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Regulations on Animal Protection at a Public Performance of Aquarium Fish and Aquatic Animals, Kept in Aquariums during Expositions, as well as Social, Competitive and Sales Gatherings, Organized by Lenka Zemanová

 

Article 1 - Identification Data of the Public Exposition Organizer

  1. Organizer: organizer of public expositions
  2. The applicant, in article 1 stated as an organizer of public expositions - aquaristic events in accordance with the provisions of the Act. No. 246/1992 Coll., on animal protection against cruelty, as subsequently amended, after discussion and approval of the Ministry of Agriculture published the “Regulations on Animal Protection at a Public Performance of Aquarium Fish and Aquatic Animals, Kept in Aquariums during Expositions, as well as Social, Competitive and Sales Gatherings, Organized by Karel Zeman (further called “Regulations”)”.

Article 2 - The Purpose of These Regulations

  1. The purpose of these Regulations is to methodically determine conditions for aquarium fish, as well as the rules for aquaristic events in accordance with the current animal protection and care of their well-being requirements.
  2. Aquaristic events are intended for breeders - aquarists to meet, exchange, sell and display aquatic animals, breeding supplies and specialized literature, to organize specialized lectures, seminars and other activities related to breeding of aquatic animals.
  3. These regulations do not allow using aquarium fish or aquatic animals for preparation and execution of tricks or exercises on theater and burlesque shows, films, television shows or any public performance of this character. According to these Regulations, it is forbidden to display aquarium fish or aquatic animals in public, if the public display would take place in a mobile carriage, such as a mobile aquarium, which would mean, for the aquarium fish or aquatic animals, to be placed mostly in the area of the vehicle (i.e. you cannot run a movable menagerie).
  4. These Regulations are not a replacement for the terms and conditions permitted by law, especially by the Act No. 246/1992 Coll., on animal protection against cruelty, as subsequently amended, and the Act No. 166/1999 Coll., on veterinary care and on amending of certain related laws (veterinary law), as subsequently amended (the animal examination document, animal health check, for example), by the Act No. 114/1992 Coll., on Nature and Landscape Protection, as subsequently amended (breeding, including holding of especially protected species) and by the Act No.100/2004 Coll., on protection of wild animals and plants, regulation of their trading and other precautions against their extinction and on amending of some of the acts (the Act on Trade in Endangered Species)(CITES - animal registration and breeding permission, etc.). The events take place once or multiple times a month.

 Article 3 - Aquarium Fish and Aquatic Animal Species Engaged in The Aquaristic Event

  1. Freshwater and marine aquarium animals participating in the aquaristic event are:
    1. bred solely in aquaristic hobby farms
    2. bred solely in aquaristic hobby farms of verifiable origin (with breeders statement on the method of acquisition, especially in case of animals that are subject to CITES)
  2. The amount of exposed and offered animals is variable and limited by:
    1. the current species composition in a particular event and sizes of the animals,
    2. the type and dimensions of the aquarium tanks, in which the aquarium fish are placed and exposed
    3. the capacity of the exposition space
  3. Only healthy and fit aquarium fish can be engaged in the aquaristic event.
  4. A maximum of 10,000 pieces of aquarium fish and aquatic animals can be engaged in the event.

 Article 4 - The Method of Animal Manipulation with a Description and Characteristics of Activities Performed with Animals

  1. During the event, the aquatic animals are placed in glass aquariums or plastic bags filled with water, air or oxygen and are not manipulated with, unless the fish is bought and passed to a new breeder.
  2. The aquatic animals placed in the exposition aquariums are not forced to do any activity (on the contrary, the animals are required to stay calm during the public exposition) nor showing any stunts. In case of need (introducing the aquarium fish to the interested, comparing individuals etc.), only the original breeder can manipulate with the aquarium fish using aquarium nets and a plastic or glass fish catcher. Exceptionally, big fish can be carefully grabbed manually. Every breeder is obliged to assure there is no inappropriate manipulation, eventually unauthorized persons’ manipulation with the animals that are being exhibited (offered).

Article 5 - Devices, Equipment, Tools for Manipulation, Performing or Another Activity with Aquatic Animals

