Pet owners in Japan should hold on to their pond slider turtles and red swamp crayfish even after they are officially designated as invasive alien species this summer.
As the creatures have a negative impact on the ecosystem, the government will implement a decree designating them as invasive alien species "with conditions" under the Invasive Alien Species Law on June 1.
The newly created designation means these species can still be kept as pets, but releasing them into the wild will be prohibited.
If individuals do release them into the wild, including cases in which the pets escape, they may face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen.
The two species are originally from North America and are highly fertile, harming the environment by outcompeting native species.
Both are popular as pets. It is estimated that 5.4 million of the crayfish and 1.6 million of the turtles are being kept as pets in Japan.
Previously, a designation as an invasive alien species would prohibit individuals not only from releasing the creature into the wild but also from keeping them as a pet. This raised concern that some owners might abandon their pets ahead of the redesignation as an invasive alien species.
In light of this, the government revised the Invasive Alien Species Law to enable designation as invasive alien species "with conditions" by government decree to allow them to be kept as pets.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
