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The promotion of responsible pet ownership is central to the role of trade associations. Whether it's a poster explaining to the general public, that pet fish belong in aquariums and garden ponds rather than lakes and rivers, or how to set up aquaria and ponds or how to effectively transport your fish home from the retail outlet.

As a trade association, OATA is involved in providing individual and industry training through our Distance Learning Packages.

The following description of our aims appears in our "Memorandum of Association" which is an official document lodged with the relevant body Companies House in the UK.

"To protect and promote the interests of all those engaged in the ornamental aquatic trade or industry, and in particular, but without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, the interests of all those engaged in the commercial breeding, importation or sale (whether by wholesale or retail) of any food stuffs, medicines, veterinary or other preparations, products, machinery, equipment or services connected or associated with the keeping of aquatic livestock, by doing all such acts and things as are or may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of such object ives, or which encourage or enhance the reputation of those engaged in the ornamental aquatic trade or industry, or which may encourage responsible livestock ownership, and by the provision of facilities for the education and training of individuals in any activity related to the ornamental aquatic trade or industry."

The object s listed in the last three lines of this paragraph are particularly important in our work. As an association we do not wish to maintain the "status quo", but rather drive standards up. In the meantime ensuring opportunities for responsible sustainable trade are not unnecessarily restricted.