Both The Aquarium Society of WA and ANGFA WA have discussed this matter with Fisheries WA on a number of occasions over the years, and although the bureaucrats have provided no concrete answers, they have , in the past, always said that collections of small numbers of native fishes for personal (as distinct from commercial) purposes would not be considered "illegal". They have however adjured (read advised) that if a number of people were to be involved in a collecting episode, the organisation involved should make an
ad hoc application for a one-off group permit to make the collection.
The problem is that being a bureaucracy, with a constant turnover of upper echelon decision makers, Fisheries can never seem to come to a logical, and continuing series of steps that need to be taken by hobbyists wishing to make collections of natives: so every event has differing requirements to make proceedings "legal".
As a member of the Freshwater Advisory Group set up by one Director, and promptly disbanded by the incumbent, I never cease to be amazed that anything of value ever came out of our deliberations. In fact, in retrospect, I doubt if anything ever did, as most of our recommendations seem to have been ignored by all concerned. Gives one a warm fuzzy feeling inside (NOT).
Syd.
Edited by sydad, 31 March 2011 - 11:16 PM.