importing koi to Canada

[lyeric100]

Hi All. I've been lurking and learning from you all for a few months now - Thank You! I've had garden pond koi for about 10 years now and want to step up to some nicer fish. There doesn't seem to be much selection locally, so I was thinking of importing some from the U.S. Has anyone done this, and how difficult would it be?

Mary

[diamond*girl]

Hi, I've done extensive research on this matter - you are unfortunate to live in BC as they are the only province to have regulations involving the importing of koi at this time.

Here is the info:

Here are the facts as I know them. The rules are the same for commercial importers and for hobbyists; and no matter how many koi you bring in.

The regulating agency is DFO (Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

The website with their contacts is here:

http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/int.../contact_e.htm

We called Mark Higgins. You need a permit from DFO to import any koi into BC from any other country, including the US and from all other provinces in Canada. The permit is free of charge. This is what you would show at the border crossing if you are driving or at the airport if you are flying them in. The permit is good for about two weeks and only covers one "shipment" of koi. You would call one of the contacts in the link above to apply for this permit.

You then need to get the koi inspected. We spoke to Bill Bennet of Nanaimo, who is the koi inspector for Vancouver Island, where I live. It turns out he is an acquaintance of ours and we didn't know that was one of his jobs!

He told us three inspections are needed. One, to inspect the quarantine facility where the koi will be kept. It must be separate from your main pond and other koi.

The second visit is to inspect the koi as soon as possible after it comes to this facility/pond.

The third visit is about two weeks after to check the fishes health (visual check)

Bill told us that he does not charge for these visits but is going to in the future ($150 for three inspections). Inspectors in other areas set their own fees.

Active certified Koi Inspectors – August 2007

Bill Bennett
2870 Wildberry Rd.
Ladysmith B.C. V9G 1C7
Ph. (250) 722-2584
Fax. N/A
mailto:billfish@nanaimo.ark.com


Matt Freeborn
2386 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2E5
Phone: (604) 777-0835
Fax: N/A
mailtoolypterus2@hotmail.com


Paul Koit
3139 Kingsway
Vancouver, B.C. V5R 5J9
Ph. (604) 435-0222
Fax. (604) 435-5825
mailtoaulkoit@telus.net

Dr. Laverne DeYaeger
Rutland Pet Hospital
260 Highway 33 West
Kelowna, B.C. V1X 1X7
Ph. (250) 765-2916
Fx. (250) 765-2911


Dr. Lorne Carroll
#100-5500 Wharf Street
PO Box 558
Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0
Ph. (604) 885-2309
Fx: (604) 885-7512


Hope this helps.
Cheers.

[MikeM]

Well, that's one way to get folks to set up a quarantine pond.

[lyeric100]

Hi DiamondGirl

Thank you for all the information! Have you actually brought in some fish? I'm still not detered, I would love to have a couple of "real" koi.

[gspotmc]

Quote: Originally Posted by lyeric100 Hi All. I've been lurking and learning from you all for a few months now - Thank You! I've had garden pond koi for about 10 years now and want to step up to some nicer fish. There doesn't seem to be much selection locally, so I was thinking of importing some from the U.S. Has anyone done this, and how difficult would it be? Mary

Mary,
I think one KB member named Eugeneg is from Canada. He sells kois
Michael

[diamond*girl]

Quote: Originally Posted by lyeric100 Hi DiamondGirl Thank you for all the information! Have you actually brought in some fish? I'm still not detered, I would love to have a couple of "real" koi.

No, I'm new to koi. After these last couple years researching I wished to have some quality koi as well, so I did the research and am very discouraged. Even after you go through the hassle and expense, what if they claim your koi don't pass the inspections? What if they have come down with something that is treatable, but the gov't says no?

So I think I will buy local koi, and go through a few years of learning curve before I attempt to import nicer fish. I am close to West Coast Koi in Victoria, largest breeder of koi in Canada, and, though I don't believe they have show quality fish, they do have a very large selection of decent and clean koi.

Michael, the import rules are in effect for BC even for fish coming in from other parts of Canada.

Cheers,
DG

[Graham]

There are a number of people importing koi into Canada and some have decent ones too...you're problem is that you live in BC and are subject to all the rules and regs that they can impose.

West Coast koi imports and breeds, I can't think of her company name but a dealer named Dayleen, she's inland somewhere, also imports and goes through the BS.

The rest of us have no problem importing but have a problem finding US dealers that are capable of and willing to export....9/11 messed things up big time for moving fish around

G

[diamond*girl]

There is a dealer in Alberta, Canada that has some really nice looking fish on their website. Quality?
If someone would take a look for me and comment on the fish and the prices, I would be very grateful.

KOI CANADA

It would, conceivably, be possible for us BC'ers to drive to Alberta to pick up fish and avoid any, as they say, Imperial entanglements.

They also carry Manda Fu - maybe the only place in Canada that does - which I'd like to try.

[Graham]

I don't think the prices are bad comsidering where they are. I do think he needs to get out more and learn the use of the word ''rare''. There is not one fish there that's rare.

As to the food; never heard of it...what's on the ingredient list, what's the protein level??

[palpatine]

i have personally bought koi from koi canada. i am still very new to the hobby but i was impressed by his fish. really nice guy to deal with also. he also sells manda fu for $50 if you buy fish from him