ALERT – USAQUA Files Intent to Sue After US Fish & Wildlife Service Fails to Consider Allowing Imports of Captive-Bred Asian Arowana from CITES Registered Facilities

via USAQUA

February 20, 2026 – The Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) has been banned from import into the United States since 1976, when the species was listed by US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since then, advances in aquaculture have led to large-scale captive breeding of the species. Today, it is a popular aquarium fish legally available in most countries.

The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the treaty administered in coordination with the United Nations that regulates the international wildlife trade, ensures that trade is sustainable and does not threaten the species in the wild. CITES permits are required for all international trade in the species. Permits are only issued for specimens bred in facilities registered with the CITES Secretariat. Marking requirements (microchips and certificates) ensure traceability and compliance.

Under the Endangered Species Act, USFWS is required to conduct a status review every five years for each species listed under the ESA. Despite this mandate from Congress, USFWS has never conducted a five-year review for the Asian arowana in the 50 years the species has been listed under the law. Nor has USFWS developed a recovery plan for the species. As CITES only allows trade in captive-bred specimens from compliant registered facilities, listing under the ESA is duplicative and does nothing to protect the species in the wild. The ESA listing of the species only restricts captive breeding and sustainable trade by banning import and interstate commerce in the United States.

In November of 2025, USAQUA petitioned the Federal Government to allow import and interstate commerce of Asian arowana from CITES registered facilities in accordance with CITES regulations. Under the ESA, the Federal government must consider such petitions and make an initial finding within 90 days. USFWS failed to consider USAQUA’s petition and abide by the statutory timelines mandated by Congress under the Act. Thus, today, USAQUA filed notice of intent to sue to compel USFWS to consider the petition. USAQUA intends to use all legal means necessary to end the unjustifiable and unreasonable ban on Asian Arowana in the United States.

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