News & Notes Articles

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Completes Initial Reviews on Endangered Species Act Petitions for 10 species

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Completes Initial Reviews on Endangered Species Act Petitions for 10 species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed its 90-day findings on petitions to list 10 species under the Endangered Species Act. Based on the Service’s review, the petitions to list the Betta hendra, Betta rutilans, Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, pygmy rabbit, Railroad Valley toad, Southern Plains bumble bee, southwest spring firefly, white-margined penstemon, and yellow-spotted woodland salamander contain substantial information that listing may be warranted, and status reviews will be initiated on these species. 

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All Hands On Deck In Florida’s FWC vs. Pet Trade Fight

All Hands On Deck In Florida’s FWC vs. Pet Trade Fight

Florida’s pet trade and pet owners are facing a full-on assault on their ability to keep, culture, and sell the vast majority of organisms that currently make up the pet trade. In short, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proposing two variations on a strict white list approach to pet trade regulation in the name of preventing future invasive species problems. These proposals may restrict the total amount of species across all subsets of the pet hobby to as few as perhaps only 200 total species across the entirety of the pet trade.

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Brazil Shortsightedly Proposes Zebra Pleco for CITES Appendix I Listing

Brazil Shortsightedly Proposes Zebra Pleco for CITES Appendix I Listing

The 19th CoP occurs November 14-26, 2022, in Panama City, Panama. At this CoP, the government of Brazil has submitted a proposal to uplist H. zebra from the least restrictive CITES listing on Appendix III, to Appendix I, which is the most restrictive CITES listing. Some argue that the new proposals will lead to increased demand for illegally harvested and smuggled specimens of Zebra Pleco.

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OATA Joins Fellow Pet Trade Associations at CITES CoP19

OATA Joins Fellow Pet Trade Associations at CITES CoP19

On the agenda for the meeting, which looks at ways to ensure the sustainable trade in wildlife, are several items that would affect the global ornamental fish trade, including plans to move Zebra pleco (Hypancistrus zebra) from Appendix III to Appendix I – the highest level of restriction – and to put a number of freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon spp.) onto Appendix II.

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