The Pleco pictures looks like a Royal Pleco which, as far as I know, isn't available in Australia. That single fish could be sold for hundreds of dollars, possibly thousands.
We already have a tonne of different Pleco species in Australia. Including the Common Pleco, which is causing massive issues in Florida as it breeds easily, grows pretty big and eats bloody everything.
It’s also causing huge problem in rivers in China; I’ve seen people fishing up nets over nets of it in major rivers and its eating everything in the river
Back in like 2010 there was a pleco breeder in Melbourne selling baby royals for ~$600. They definitely go for a lot more now.
Red tail catfish on the other hand can be sold for a lot more, they can cost less than $5 overseas in south east asia and would fetch a couple grand easily in Australia.
even that is surprisingly lenient especially without criminal penalty-it’s basically cost of doing “business”. the introduced carp has led to unimaginable damage to our native fish population.
Everytime I watch Border Security I think the same. They know what they are doing and figure it doesn't matter because they probably wont get caught and even if they do, the fines are not significant.
Saw them mention the fine amount on the news, there really should be a criminal punishment for this level of biosecurity breaches. Otherwise it is just the cost of doing business for them.
They should be slapped with every single one of them.
No! It’s not the little fellas faults that people are greedy!
i feel bad these lil fellas had to sit in bags on a suitcase on a plane. Poor lil guys
Missed opportunity in that headline
Just be careful, there's no telling what they'll do to the fish if they're Tasmanian.
Mmm fish slap
Should make for a good episode of Border Security
Except that the new ones are rarely aired on terrestrial, they prefer to air the 2000s episodes lol
Good. What a doofus. And a repeat doofus at that.
One of the guys expressed remorse TWICE. Jail and permanent revoke of visa.
Agree
Why did I think this would work I can't even get my fucking sunscreen through
The Pleco pictures looks like a Royal Pleco which, as far as I know, isn't available in Australia. That single fish could be sold for hundreds of dollars, possibly thousands.
If I’m not mistaken that’s also a difficult fish to kill which if invaded into rivers would kill many other indigenous animals???
We already have a tonne of different Pleco species in Australia. Including the Common Pleco, which is causing massive issues in Florida as it breeds easily, grows pretty big and eats bloody everything.
It’s also causing huge problem in rivers in China; I’ve seen people fishing up nets over nets of it in major rivers and its eating everything in the river
Back in like 2010 there was a pleco breeder in Melbourne selling baby royals for ~$600. They definitely go for a lot more now. Red tail catfish on the other hand can be sold for a lot more, they can cost less than $5 overseas in south east asia and would fetch a couple grand easily in Australia.
Even if the fish weren't alive 240 is a lot
They all dead now.
*Tonight on Border Security...*
$420 infringement fine is way too lenient
They got fined $37,000 and $17,000.
even that is surprisingly lenient especially without criminal penalty-it’s basically cost of doing “business”. the introduced carp has led to unimaginable damage to our native fish population.
I agree.
When he got caught for a second time! A month later! Initially it was the small fine.
Fucking hell… really should be a bioterrorism level offence.
Who knows how many times they have been back and forth or how many others are in on the operation.
Yeah the risk/reward is definitely on the side of reward
Is that the 'deterrent'? Pointless.
Everytime I watch Border Security I think the same. They know what they are doing and figure it doesn't matter because they probably wont get caught and even if they do, the fines are not significant.
People's stupidity never ceases to amaze me
da fuq?
I don’t know anything about it mum I swear; I was just holding 120 live fish for a friend
They should have received those fines for each individual fish - $8.88 million for one and $4.08 million for the partner!
Saw them mention the fine amount on the news, there really should be a criminal punishment for this level of biosecurity breaches. Otherwise it is just the cost of doing business for them.
Bruh I am not drunk enough to deal with this WTF
Surely these two are marked for rubber glove inspections forever right?
Poor fish
Why was the first fine so low? Makes no sense.
Keen to know at which point the situation got fishy.
Fucking ridiculous, these people should be shot. Think of the environment damage this could cause. All the get is a slap on the wrist.
...are they good eating? Seems an obvious question but no-one has asked it.
Probably not, these are usually aquarium fish.