  1. Aquarium tanks for social and competitive expositions are ensured by the breeder. There is usually aeration installed in every aquarium. Vendors provide the aquariums, in which the animals are open for exchange and sale, by themselves, and they make sure that the aquariums fit the needs of the aquarium fish.
  2. Aquarium animals have to be placed in tanks the way they
    1. don’t cause any injuries to one another (separation of aggressive species),
    2. don’t get over stressed (the amount of individuals inside an aquarium),
    3. have enough space to move around
    4. are provided an adequate water temperature
  3. In every aquarium, there is always aeration installed, eventually filtration and, if it’s necessary considering the species of aquarium fish and other aquatic animals exposed, heating system too. If the event takes place in an air-conditioned room, there’s no need for any heating system to be installed in the tanks. Aquariums must be equipped with all the technology necessary to assure the appropriate conditions for life of the placed aquarium fish or other aquatic animals species (filtration technology, lighting, heating system). Aquariums are placed on desks or on appropriate stands.
  4. Water in aquariums comes from public water supply. It’s possible to use water from pure nature sources, which is, in many cases, more appropriate for fish. Water must always be stress relieved, for at least 12 hours, and tempered to the temperature optimal for a specific species of aquarium fish or other aquatic animal. Stress relieving of water solves the problem with chlorine, which might be present in tap water, and with possible air embolism as well. It is important to keep in mind that the amount of nitrates might get above the limit value and that the water hardness may be too high for the fish species exposed.
  5. Water for eventual exposure of sea fish is being prepared by dissolving commercially supplied salts in water modified by reverse osmosis, or demineralized ion exchangers.
  6. For manipulation with aquarium fish, aquarium nets or glass or plastic fish catchers of an appropriate size are used. The catching net is square or rectangle sized, made of soft synthetic fabrics. The fish catcher is used only for catching small fish or genus of fish which are very sensitive to stress. It is made of glass or plastic. It consists of two tubes of different diameters, connected at the right angle, the longer of which can be clogged by a thumb.
  7. The number of fish placed in vending tanks must follow the 1 cm of the fish length / 1 liter of water volume principle. In case of higher fish density, the water requires more frequent quality checks and must be changed more often as well.

Article 6 - Areas Where Public Expositions - Aquaristic Events - Take Place 

  1. Aquaristic events take place in enclosed rooms.
  2. Before and during the aquaristic event, every exhibitor or vendor must ensure:
    1. that the temperature in aquariums suits the requirements of a specific species of aquarium fish or other aquatic animals
    2. that the aquariums and the equipment inside minimize the risk of injuring the aquarium fish and aquatic animals exposed, for example with an appropriate covering of heating units or fixing of decorations.
  3. Aquarium fish and aquatic animals must be placed in aquariums the way:
    1. they can’t cause an injury to one another (separation of aggressive species),
    2. they don’t get over stressed (the amount of individuals in an aquarium),
    3. they have enough space to move around,
    4. they have optimal conditions, essential for each specific genus (water temperature, amount of oxygen, eventually air in water, or an appropriate composition of atmosphere inside the aquarium),
    5. the species require it:
      1. they have the option of a hiding place,
      2. they have the option of local heating (with a heater, which must be installed and covered the way the animals would not get burned),
      3. they are securely protected from escaping

Article 7 - Transportation of Aquarium Animals to an Aquaristic Event

  1. Transportation of aquarium animals must be conducted in accordance with the Act no. 246/1992 Coll., on animal protection against cruelty, as subsequently amended and with the Regulation No. 4/2009, on animal protection during transportation. If transportation to the public exposition is conducted for the purpose of sale, the Council Regulation No. 1/2005 (EC) of 22 December 2004, on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No. 1255/97 must be followed.
  2. Transportation of aquarium animals to an aquaristic event is a responsibility of every breeder - the aquarist themselves. They must especially ensure that, during the transportation, the water, and therefore the transported aquarium fish, in the crates or plastic bags, does not get overheated or undercooled.
  3. Aquarium fish must be transported in water under an air (fish with an accessory respiratory organ) or oxygen atmosphere. They may be transported only in vehicles constructed the way they technically secure their contentment, minimize the possibility of injuring during transportation, enable regular check-ups of the aquarium animals’ conditions, meet the technical requirements and have the equipment prescribed.
  4. During unloading and showing, aquarium animals must be treated with care and prevented from stress caused by rapid change of lightning.
  5. Persons manipulating with aquarium fish must be informed in the area of treating these animals in particular. 

Article 8 - The Means of Securing First Aid and Veterinary Care

  1. At an aquaristic event, the organizer must provide veterinary care for aquarium fish and aquatic animals, including first aid and veterinarian professional services. The veterinarian will be available on the phone so that he could arrive immediately.

Article 9 - The Means of Instructing Persons in Protection of Aquarium Animals Exhibited

The organizer must instruct individuals actively participating in the public exposition, in relation to animal protection and welfare, in accordance with the Act No. 246/1992 Coll., on animal protection against cruelty, as subsequently amended, Regulation No. 5/2009 Coll. §4, on animal protection during a public exposition and breeding, and with these Regulations the following way:

The participants must be instructed verbally before the commencement of the event, which must be endorsed with their signature.

Article 10 - The Reasons for Suspension of a Public Exposition

  1. The organizer is entitled and obliged to
    1. supervise compliance of these Regulations at the venue, require each individual to fulfill the duties stated by these Regulations and, if defects are detected, to rectify them
    2. make sure that aquarium animals, whose behavior might be dangerous for other species present, are  exhibited and held separately
    3. exclude an aquarium animal showing signs of being sick, stressed, or any other negative signs that might lead to suffering of this animal, from the public exposition.

Article 11 - Validity and Effectiveness of the Rules

  1. These Regulations are valid only as amended and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture; changes of these Regulations must be discussed and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture
  2. These Regulations become effective and valid by the day of decision on approval by the Ministry of Agriculture.