shipping/bringing fish from USA?

[Chin_Lee]

Importation of Ornamental Fish

In general, importations of ornamental aquatic organisms, especially tropical species held in hobby aquaria, are considered to pose a negligible risk of spreading disease(s) to local species. Thus, Canada, like many other countries, does not require special permits for the importation of aquatic organisms for the aquarium hobbyist. There are, however, some exceptions related to other risks posed to aquatic resources and habitat.
All species listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may only be imported if a CITES certificate is obtained. Please see http://www.cites.org for current listing of species and http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca for relevant contact information. Hobby species that are genetically modified may be considered as new substances and may require notification under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). For more information on the New Substances program, please consult the Environment Canada site at http://www.ec.gc.ca/substances/nsb/eng/index_e.htm.
Some Provinces and DFO Regions require special permits for the importation of certain species of fish, e.g. Koi carp into British Columbia. Further information on BC’s requirements can be found at
http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/intro_trans/transfers_e.htm. Requirements can be obtained through the relevant (receiving) provincial department responsible for fisheries, or the local Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) office.
A Department of Fisheries and Oceans licence, under Section 56 of the Fishery (General) Regulation or matching provincial licence is required for all importations or transfers of live fish and other aquatic species destined for release into fish habitat or for culturing in a fish rearing facilities. Detailed information on obtaining a licence can be found at
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/aquaculture/code/prelim_e.htm or from your local DFO or Provincial fishery authority office.
For information on how to dispose of aquarium fish, invertebrates or aquatic plants responsibly to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species, please go to the following Habitattitude website by the US Fish and Wildlife.
http://www.habitattitude.net/
If you have any questions related to aquatic disease concerns, please feel free to contact the National Registry of Aquatic Animal Health at the address below:
National Registry of Aquatic Animal Health
200 Kent Street, Station 12W114
Ottawa ON K1A 0E6
email:NRFD@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Great info!

...And exactly the reason I say just buy locally! I really don't think there is much you can't find here that you would in say Seattle. Plus I have asked LFS to order fish for me in the past and they have no problem. I have never tried with J&L but they have great customer service and usually will help out.

[Chin_Lee]

I agree with everything you say about buying locally and the LPS.

But according to Department of Fisheries and Oceans, it should be noted that CITIES and special permits are not required for 99% of the fish and inverts that we would like to buy.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Chin_Lee

I agree with everything you say about buying locally and the LPS.

But according to Department of Fisheries and Oceans, it should be noted that CITIES and special permits are not required for 99% of the fish and inverts that we would like to buy.

Right, so checking the list would help you make a choice. My only other concern though would be getting into a situation like I got into at the airport where they just either delay you or simply deny you bringing the fish in. Even if they are fish that can legally be brought across the boarder without permits, the customs officers can deny you. And you can argue all you want but it will not matter. They have a heck of a lot of power!

[Delphinus]

Another point to consider about buying locally, by doing so you increase the "street cred" of our LFS's because they then get to order that much more. What happens, they have to order so much of this and so much of that, and if they don't order "at least this much" then they get to play second fiddle to the bigger LFS's who get the preferential treatment. So by ordering from say the U.S., it actually could have a paradoxical effect, ie. it supports the view that the U.S. stores are selling more than Canada stores, and thus guarantees that "more stuff" will go that way instead of ours in the future.

Plus, shipments get delayed ... and water is hard to take on a plane .. etc. I think I'd only consider carrying livestock across the border if I was driving, and even then, the few times I've had the opportunity, I decided it wasn't worth the risk of getting tripped up on some procedural item or something like that.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Another point to consider about buying locally, by doing so you increase the "street cred" of our LFS's because they then get to order that much more. What happens, they have to order so much of this and so much of that, and if they don't order "at least this much" then they get to play second fiddle to the bigger LFS's who get the preferential treatment. So by ordering from say the U.S., it actually could have a paradoxical effect, ie. it supports the view that the U.S. stores are selling more than Canada stores, and thus guarantees that "more stuff" will go that way instead of ours in the future.

Plus, shipments get delayed ... and water is hard to take on a plane .. etc. I think I'd only consider carrying livestock across the border if I was driving, and even then, the few times I've had the opportunity, I decided it wasn't worth the risk of getting tripped up on some procedural item or something like that.

Well said. I can say first hand, that loosing my 3 year old puffer that way was horrible! I had to sit in a room and watch him freak out and I would think get pretty cold as people came in to see "the cool blow fish" and ask "make him puff!". Its not fun to watch an innocent fish get stuck in the middle of a boarder problem.

[Jason McK]

Also consider. In my case I was bringing in nudis for aptasia control. these on not listed on CITES or are they regulated at all. But the average customs officer does not know this. It takes a member of fish and wildlife to inspect the items and check their documentation. Fish and wildlife only spend 1 day a week at the customs office in Vancouver. It is possible to have your fish held for 6 days to get proper inspection. not to say this would happen each time. But if your items are flagged or a less knowledgeable customs agent determines that they need to be held there is no way to expedite the release.

I have found that in most cases the customs agent will error on the side of cation so that no band or controlled items get into Canada and unfortunately this is devastating to us

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

Also consider. In my case I was bringing in nudis for aptasia control. these on not listed on CITES or are they regulated at all. But the average customs officer does not know this. It takes a member of fish and wildlife to inspect the items and check their documentation. Fish and wildlife only spend 1 day a week at the customs office in Vancouver. It is possible to have your fish held for 6 days to get proper inspection. not to say this would happen each time. But if your items are flagged or a less knowledgeable customs agent determines that they need to be held there is no way to expedite the release.

I have found that in most cases the customs agent will error on the side of cation so that no band or controlled items get into Canada and unfortunately this is devastating to us

Yeah, that pretty much sums up what I was trying to say but just in a much clearer way