27/05/2026
PLEASE READ and Support your Hobby.
Protect Your Pets – Say No to Harmful “Positive Lists”
The UK fishkeeping community, aquatic trade, and pet owners face a potential threat from proposed “positive list” legislation.
A positive list would mean only species approved by the government could be legally kept, sold, bred, or traded.
Although intended to improve animal welfare, many experts in the aquatic industry warn it could have the opposite effect.
The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has stated this approach could be extremely damaging, with no clear evidence it improves welfare. In fact, it may create new problems.
So what this could mean for fish keepers?
No official UK species list exists yet. However, some campaigners suggest reducing allowed species across the pet trade to as few as 20–30 species.
This could lead to:
-Severe limits on the fish and aquatic species you can keep.
-Loss of many long-established, responsibly kept species
-Reduced access to specialist knowledge and equipment
-Major disruption to retailers, breeders, and suppliers
Many commonly kept species could be excluded—not because they are unsafe, but because there isn’t enough data to meet strict rules.
Why the industry is concerned:
1. Animal welfare risks
Restricting legal ownership could create unintended problems:
Owners may struggle to rehome fish.
Specialist advice and support could disappear.
Responsible breeders may stop operating.
Increased risk of abandonment or illegal trade.
Other countries with similar systems have already reported welfare concerns.
2. Growth of illegal trade:
Strict restrictions can push demand underground.
This may lead to:
Illegal imports.
Unregulated private sales.
Lower welfare standards and oversight.
3. Impact on UK businesses:
The aquatic industry supports thousands of jobs across shops, breeding, and supply chains.
Potential impacts include:
-Fewer species allowed for sale
-Higher costs and administrative burden
-Reduced customer choice
-Threats to specialist retailers
Some businesses could struggle to survive.
OATA is urging hobbyists and businesses to act now by:
Signing the “Protect Your Pets” petition.
Raising concerns with representatives in Scotland and Wales
https://www.change.org/p/protect-your-pets-say-no-to-harmful-positive-lists
Public support helps show policymakers how many people could be affected.
Supporting responsible fishkeeping
Good fishkeeping already relies on:-
-Education and proper care
-Ethical sourcing
-Specialist retailer support
-Long-term care guidance
Many in the industry believe these are more effective for welfare than restricting species.
Fishkeeping also:
-Encourages interest in aquatic environments
-Supports conservation breeding
-Teaches biodiversity and animal care
How you can help?
You can support the future of responsible fishkeeping by:
-Signing the petition
-Sharing information with others
-Contacting local representatives
-Supporting responsible aquatic businesses
The goal is not to avoid regulation, but to ensure any new rules are practical, evidence-based, and genuinely improve animal welfare—while protecting responsible pet ownership.
Protect your pets – say NO to harmful positive lists
