Prohibits the importation, breeding or introduction into the wild of Chinese fire belly newts

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the importation, breeding or introduction into the wild of Chinese fire belly newts

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation would prohibit the knowing importation, breeding, or introduction into the wild of Chinese fire belly newts.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new section, 11-0514-a, to prohibit the importation, breeding, or introduction into the wild of Chinese fire belly newts. It also prohibits the possession, trade, sale, transportation, or distribution of Chinese fire belly newts after September 1st, 2016, and allows the Department of Environmental Conservation to adopt rules and regulations necessary to enforce this policy.

Section 2 of the bill establishes that this act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

In an era of increasing globalization, one of the foremost challenges posed to New York's environment is the issue of invasive species. These non-native species pose a unique threat, as their introduction can disrupt a carefully balanced ecosystem by introducing a new predator or disease to which the ecosystem is unable to quickly adjust.

The Chinese fire belly newt carries a skin-eating fungus, known as Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, which has decimated the salamander population of Belgium and the Netherlands, and is expected to spread to other European nations. The fungus, which carries a 96 percent mortality rate among European and American salamanders, reached Europe due to the exportation of Chinese fire belly newts to other nations as pets. If the fungus were to spread to the United States, millions of salamanders will likely die and the extinctions of entire species may occur.

There are already millions of Chinese fire belly newts in the United States thanks to a booming global pet trade. Although scientists have found no trace thus far of this deadly fungus, New York should act quickly and decisively to prohibit the importation or introduction of this non-native species in order to preserve our native populations of salamanders and protect our ecosystem before it becomes too late.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.