Then they refused all live shipments, or 
tacked on an exhorbitant "Vet. Inspection" fee.

The problem with shipping a pair or two from Aquabid is the vagaries 
that Al mentioned are too great (not to mention cost). Using commercial 
shipment of a *big* box of fish costs about $100, minimum, but works 
fine when you learn the tricks of invoicing and labelling. That means 
inter-club shipments for shows is a good way the get fish across big 
waters, at modest cost per pair. Airport-to-airport with savvy 
recipients to pick up and clear customs immediately makes such shipments 
pretty safe. The shows assure wide distribution.

[Failure to label "Do not Deck Load" will often get you well-frozen 
specimens from polar flights, tho. :-)]

Most African and S. Am. fish get to the US "Left Coast" by way of our 
own active collectors (Cooper, Harlan, Tirbak, Weber, Brousseau, 
Langton, etc.), and then get to Europe via BAKA or AKA show shipments. 
All the major European shows have been supported for years, this way. We 
often get some older aquarium strains or other collections via the 
return boxes, so the hobby gets a very good spread on species. It is not 
a one-way street, as Tim implied.

Judicious use of "smuggling" has assured that all the "extinct" 
*Cyprinodons* of Mexico are alive and well in European tanks where it is 
not illegal to keep them alive. [None are on the CITES list, BTW, the 
last time I checked. Small fish aren't generally thought of as 
"commercial."]

It *has* resulted in some innovative show-entry names, like "Pete Mahs" 
etc. :-)

USA hobbyists simply aren't usually allowed to keep anything that has 
been declared "endangered" or "threatened" in the species home country. :-(

It helps to note on the invoices (triplicate, each with an original 
signature) the exact latin name for each species and add the note 
"Domestically-produced tropical fish, for exhibition only. No threatened 
or endangered species. Value for customs purposes of US$0.50 per fish."

This all works way better now, with e-mail to assure communications at 
both ends. It takes a local club to get enthusiastic about sending 
entries to a foreign show. They hold a "shipping party" where they 
carefully pack the box (hopefully before too much beer and pizza are 
consumed). One person hauls it to the closest international airport, 
where shipping arrangements have been checked out. Here, we check with 
US Fish and Game office, the airline, and customs (particularly 
incoming), to be sure all paperwork is properly completed.

Don't seal the box until it has been inspected and cleared at the 
airport, of course.

The recipient is e-mailed the arrival flight # and time, so the box can 
be met and hand-carried through customs. He/she should alert the customs 
folks, so they know what is happening and can be prepared to quickly 
clear the shipment.

This has worked for years, and should continue to do so. Reciprocation 
is always appreciated, but clubs have varying volunteer resources, so no 
one expects an exact tit-for-tat exchange, and a missed show this year 
may be compensated by one next year.

I hope many of our AKA Affiliate clubs, near International Airports, 
will learn how *easy* it is to do a box exchange with a foreign club. 
Some places, like OZ and NZ, make such exchanges nearly impossible. [NZ 
is trying to protect their "native" trout, I guess. :^)] Most others are 
eager to allow such exchanges, and the customs and game authorities are 
very cooperative when they find you wish to obey the rules (no matter 
how silly). It just takes one person from a club at each end to check 
with them and the airlines to get it right and coordinate schedules.

By tradition, I think the sending club bears the costs, as that avoids 
expensive bank-funds-transfer costs. It comes back in spades when the 
local show gets a whole bunch of neat new fish, not often seen in the 
local hobby.

Other methods work, too. Before 9/11, personal baggage was an easy way 
to transport lots of fish. IDK how easy that is, now, but try to get 
stuff across whenever an opportunity arises. It is fun (and sometimes a 
great disappointment) but it makes the hobby much richer when we do such 
exchanges.

My guess is that a local club could have a huge impact on the hobby if 
they looked west and arranged such exchanges with Singapore and/or 
Japan. Both have been a bit short on species, so could benefit a great 
deal. The hobby seems to be getting well-organized in Sg., but is still 
looking a bit fractionated in Jp. [Can anyone correct my impression, 
here? I haven't been in very close touch with either group(s), lately.]

Meanwhile, the BNL (and I think the AKA site) lists upcoming shows in 
other countries. Why not make your local affiliate an international 
player, and decide to support one or more of them? It's a fun and 
rewarding way to expand your hobby.

Just my long-winded US$0.02,

Wright

--
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net
                    760 872-3995

        Eschew obfuscation (and bloviation?)!



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