The release of ornamental species to the wild is an issue that has been raised by officials from bodies such as the Environment Agency and DEFRA. The "Pet Fish Poster" has been given wide publicity in the hobby press as well as being distributed to members and displayed in their business premises. Copies have been sent to zoos, marine centres, DEFRA, The Environment Agency and welfare groups.

The poster reinforces OATA's previous statements that fish imported on ornamental fish licenses should not be used for angling, or released into the wild.

The issue of alien species has been a subject of interest in a number of international meetings, including the Convention on Biodiversity. This interest has covered plants and terrestrial animals as well as fish and other aquatic life. These discussions will, no doubt, note the widespread distribution of farmed fish such as the rainbow trout, brown trout and carp. These species are always widely released into the wild for sport fisheries. Another method of transfer and release had been government schemes aimed at mosquito eradication, when insectivorous fish have been moved in large numbers to new areas.