Releasing a Native Fish after being held captive by a hobbyist

[Linda C.]

I was trying to get feedback to a post in this thread  http://hvreef.org/yabb/index.php?topic=13389.msg134468#msg134468  but it has been locked.

This is what I got from Larissa J. Graham, Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator, NY Sea Grant via email.

"it is not advised to release anything back into the wild once
it's been in a tank. Even though bass are native to our area, regulatory
agencies advise again this because the fish might have contracted a
disease from the tank, which can then be introduced to the system which
it's released."

[Amoore311]

This was my understanding as well Linda.


It's not worth the risk to release the fish back into the wild.



Thanks for posting the info on here.

[ScottT]

Thanks Linda, good to know.  Fish Fry?

[Anemone1]

Well, this is my thing, though.

The tank I'm setting up is a pre-rinsed 10 gallon with normal dimensions. It's set up as a paludarium, with both land and water. Every single item in it has been taken from the wild around my house, from gravel, to plants, to dirt, to all the livestock. The only piece of equipment is an old SW powerhead that has been dry for 6 months. I just don't see even a little element of risk, personally.

Now, I realize that Derek is in a different situation, since his bass has probably been kept with non native fish, in a tank which houses non native plants, and I can see why this makes more sense. However, in the circumstance I'm describing, I'm just not sure that this warning applies.

[Linda C.]

Tyler,

I'll ask around about your situation and see what I find out.

[Anemone1]

Okay, cool!

[mr.msalty]

I have never seen any law pertaining to this; I'm sure if there is one Linda would have posted it. Common sense would infer Tyler's native biotope would be of no risk; then again, do gooders and their willingness to legislate my actions often lack that quality! I thought Derek was keeping his bass in its own system until I later realized he obviously was not doing that. What is absolutely illegal is having wild game like Black Bass for sale or trade, or in possession with out a current NY  state fishing license.