Not just an Asian issue

[devils advocate]

News Release
Winnipeg Company Charged Under Federal Wildlife Legislation

Winnipeg, MB - March 12, 2008 - Environment Canada has laid fourteen charges against Jayson Daeninck and Saltwater Connection, of Winnipeg, for allegedly importing protected wildlife species from Indonesia without a permit, in contravention of Canada's Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.

Ten of the charges stem from the alleged importation without a permit of approximately 9,508 kg (over 20,000 lbs) of live rock based on stony corals, as well as live species of giant clams, seahorses and stony corals. These species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act is the Canadian legislation for enforcing the international rules in this country.

Four charges were laid for allegedly providing false or misleading information with respect to the imports, and for providing false or misleading statements to an officer.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement that sets controls on the worldwide trade and movement of more than 33,000 animal and plant species that have been, or may be, threatened due to excessive commercial exploitation. The Convention uses an international permit system to ensure that trade in species listed under the Convention is legal.

First court appearance is set for April 7, 2008 in Provincial Court in Winnipeg.

For more information, please contact:
Trevor Wyatt
Senior Wildlife Officer
Wildlife Enforcement Division
Prairie and Northern Region
Environment Canada
(204) 983-5263

Environment Canada
Media Relations
(819) 934-8008 or
1-888-908-8008

 

[Anonymous]

Finally Canada wakes up I'm sure there's a few more to clean up as well.....

 

[devils advocate]

Just goes to show that when one points fingers, there are a couple pointing back...right, Wayne :wink:

 

[Vili_Shark]

Finally Canada wakes up I'm sure there's a few more to clean up as well.....

Tell it to the seal pups they are killing in the most barbaric way.

 

[clarionreef]

....for allegedly importing protected wildlife species from Indonesia without a permit, in contravention of Canada's Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.

Ten of the charges stem from the alleged importation without a permit of approximately 9,508 kg (over 20,000 lbs) of live rock based on stony corals, as well as live species of giant clams, seahorses and stony coral

Question;
HOW does one even import with no permit?
How can they be released without a permit?
How does Canadas fish and wildlife let thousands and thousands of pounds of live rock in time after time with no permits in the document packet?
Just what kind of import authority do they have up there that does nothing for years and then plays "gotcha" on someone "trained" to do it that way thru consistant bureaucratic negligence?
If the importer is a smuggler, seems like the fisheries were incompetent and oblivious. So much so as to suggest there were no issues worth watching out for.
If ya leave the door wide open long enough, people can understandably get the impression that the casual in and out traffic is OK.
And futhermore, if you comply perfectly, would anyone notice?
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

It kinda proves the speculation on many peoples parts that Canada has a VERY porous boarder when it comes to requiring CITES permits.

 

[devils advocate]

Simple...obviously the inspection process is rather lax, shall we say. If you provide an invoice that states fish only and they don't inspect, well, pay your tax and good luck with those fish, sir. I'm sure those importers who are in compliance go unnoticed as well.

My point of this thread was meant mostly for Wayne, in that there are many issues that he could tackle in his own back yard before venturing out into the neighborhood. When the Canadian system works perfectly, then, maybe he could get back on the soapbox and start ranting and raving again.

 

[devils advocate]

Gresham, sure Canadians require permits, as given this example. Whether you have them or provide them is one issue and if the officials inspect for them in another.

 

[Anonymous]

Finally Canada wakes up I'm sure there's a few more to clean up as well.....

Tell it to the seal pups they are killing in the most barbaric way.

Um OK,

Hey bloody seal pups Canada finally busted some one for CITES violations.

They didn't care, or I don't speak seal, sorry.



:lol: Funny thing is your pretty much quoting a few of my posts in the PAST where I used nearly the same response to Wayne but with reason.

 

[clarionreef]

Tell it to the seal pups they are killing in the most barbaric way

.

Talk about selective morality...
I couldn't imagine much of an anti whaling or save coral reef movement in Canada.
It seems to me the energy to stop the seal slaughter alone would take up most of the energy one had to make the world a better place.
Steve

 

[devils advocate]

Seal hunt....ornamental aquarium trade. No difference whatsoever, with the exception of the bambi factor. You can argue from a moral ground quite easily against the aquarium trade, just as you can against the seal hunt.

 

[clarionreef]

However,
The seals are killed by Canadians themselves which is different then buying into imported reef items that some of us say are collected improperly by other people.

