Importing Fish into Bermuda

I am often asked what the requirements are for importing tropical fish into Bermuda. I therefore thought I would write an article to explain things.

First of all, saltwater fish and invertebrates cannot be imported under any circumstances. The law prohibits such imports to protect our own marine environment. Neither can (locally caught) saltwater animals be sold. Anyone wishing to keep a marine aquarium must be prepared to catch their own fish. There are also specific guidelines on what can and cannot be taken from the ocean. Anyone considering collecting marine animals is strongly advised to research the law and regulations first.

Importing freshwater fish is permitted but there are regulations that must be adhered to. As with any other animal, an import permit is required to bring fish into the island. That permit is obtained from the Bermuda Government Department of the Environment. Generally, a health certificate must be produced for the fish before the import permit is issued. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the fishes’ arrival in Bermuda. A few years ago, the only way to get a health certificate was from a vet. That proved to be virtually impossible, as most vets refused to sign off on fish as they didn't have the requisite knowledge. In 1990, I telephoned every vet listed in the yellow pages in the area of Chicago near the American Cichlid Association (ACA) convention. None were prepared to sign a health certificate for fish!

On behalf of the Bermuda Fry-Angle A.S., I lobbied for a change to the regulations. The Director of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (now Environment) was sympathetic when considering the problems that we were encountering. Following discussions, the department introduced the concept of "authorised fish examiners" (AFE). The new rules allowed for "experts" in the tropical fish world to sign a health certificate for fish. Persons wishing to be accepted as an AFE must submit a notarised application to the Bermuda Dept. of the Environment, listing their qualifications or experience. If accepted, the notarized signature is kept on file at the department. Persons who have been accepted as AFE include Dr. Paul Loiselle, Dr. Wayne Leibel, and Mr. Rusty Wessel – all notable experts in the cichlid hobby. When the scheme was established, the director indicated that they would not sign up individuals who ran exporting facilities or pet-stores, as the department felt it was a conflict for them to attest to the health of fish that they were selling.
The people that we have signed up are primarily contacts that we see at the American Cichlid Convention every year, or speakers who regularly come to Bermuda to give talks. It is virtually guaranteed that there will always be an AFE on hand at the ACA conventions, so Bermuda residents will be able to have their fish examined and a health certificate issued if they attend the convention.

A potential problem arose in 1999, when I was planning to collect fish in Lake Malawi, Africa. It was obvious that there would be no fish-vets in the area I was visiting, and no AFE. I therefore submitted my own application and was accepted as an AFE. To my knowledge, I am the only Bermuda resident who is an AFE. My status as an AFE allowed me to bring back fish from subsequent collecting trips to Mexico and Peru.

So, great strides have been taken to facilitate the importation of fish from conventions and collecting trips, and a number of club members have benefited. However, I often hear from fish-keepers who want to order fish from overseas and have them shipped in. Technically, fish can be ordered and shipped to Bermuda using an AFE. Practically, it is not that easy.

The challenge would be locating an AFE who lives close to the potential fish supplier. The AFE would have to be in a position to visit the supplier and examine the fish that are ear-marked for shipment to Bermuda. A health certificate would have to be submitted before the department will issue an import permit. The challenge in the process is to find a convenient AFE that is prepared to assist you. Alternately, you may be able to find a large fish supplier that has a vet on their staff. However, such a large supplier may not be interested in shipping a single box of fish to Bermuda. You would at least have to fill a box to make the freight costs worthwhile.

If you are able to get a permit, then air-freight is the best way to get fish here. However, you would need to order from a supplier who is close to an airport that services Bermuda. You wouldn’t want your fish to be bumped from a connecting flight and sit on a runway somewhere. You can complete the necessary paperwork yourself at the Customs facility at the airport and collect the fish from the freight shed within an hour or so of them landing. You would pay extra to have a forwarding company do it for you.

Few people air-freight their own fish into Bermuda. Most of the club members rely on club auctions or ACA conventions. We have a great selection of cichlids and other fishes coming through the auctions on a regular basis, which adds to the normal choice available at the pet-stores. Auction prices in Bermuda are usually not cheap. Usually, members who want something unusual are prepared to pay for them. I’m sure the auctions are one of the main attractions for our members.
Consideration should also be given to approaching the local pet-stores and special ordering the species that you are looking for. In my experience, the stores are usually willing to bring in whatever you want. I’m very mindful of the tremendous support that the Noah’s Ark store provides to our club. We need to ensure that we put some business their way to make it a mutually beneficial relationship.

Now you know the ins and outs of getting fish to Bermuda. You will have to decide for yourself what the best option is for your particular need. You could do a lot worse than joining the Bermuda Fry-Angle A.S. and taking advantage of the auctions, as well as the trading that sometimes occurs between members.