OATA Re-Launches "Hands Off My Hobby" Campaign

OATA are re-launching the "Hands Off My Hobby" campaign in the run-up to the UK General Election, due to take place on May 7th.

Their aim is for politicians from all UK political parties to recognise that keeping fish is just as acceptable as keeping any other pet and to oppose a proposed ban on "exotic" and "wild-caught" species that would spell the end of the ornamental fishkeeping hobby. In the proposed ban, ‘exotic’ is defined as any species that is not native to UK, so not only would such a ban affect all of the many livelihoods that the hobby currently supports, but it also means that UK aquarists would be left with little else but rudd and tench for their ponds.

Under the definition of the proposed ban, all aquarium species, including fish, corals and other invertebrates such as shrimp and snails, would be considered "exotic", whether captive-bred or not. And no "exotic" species would mean no aquatic trade or fishkeeping hobby and no need for tanks, filters, food, medicines, plants etc.

In the run-up to the 2015 General Election, then, OATA would like politicians to oppose the ban and realise that ornamental fish-keeping brings a great deal of pleasure to people as well as social, economic and health benefits to the UK. With that in mind, they've created a standalone website which you can visit at www.handsoffmyhobby.org and which contains lots of information about the campaign as well as a special online petition where people can sign and say "hands off my hobby!"