Albino clownfish and the Law

Status
Not open for further replies.
Every time when you think life can't get worse, it shows you that it can.
Today I received a phone call from the arresting fishery inspector, asking me if I have received a summons to appear in court tomorrow. I asked if they don't know that the charges have been dropped. They will phone me tomorrow and will inspect my breeding room. Seems like the shit starts all over again. Not enough that I have to find new premises where I can move my hatchery to. They must be really bored.


OMG! Not again! This is sounding more like a personal vendetta.
 
Conspiracy????

Guys, I went today for some other reason to the police station. I ended up with chatting to the Captain. He saw me once, almost 1 year ago and I didn't have to introduce myself. He knew exactly who I am.

He told me that I should worry about my court case regarding illegal possession and breeding of marine species. I have to be aware of the fact, that I will be in need for a huge amount of money, to defend myself in the High Court.
He told me, that my file is so thick, that I hardly can keep it between my fingers.
The aim of the DAFF is to charge me and to find me guilty, to set an example for others, to scare them off.
They can charge me between 50,000 and 1.000.000 Rand, but they aim for the 1 million as it is the first time, that somebody get charged for what I did.

What did I do?

I donated a few hundred clowns to the TwoOceansAquarium and 4 Albino clowns.
And that is where they want to find the proof to nail my ass.
These illiterate and bored fishery inspectors have just nothing better to do than to make my life miserable.
I will do anything to make their life even more miserable than they already made mine.
Instead of helping the president Jacob Zuma, with his big mouth to create 1 million jobs during a global recession, to help to keep his promise to the nation, they rather waste tax payers money to convert my ass into a white elephant.
I welcome any media to spread my story all over the country how taxpayers money gets wasted.
When they charge me and I have to appear in the High Court, take a guess who is paying my legal representative?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sorry guys.
Had a quick read through the thread and man, what a mess.
Questions:
Where do these albino clownfish come from?
Are they found in our local waters or are they from miles away?
Are they on the endangered list of animals or not?
 
Sorry guys.
Had a quick read through the thread and man, what a mess.
Questions:
Where do these albino clownfish come from?
Are they found in our local waters or are they from miles away?
Are they on the endangered list of animals or not?

They showed up in the first batch clowns I ever raised.
None of them came out of the ocean. Besides the fact that ocellaris come from Bali and not from SA waters.
Why should they be on the Red list? Actually I put them on the red list as there are only 25 albino ocellaris alive worldwide! That includes the four at the Two Oceans Aquarium.:(

There was a time where I had over thousand albinos. So many things happened!
 
Last edited:
OMG, here we go again, get hold of Carte Blanche and see if they want to cover the story, sounds like something they may be interested in.
@Alan
Hey Alan, looking forward to finally meeting you, when you come down to CT.;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hmm. Wonder what the implication for all of us is regarding transport, keeping and God forbid propogating and selling CITES listed species.
 
Cool, thanks for the info.
Still not sure what they are charging you with and thus trying to help you find a legal loop-hole in the system.
I now SA is very struck on local wild life but on non indigenous species there is very little rules unless prohibited by law. An example of this would be red eared terrapins or axolotls. There is a law against keeping those, so they can lock you up for that.

But never heard of arresting someone for breeding a non indigenous, non threatened marine fish.
Found this on the web Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism - About Us
But don't think it can apply to you even in the loosest of terms.

If I may ask, what is the formal charge they are trying to enforce?
 
If I may ask, what is the formal charge they are trying to enforce?
Possession of marine species without a permit.
Commercial breeding of marine species.
I haven't sold any, so what?
 
get legal aid they going to lose or it will be miscarriage of justice imo

the original parent ocellaris did come in with permits from retailer or they wouldnt have been allowed in!
 
Last edited:
Possession of marine species without a permit. - You don't need a permit if it is not indigenous to SA waters or on the threatened list.
Look at the link I sent you. http://sanparks.org.za/docs/general/marine_rec_brochure.pdf

It lists what you need a permit for, what you cannot catch and what you can catch and how much per day.

Commercial breeding of marine species. - I haven't sold any. Take your books and accounts with you to prove this fact and claim your expenses thus far as a tax break for start up capital and expenses until the business is up and running...

Honestly I don't believe they have a leg to stand on.

When this gets thrown out of court you can sue for malicious prosecution and abuse of process and you can seek damages.....
 
You don't need a permit if it is not indigenous to SA waters or on the threatened list.

That is a part of the regulations of the marine live resource act.
If you read this, everybody needs a permit!



25074f26dddf652ae.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom