Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 3:06 pm on 28 September 2022.
Thank you, Minister. As you are aware, it is still, unfortunately, common practice for goldfish to be given as prizes in Wales at showgrounds, fetes and other events, in what are dubbed as 'spur-of-the-moment games'. Very often, due to lack of preparation on the new owner's part, fish given away as prizes often suffer quite badly. They can sadly experience shock and oxygen starvation, and they can even die from changes in their water temperature, which leads to many of them dying before they even arrive at their new would-be homes. Furthermore, people who are given goldfish as prizes do not normally have an aquarium already set up at home, so may keep their fish in unsuitable environments, and some may even get illegally dumped in local waterways. Nine of Wales's 22 councils have already taken direct action at preventing pets, usually goldfish, from being given out as prizes, and this follows on from an RSPCA campaign last year, where about 9,000 residents asked their local authorities to ban this practice. I believe, in England, 27 councils have taken action in implementing restrictions or outright bans. However, in Wales, national legislation remains the best option to end this practice completely, and with this in mind, Minister, will you provide an update on the Welsh Government's view of a national ban on animals being given as prizes? Thank you.