Ornamental fish, invertebrates and plants are sold and carried home in plastic bags.

OATA has arranged for the manufacture and distribution of plastic bags carrying information to ensure the welfare of the organisms purchased and to help avoid members of the public causing inadvertent harm to the environment.

DUMPING PLANT WASTE IS CRIMINAL

"Fly tipping" is waste illegally deposited on land. Normally the term is associated with the dumping of rubble, old fridges and beds by the road side or in gateways down country lanes. During 2008/9 local authorities reported almost 1,000 cases of "green fly tipping" a week. We have probably seen old grass mowings, hedge cuttings and this years bedding plants dumped in hedgerows – in the eyes of the law these are just as criminal as any other type of fly tipping. As some of this material might take root, seed or otherwise grow and multiply unlike a pile of building rubble it can spread.

A "Fly tipper" is in effect a "litter lout" by another name. We can help make sure that disposing of garden or pond waste in the wild is seen for what is – unacceptable anti-social behaviour.

ORNAMENTAL FISH AND PLANTS BOUGHT FOR AQUARIUMS AND PONDS MUST NEVER BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD

ABANDONING FISH IN THE WILD IS CRUEL

Releasing ornamental fish (and other animals) to the wild is very likely to be cruel. Ornamental fish because they have been raised in captivity and their changed body colours and shapes are not well suited to life in the wild. Some will be picked off by local predators; others will be unable find food and will die of starvation while others may succumb to disease. Most will die either a brutal or lingering death. Any that survive to breed may become invasive.

See also: "pet fish belong..."
See also: invasive plants