Australia: Woman jailed for importing shrimp

**2Toned** · 5th Feb 2011, 10:58 PM

Hi Folks,

This is my second thread after saying "Hello from Sydney" and I thought I'd use my second to set the stage for future postings by trying to explain to you how lucky you are to have access to the broad range of amazing shrimp that I have seen on this forum.

The following news story was a VERY HOT topic on one of our Aussie forums, of which I am a member. Have a read and see what I mean.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...orting-shrimp/

In my intro Blacksheep998 asked about our Bio-security Laws. Well, I think this sums it up!

Also, let it be a warning: should someone in Australia ask you to send them shrimp or help them bring them here, don't do it! I would love more species of shrimp to keep, but alas, the law says no

**Fento** · 5th Feb 2011, 11:10 PM

O.O' poor lady... Does anybody know another law like that wich forbides importation from other countries? ... just in case

**imke_j** · 6th Feb 2011, 04:32 AM

Thanks for sharing this important news with the shrimp keeper community, I will put it on my blog. It shows that even if (perhaps) you don't know if shipping shrimp to other countries is illegal or not, you are responsible for what you do. Although I think that it's a real hard punishment - they should have given her a monetary penalty IMO.

**cllui** · 6th Feb 2011, 06:01 AM

Wow...
Thanks for the information!

**slugzed** · 7th Feb 2011, 07:11 AM

well that definately sucks. but laws are laws... obey it and you'll be fine.

**murival** · 14th Feb 2011, 09:37 AM

tsk tsk..poor lady

**jp07** · 14th Feb 2011, 07:59 PM

Ya I saw that article as well. It's sad really. People get less punishment for more serious crimes. But rules are rules I guess.

**2Toned** · 14th Feb 2011, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by jp07

Ya I saw that article as well. It's sad really. People get less punishment for more serious crimes. But rules are rules I guess.

Australia takes it's bio-security VERY seriously!

Introduced species have the potential to devastate our sensitive ecology, that has been isolated from evolutionary competitive forces for millions of years. And introduced diseases have the potential to cripple our exports, which are relied upon to be disease free.

**jp07** · 15th Feb 2011, 01:19 AM

Mate I have nothing against the tough laws. They are there for a reason. But don't you think it's a bit of a joke when someone get bash and end up in a coma. The person that is responsible gets away with a suspended sentence.

**2Toned** · 15th Feb 2011, 03:29 AM

The workings of the criminal justice system completely baffle me - I don't envy the decision making judge, at all!

But it appears that Bio-security Australia consider live organism smuggling akin to drug smuggling.