Posted by:
OHI
at Tue Mar 4 02:19:42 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by OHI ]
All,
(This is a continuation of a discussion from below)
Actually having a bunch of splinter groups with slightly differing agendas is by far more counterproductive. What it will take to fight for the rights of private herpers is a very large all inclusive group. The main reason for this is that it will take a lot of money to get the job done. Since most herpers aren’t wealthy it will take everyone contributing what they can afford, which in most cases is a small amount. Further, an all inclusive group would allow all the commercial interests to donate substantial amounts of money. Since they make the most money they can contribute more.
The problem is that many recreational folks either don’t acknowledge their commercial aspects or they are ignorant as to how they were able to get captive born animals in the first place. Almost every single founder exotic herp in the US was brought in by commercial folks. Remember, if you don’t support the right to sell wild caught, you don’t support the buying or selling of imported animals. And who do the recreational breeders sell their left over stock to? You guessed it, the commercial folks. The recreational folks in Texas have argued in the past that they are not commercial folks. They say, “we only recreationally collect” and then they take the animals home, breed them and produce captive born off spring and then sell them. Well, in New Mexico you would be considered commercial. Lets review the New Mexico code:
Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 10 Number 7 Section B defines “commercial purpose” as: “Commercial purpose” shall mean for the purpose of sale, barter, or profit. For this regulation, any person in possession of the annual bag limit or more than the annual bag limit of wild caught amphibians and reptiles shall be deemed to possess these individuals for commercial purposes. In addition, any person in possession of more then 50 individuals with unlimited take, shall be deemed to possess these individuals for commercial purposes.
And from the same regulations Number 8 Section A: It is unlawful for any person to take free-ranging, native amphibians and reptiles in New Mexico for commercial purposes without purchasing and having in possession a valid commercial collecting permit.
Denying the economic realities of the herp industry is definitely where recreational groups go a stray. Everything costs money. Collectors spend a large amount of money to collect herps. Breeders spend a large amount of money to keep and breed herps. Pet stores have high overhead. Dealers have many expenses in their business. To say that money is everywhere in the herp industry and then to say BUT when it comes to wild caught is naive at best. You can’t deny economic reality.
If recreational folks are not into herps for the money then why don’t they give their offspring away? Good question, huh. That is because they have to try and recover some of their investment. So do the rest of the folks involved in the herp industry.
The fisheries example works good for herps. Remember, a fishery is used mainly for feeding folks. Herps are not (except in the case of the Asian market). The commercial fish industry sells fish. Most recreational fisherman do not. You have some folks who sell herps and you have some folks who just keep “pets.”
Just because some states do something doesn’t mean it is the correct or fair thing to do. Let’s look at Tennessee and Georgia: you can’t collect, possess, breed or sell native non-venomous snakes. Tennessee and Georgia passed these laws. They have to be good, right? You want that same law here in Texas don’t you folks? Why do recreational folks feel the need to pander to decision-makers? A little brown nosing? As long as that decision-maker doesn’t take away something you like to do then you will support what ever they say? Since you personally don’t want to sell wild-caught herps you are willing to give that right away to keep recreational (wink, wink) collecting? C’mon folks. Live in the real world.
Maybe there should be two groups: recreational herpers and commercial herpers. Okay how do we define that? The New Mexico way or the Texas recreational group way? Are folks who buy and sell wild caught herps going to NOT join the recreational group? What about the ones who are already members? Can everyone be protected under one all inclusive group?
I submit that two groups are not the answer. Why? We need everyone in one group to have the funds to protect everyone. Trying to define the distinctions are to tough and then there are the realities I stated above. By the way, PIJAC supports both commercial and recreational folks. How come they can do it but others can’t? I rest my case.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not an invitation to personally attack me for expressing my opinion. I hope that the forum moderators will respect this and take action if necessary. I would love to hear constructive counter opinion that sticks to the issues.
Mike Welker
El Paso, TX
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 Herp Groups: Commercial & Recreational - OHI, Tue Mar 4 02:19:42 2008
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