Government Agencies Know Best (paging George Orwell)

[pageclan at msn.com]

In article <4829 at nwjones.demon.co.uk>,
  Neil at NWJONES.DEMON.CO.UK wrote:
>
> As the original posting whihc this criticises was forwarded here I am copying
> this also.
>
> Forwarded message follows:
>
> > From: Bob Flanders <bflanders at aphis.usda.gov>
> > To: dplex-l at raven.cc.ukans.edu
> > Subject: REPORT ON SEPT 20 MONARCH RELEASE -Reply
> >
> > I am a bit concerned about this release!  Yes, I issued a USDA permit to
> > move field-collected monarchs from California to Oregon for release as
> > part of what was described as a special study on the migratory behavior
> > of  monarchs.  I was not aware that it was going to be turned into a
> > media event!  Except for research studies, I do not issue permits for
> > interstate transport of field collected organisms to accomplish
> > environmental releases.  As has been repeatedly discussed on this and
> > several other list-servers, movement of field-collected materials for
> > subsequent release raises too many questions concerning co-transport
> > of diseases, parasites, genetically distinct subpopulations, etc.  I have
no
> > problem with collection and release of local materials, but increasingly
> > common commercial field collections, interstate movements, and releases
> > are causing a great deal of concern in scientific and regulatory circles.
> > In this particular example, how can the results of the tagging be analyzed
> > when the adult monarchs have been artificially transported several
> > hundred miles from their original, natural location?  Was this a legitimate
> > scientific or educational endeavor?  Were the actual and potential risks
> > acceptable relative to the apparent benefits?  I would certainly
> > appreciate a discussion of these issues.
> >
> > The recent commercialization of such activities is now forcing USDA and
> > several State Departments of Agriculture to reexamine their previous
> > hands-off approach.   Under the Federal Plant Pest Act, USDA is now
> > requiring permits for commercial shipments between States for all native
> > butterflies, including the monarch. Information on permitting will be
placed
> > on our website at "http://aphis.usda.gov/ppq/bats/permits" during the
> > next few weeks.
> >
> > Robert V. Flanders, Ph.D.
> > USDA APHIS PPQ
> > Riverdale, MD  20737
> >

Let me get this straight -- a few guys, with a few extra letters behind
their names,  happen to know what is best for the rest of us and the
populations of lepidoptera?  Not only that, they have somehow managed to
get the POWER to enforce their decisions?  I am not a commercial
producer/breeder of butterflies but I would be hopping mad about the
intrusion of govt. into my business.  Let the commercial raising of
lepidoptera regulate itself.  Private breeders are creating a market for
lepidoptera and thus insuring the survival of many species.

What are you talking about releasing populations into the wild?  We can
learn a lot about migration by following these releases.

Barbara Page
amateur entomologist and educator

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