The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has warned that aquatic shops and wholesalers could be forced to euthanise their livestock if rocketing energy bills make their businesses unviable.
The trade body has written to the Prime Minister to alert him to the huge difficulties facing businesses in the home aquarium industry if nothing is done to support them through the energy crisis.
Like many businesses, aquatics firms face huge energy bill hikes to keep their tanks heated and maintained but this is coupled with mounting concerns over how to manage the inevitable animal welfare issues if they are forced to close, says OATA. In addition, increasing numbers of pet owners also closing down their tanks, meaning aquatic shops are facing more requests than normal to rehome pet fish.
The organisation is also asking aquatics businesses to add their voice to the campaign by writing to their local MPs to highlight their plight.
OATA chief executive Dominic Whitmee said: “We have heard of businesses facing 300-400% price increases in their energy bills – just one example we’ve heard is a business’s monthly bills going from just under £4,000 to £15,000, while another wholesaler is facing an increase of a million pounds a year.
“These sorts of cost increases are unsustainable for any company but when you look after live animals you can’t just switch off and turn your back on your business. That means many businesses will face a critical dilemma about what to do with the livestock they hold, raising a very serious risk of mass euthanasia.
“This issue is becoming extremely serious and we believe the aquatics industry is the hardest hit of all in the pet sector because of its energy requirements. We are asking the Prime Minister to take urgent and meaningful action soon. Without it there is no doubt we will witness many aquarium businesses closing their doors for good, leaving employees without work during a time of crisis, and millions of pet fish at risk of euthanasia because there is not the ability to rehome them like other pets.”
