[Werner]

While we touched on it briefly here there is much work to be done on a reporting level.

We must first recognize which part of the industry we're addressing. Starting with Breeders: While there are a few good Domestic Breeders, the majority is as opportunistic as any used car salesman. From:" Throw a couple of breeders into a mud pond and sell everything that hatches save for a few obviously deformed fish, or get a couple of endorsements from some gods in the industry and happily sell even diseased fish to the masses, or the backyard breeder that knows little and sells everything, including diseased fish, to pet shops and other unsuspecting or unscrupulous retailers” I see them all, every day, plying their brand of marketing and shoddy products, with no negative consequences whatsoever.

The import market, except for the Japanese, has and is losing their credibility and product quality at an increasing rate. Fish shipped from all corners of the earth, to Mega Stores without any fish, never mind Koi holding facilities, are sold to the unsuspecting customer every day.
Only the Japanese seem to have a tight reign on their Brokers, quality of shipment and arrival quarantine, but I really don’t import enough fish, to have a definitive opinion. My purchases from a few Japanese Koi brokers proved to be excellent.

Fish Brokers, offering differing breeds—the middlemen---in general, the more types of fish they offer, the more possibility of sick, diseased Koi. In my pet shop days and up to the present day, I’ve seen many of this type of Broker sending diseased fish to the unwary pet shop owner, to be sold to the naïve customer.

Retailers vary in types from the Mom & Pop operation to the Mega Mart. I believe that you will get the best service and products from a small operation that specializes in Koi and Ponds, graduating toward complete ignorance at the Mega Mart level. Large retailers have no financial or marketing consequences by eliminating a small part of their business, while the specialized shop will lose their livelihood.

I personally hate government interference into our business, but, unless we regulate ourselves, it’s coming and it’s coming quickly. For years I’ve been trying to organize a Nationwide Retailer, Broker and Breeder network, with no success. The network would be staffed by a round robin of volunteers from the different business entities. The Association would start disseminating information about good or bad product, Breeders, Brokers and Dealers, with an eye toward creating a stamp of approval (seal, plaque, award) for the good guys out there.

A perfect solution, no, but it’s a start. Anyone interested?