Conference on Invasive Alien Species and the ornamental aquatic industry.

The ornamental aquatic industry is presumed by many to play a role in the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS), which is not surprising, considering that each year the industry is responsible for the distribution of millions of specimens of thousands of species of ornamental fish, crustaceans, molluscs, cnidarians and aquatic plants all worldwide. We fully realise that among these specimens potential IAS will be transported and that we therefore may risk the introduction of an alien species by consumers into the natural environment.

Awareness of IAS

Currently the awareness of such a risk is minimal in most parts of our industry. A few countries have legislation in place regulating our industry on this issue and operators in these countries have been made aware of the situation. In these countries national trade associations have taken their responsibilities and launched campaigns to create awareness and to teach the public not to release their aquatic animals into the wild.

In most other countries, however, there is hardly any awareness on the potential damage caused by IAS to the biodiversity, to economies and to human- and animal health.  Ornamental Fish International now wants to add to creating awareness in these countries by organising a one-day conference on Invasive Alien Species and the ornamental aquatic industry.

Ornamental Fish International (OFI) is the worldwide trade association in the ornamental aquatic industry. We have some 190 members in 44 countries in all major import and export countries for ornamental aquatic animals.

According to the OFI statutes and mission statement, the organization actively supports and advances ethical standards of trade in the entire ornamental fish industry, and the responsible catching, breeding and treatment of ornamental fish and other aquatic organisms in each step of the chain. OFI also supports and aims to protect natural habitats by way of effective environmental and nature conservation programs.

Conference

The one-day conference will take place during the worlds largest special trade fair for the ornamental aquatic industry, Aquarama in Singapore, on Saturday 30 May 2009. It has the support of the Convention on Biological Deversity (CBD), of governments of the United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherland, colleague trade associations and of several industry operators.

With a proper information campaign we will be able to attract the major players in this industry, but also the international press that reports on our industry. The idea is to invite 6 speakers from our industry, scientists, representatives of some national authorities where legislation have been implemented and of organisations that maintain an IAS databank. These speakers are supposed to give a presentation on a specific topic with plenty of space for discussion afterwards.

The aim of the conference is to make industry operators aware that the IAS discussion is about our industry as well, with examples from our industry. Furthermore they should become aware of developments in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on IAS and on the fact that these will have their influence on our industry and probably also in legislation regulating our industry.