There is a convenient, plausible deniability of claiming you know not of the aquarium trades dirty issues. What happens, or is claimed to happen is far away and much based largely on an old expose that is only rarely updated.
Steve

 

[devils advocate]

Seals being killed by the Canadians themselves is irrelevant. Like I said, you can argue on moral ground against both industries.

You, and others, remove animals from the wild to meet their ultimate demise, quite often in a cruel manner. These animals, in the trade in which you practice, I'm sure suffer a death far greater than that of a seal. You, ultimately, are profiting from this. At what point can you wash your hands clean of this. Just because you may collect and handle your product in a responsible manner does not negate the entire morality of this industry when you take it to it's basic core. Removing animals from the wild for your own financial gain.

 

[naesco]

Do I sense a tad bit of anti-Canadianism here? Why?
Hi Gresham.
Steve, the process up here is the same as in the US.
Wildlife knows that marine shipments are inbound.
They check the manifest which includes the CITES certificate and pays taxes.
The importer takes it to the airline cargo depot, show them the stamped documents and he is on his way.
I have personal knowledge that random inspections take place often both from inbound US shipments and other countries as well.

I have no knowledge about this case but it is obvious to me that in light of the amount involved the issue would not be whether a permit was with the shipment but whether the permit provided with each and every shipment was falsified by the exporter.
In other words a fraudulent permit is no permit.
This could have happened at the exporters end and the importer is faced with the allegations.
We treat wildlife infractions seriously in Canada. The last case I read was a butterfly collector who smuggled 3 or 4 of them into Canada without CITES. He was fined $20,000.00

I do not support the seal hunt and few Canadian do. Our first nations peoples and others on the east coast whose livilihood depend on the hunt do and our Government wants to protect them.

How do you feel about contacting your own Wildlife people and asking them to enforce your own laws; to wit, The Lacey Act.?

 

[naesco]

Simple...obviously the inspection process is rather lax, shall we say. If you provide an invoice that states fish only and they don't inspect, well, pay your tax and good luck with those fish, sir. I'm sure those importers who are in compliance go unnoticed as well.

My point of this thread was meant mostly for Wayne, in that there are many issues that he could tackle in his own back yard before venturing out into the neighborhood. When the Canadian system works perfectly, then, maybe he could get back on the soapbox and start ranting and raving again.

Although I might get off track (like when I got involved in the Hawaiian legislation and the USL), I am fully committed to seeing the trade in cyanide caught fish stopped and those responsible charged under the Lacey Act and placed in gaol.

Advocate, cyanide not only kills the fish but the reef and all the critters that dwell therein. This is industry's 'dirty little secret' that needs the same wordwide press coverage as the seal hunt.

When Obama is your President, legions of his followers will make the necessary changes, including dealwith with cyanide and their players.

 

[Jaime Baquero]

It is not a secret that many importers/exporters are not declaring the real value of livestock and other "items" imported for the marine aquarium industry. Things are going to be different here in Canada. Change will come, no choice, it has to be done the hard way!

Something is going to be done regarding the importation of MO collected with cyanide.

Jaime

 

[PeterIMA]

Wayne, I think that 9,508 kg of live rock is a lot for one shipment. Was the
rock and the fish part of one shipment by air (one airway bill)? Or, were
the 14 charges associated with 14 shipments?

I agree with your position about cyanide.

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

It's quite well known Canada has FAR more lax enforcement of CITES then ANY Western Nation. Mexico does a better job at enforcing CITES imports then Canada. When will the Canadian porous boarder end? Don't have any CITES left, that's OK, Canada will import it and send it to you in the States. Japanesse corals, sure, get them via Canada.

 

[devils advocate]

Gresham,

You'd still require CITES permits for shipments that travel from Canada to the States. Doesn't speak highly of the American porous border if these shipments are allowed in.

Wayne,

I think the point that many people try to make is that instead of focusing your energy on the States, look to Canada where there are many issues that seemed to be resolved. Then when those are done, look once again at others. At least the States has the Lacey Act....what does Canada have?

I'm very well aware of the cyanide issue. It's no secret, dirty yes, but no secret.

 

[Caterham]

Naesco,

Thanks so much for your contributions to this thread.

Unfortunately, with absolutely zero past or current involvement in the trade of marine ornamentals there are some folks here is this community that might take your comments somewhat lightly.

I respect your efforts and hope that you continue to stay involved. All good teams have people cheering for them on the sidelines, out of play.

Warmest regards