Reefs.org Forums

[Gman0526]

Just read about this. Fees will keep increasing up to 2012 (at the moment). Here's the schedule:

http://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/FeeSchedule12092008.pdf

Calculation chart for 2009

http://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/2009Feec ... nchart.pdf

Related info:

http://www.fws.gov/le/AboutLE/Inspectio ... hanges.htm


News release:

http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/sh ... 113A76D5ED

I guess we can expect some prices to rise in the not so distant future

[Checker]

Well don''t move to Australia where they pay $1200 just for the documents (or so I've been told)

Those rates are still dirt cheap

[cortez marine]

I just brought in one, single shipment and exported 5 times out of its produce.
USFWS cost $124.00 each time for a grand total of 600 plus dollars.
They have become a new partner wether we like it or not.
Steve

[Checker]

Would you rather be in Australia?

[cortez marine]

As they are in isloation and with far less competition, they get to pass it forward.
Yellow tangs to the retailer in Australia are $75.00 making them $150.00 + to the public.
Royal grammas are $25.00 to the shops and the mark-up brings them up to $70 to the public!

The fees they pay are what the govt. people can levy with scant knowledge of what they are regulating. They haven't a clue as to what they are looking at most of the time. The inspectors have to ask the ones they are billing to make the simplest of identifications. So if they don't really know what they are doing and hire 'innocents'....what is the $1,000.00 plus fee for in Australia I wonder?
The regulators make the fish a luxury item and make things so expensive only those with the extra income can afford to engage.
Perhaps its sort of a conservation measure.
"Too expensive too buy? Leave it in the ocean?"
Interesting angle.
Steve

[Checker]

As they are in isloation and with far less competition, they get to pass it forward.
Yellow tangs to the retailer in Australia are $75.00 making them $150.00 + to the public.
Royal grammas are $25.00 to the shops and the mark-up brings them up to $70 to the public!

The fees they pay are what the govt. people can levy with scant knowledge of what they are regulating. They haven't a clue as to what they are looking at most of the time. The inspectors have to ask the ones they are billing to make the simplest of identifications. So if they don't really know what they are doing and hire 'innocents'....what is the $1,000.00 plus fee for in Australia I wonder?
The regulators make the fish a luxury item and make things so expensive only those with the extra income can afford to engage.
Perhaps its sort of a conservation measure.
"Too expensive too buy? Leave it in the ocean?"
Interesting angle.
Steve

Those prices look right to me, they have it going on We should follow their lead and raise inspection fees and over all prices It's sad fact you buy a fish for less then you can feed it

[Snailman]

As they are in isloation and with far less competition, they get to pass it forward.
Yellow tangs to the retailer in Australia are $75.00 making them $150.00 + to the public.
Royal grammas are $25.00 to the shops and the mark-up brings them up to $70 to the public!

The fees they pay are what the govt. people can levy with scant knowledge of what they are regulating. They haven't a clue as to what they are looking at most of the time. The inspectors have to ask the ones they are billing to make the simplest of identifications. So if they don't really know what they are doing and hire 'innocents'....what is the $1,000.00 plus fee for in Australia I wonder?
The regulators make the fish a luxury item and make things so expensive only those with the extra income can afford to engage.
Perhaps its sort of a conservation measure.
"Too expensive too buy? Leave it in the ocean?"
Interesting angle.
Steve

Those prices look right to me, they have it going on We should follow their lead and raise inspection fees and over all prices It's sad fact you buy a fish for less then you can feed it

You should be in the fish food business....

[cetled]

the new fees are a real ripoff ,

[PeterIMA]

I agree that the new USFWS fees are unfair to small importers. A large importer importing large volumes probably does not care. But, with a small shipment, the inspection fees may exceed the value of the goods being imported.

Peter

[cortez marine]

As business cuts in half and importers and dealers go out of business ..........the USFWS doubles its rates. This is a metaphor for government in general, no? Not surprising at all.
You see, in their world, if business is slow you can just raise your prices to make up for it. Imagine in the real world trying that.

I asked an agent how business was and he said that business is slow and getting slower. They are literally running out of importers to harrass and threaten in the SF Bay area.
Steve

[Checker]

Just more time they'll (USF&WS) spend looking at you in the BA then Steve

Life isn't fair Peter, I thought you'd have figured that out by now