This title is not hyperbole. The US Koi industry is facing a very serious threat. We would not alert you to this new development or ask for your help otherwise.
What is happening
The Center for Invasive Species Prevention (CISP, a private, non-government organization) has petitioned the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to add 43 species to the Injurious Species list. The list includes Cyprinus carpio, a.k.a common carp or koi.
What this means
Inclusion on the Injurious Species list will make transportation of koi across state lines illegal. If this were to happen, production and importation of koi in the US would no longer be economically feasible. This would effectively eliminate the US Koi industry—overnight.
Thousands of people would be left jobless, millions of dollars of revenue would be lost from the US economy, and each and every state would lose tax revenue.
What is being done
The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) is a private entity designed to help in the fight against changing regulation which would be harmful to the aquaculture industry in the US. Next Day Koi has been in contact with the NAA to offer our full support and help in fighting this regulation change.
The NAA has assured Next Day Koi, as well as many other businesses in the industry, that they are hard at work formulating a plan for the most effective and efficient way to fight and oppose this regulation change. Next Day Koi, and other affected parties, are receiving regular updates from the NAA regarding the steps being taken in this time-consuming process.
What can you do?
Spread the word
Raising awareness of this issue among those involved in the industry is critical at this point. Share this blog post with anyone you know who is involved in the koi industry. Your friends, your koi club, your local garden center and any koi forums and discussion groups you are a member of. Anyone with a stake in this issue. GET THE WORD OUT! The more voices that are heard, the better chance we have of defeating this!
Keep up to date
Subscribe to our newsletter. As we receive updates from the NAA, we will pass them along to you as quickly as possible.
Contact your elected officials
Make it known to your elected officials that you are strongly opposed to this change in regulation. Find your elected officials here. Call, write or email your officials’ offices to express your opposition to this change in regulation.
Be firm but polite in your communication with your elected officials. Use this template email if you would like.
Contact US Fish and Wildlife Service at the appropriate time
At the appropriate time, we will contact you with instruction and direction as to how to comment on this matter with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Sign up for our newsletter to be kept up to date on this issue.
Commenting at the appropriate time and through the appropriate channels will ensure that everyone’s voice and opinion on the matter is heard. We ask that you refrain from contacting US Fish and Wildlife Service until a clear plan of action has been set forth. Just know that we are doing everything in our power to make sure this doesn’t become a reality.
We understand how important this issue will be to everyone involved in the koi industry. We would like to thank you in advance for your support and help in this time of need.
We can be reached for questions or comments at regulations@nextdaykoi.com.
Casey and Josh LeFever
Owners
Next Day Koi, Inc.
I did subscribe and will look forward to being kept informed.
Thank you,
Chere’ Lowery
Thanks for your support. Please be sure to share this information with anyone you know within the hobby!
Where were you when they came for our pets, right now dogs are so low that the northeast cannot find puppies and so the retail rescues are bringing in over half a million diseased feral dogs each year forcing people to adopt dogs that have rabies.
But these are all animal rights cults HSUS, PeTa that you are just now meeting. All animals that have contact with humans are under attack by these animal right groups who are the same but all work under different names.
I will subscribe and spread the word, but if all animal groups do not work together we will be without our rights to have animals in our lives.
This has nothing to do with animal rights groups. The government agencies that regulate trade of potentially invasive species want to restrict koi because escaped and released animals are harmful to the environment. That’s not entirely inaccurate but koi can be worth a lot of money and make up a large industry within the aquarium trade.
Thank you for the insight. You are correct that this has little to nothing to do with animal rights groups. However CISP, the group pushing for this regulation change, is a private non-profit, not a government agency.
Cheers.
I have subscribed and look forward to being kept up to date regarding this matter. It should remain our right to have animals as we choose, especially in this case where they are no danger to anyone.
Thanks for your support. Please be sure to share this information with anyone you know within the hobby!
The Lacey Act specifically provides for the issuance of permits to qualified entities that would allow interstate transport of an ‘Injurious Specie’. The listing of Cyrpinus carpio (Common Carp) as a injurious specie would not negatively affect the reputable Koi industry in the United States. It would provide a means of eliminating (or at least controlling) those hobbyist and internet dealers that have less than suitable (think biosecurity) facilities for handling this specie.
Meyer Jordan – According to documentation directly from the US Fish and Wildlife Service website, pertaining to the Lacey Act…
“You may be granted a permit for the importation or interstate transportation of live specimens of injurious wildlife or their offspring or eggs for bona fide scientific, medical, educational or zoological purposes.”
There is no stipulation provided for commercial use. Please stop spreading misinformation.
What is the NAA pushing for? What should we be pushing for?
– Stopping the petition outright?
– Removing koi from the list?
– Providing an exception for commercial/pet purposes?
If we better understand it we can be more effective at getting behind it. Thx
Currently the NAA is asking for all interested parties to contact US Fish and Wildlife Service to gather information regarding:
Likelihood of release or escape.
Potential to survive, become established and spread.
Impacts on wildlife resources or ecosystems through hybridization and competition for food and
habitats, habitat degradation and destruction, predation and pathogen transfer.
Impacts to threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Impacts to human beings, forestry, horticulture and agriculture.
Wildlife or habitat damages that may occur from control measures.
Second, the FWS evaluates factors that reduce the likelihood of the invasive species causing harm, including the:
Ability to prevent escape and establishment.
Potential to eradicate or manage established populations.
Ability to rehabilitate disturbed ecosystems.
Ability to prevent or control the spread of pathogens or parasites.
Any potential ecological benefits to introduction.
As well as information about the impact on businesses and industry within the US. At this point in the process the NAA is not able to make any suggestions or recommendations as to what they should do. We just have to provide information.
Dear all,
be happy, that you have this information NOW. In Spain we got the information when it was already to late !!! The proposition of the Ecologist was done, the Judge signed and now we have the Law. Obviously we are fight against it, but this is always a very long process.
Wish you good luck!