An Open Letter to the senate

Senators, 

We at Trident Aquatic Solutions have learned of the proposed amendment to the (2008) Lacey Act which is HIDDEN in the (2022) COMPETES Act. Contrary to many of our peers in the industry we actually support this bill, but for reasons that might contrast your own. As a full time coral aquaculture center we do not rely on international imports, and we exist to support the needs of our clients from Illinois and the tri-state area. 

The fact that this 3,000 page amendment had to be “grandfathered” into the COMPETES act instead of being taken to a vote on its own is a concerning issue for another time.  

This letter is meant to highlight our gravest concerns with this amendment, as well as to enlighten you to the extreme levels of harm the passing of this amendment would have on the American people, our industry, and all legitimate wildlife trades. 

The only benefit the passing of this amendment could bring is lowering the demand for species not ‘whitelisted’. This could lead to a rebounding of several endangered or threatened species in their natural habitat. However, in our industry an awareness exists that the natural habitat of the reef species we collect and grow is largely poisoned. Natural reefs have been severely impacted by atmospheric changes as well as temperature differentials of the last several decades. These parameter swings lead to the environment becoming not only unsuitable but detrimental for these delicate creatures. 

A large percentage of foreign marine livestock exporters have already ceased coral exporting due to dwindling supply and government enforced trade bans. Our Industry is headed to a time where it will be nearly completely domestic, a change we hope to encourage as these international shipping regulations gain traction. 

The passing of this amendment would severely impact the livelihoods of every employee of nearly all pet shops, veterinary clinics, manufacturers of pet goods, groomers and general pet maintenance companies. We estimate immediate job losses across all 50 states would exceed 5 figures, with a snowball effect which could lead to tens of thousands more job losses. 

Coupling the potential loss of income for many, there would also be a severely high cost for policing such regulations. Exotic animal experts would be required to identify suspect shipments at every harbor, airport, railway station as well as on every interstate or state border. The costs would be colossal and most certainly unsustainable without a noticeable increase in income tax for all Americans. 

This limbo period in which suspect shipments are verified to be on the whitelist would cause many more susceptible species to die while waiting to be identified. Both whitelisted and illicit animals would die, making our current situation much more dire. 

The biggest issue we have with this proposed amendment is how it stifles off-site conservationists like ourselves from safeguarding the legacy of the oceans. Off-Site Conservationists  do not rely on international or interstate shipments, we rely on our partners (hobbyists and local businesses) to diversify our collections.  

Essentially, we have a decentralized reef across the United States. It exists on no maps and no one can harvest these animals. This reef is special, and exists from coast to coast, from your neighbors living room to lobbies in businesses and hospitals in all 50 states. This proposed amendment would essentially be terminating the largest off-site conservation attempt humanity has made in its history. 

The idea that any reef or marine creatures would be considered injurious or invasive to the inland portions of the country (where no natural reef has existed for approximately 419 million years) is undoubtedly misguided. Using this terminology to force such trade bans is an exhibition of government overreach fueled by a lack of scientific understanding on the matter. We intend to increase the visibility of this amendment, the underhanded way it was proposed and the suffering it will cause for the American people. 

This is a dangerous and extremely damaging piece of legislature and it must not be passed. 

Please listen to your constituents, deny the passing of the ‘Whitelist’ amendment to the (2008) Lacey Act hidden in the (2022) COMPETES Act. 

Regards, 

Trident Aquatic Solutions LLP 

5010 W Elm st Mchenry, il 60050  

(815) 900-2283  

Contact@tridentreefs.com