Press release from the Pet Advocacy Network (PAN), which submitted testimony opposing proposed changes to the Arizona Administrative Code (§ R12-4-406) that would prohibit popular species of pet fish from being owned in the state. PAN argues that the ban is not based science.
Alexandria, Va. – The Pet Advocacy Network (PAN) announced it had submitted testimony to the Arizona Game and Fish Department pushing back against proposed changes to the Arizona Administrative Code that would prohibit popular species of pet fish from being owned in the state.
“Invasive species policy must be science-based, and the state has not met that burden here,” said Sandy Moore, CEO of Pet Advocacy Network. “The state should flush these unjustified restrictions down the toilet.”
The proposed changes would ban ownership of three families of pet fish—family Pimelodidae, family Osteoglossidae, and family Siluridae—to Arizona’s Restricted Live Wildlife code on the grounds that these fish hypothetically could establish an invasive population if they were released into the wild. PAN’s testimony disputes this assertion, noting that state officials do not cite any credible scientific evidence that these fish could actually establish a wild population in Arizona. For example, Glass catfishes, part of Family Siluridae, are tropical and pose no threat of becoming established in Arizona.
The proposed fish restrictions would have a harmful impact on pet businesses, with PAN noting that these fish species “have a direct economic impact of tens of thousands of dollars per year in sales of live fish, and an indirect economic impact in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year of associated products such as fish tanks, filters, heaters, fish food, substrate, decorations, etc.” Additionally, these economic losses would likely affect employment and tax revenue.
The full testimony is available here. PAN’s testimony was prepared with assistance from Art Parola, Esq., an aquatics expert who is the Director of Policy and Strategy for USARK and a member of the Advisory Board of the National Animal Interest Alliance. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will hold a public hearing on Sept. 5, 2025, on the proposed changes.
While this family of fish is not saltwater specific it is worth noting that changes like these are the stepping stones of a pathway for more restrictions to come down effecting saltwater fish keeping as well. We should all advocate for science based understanding for all issues such as these.
