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OATA

This coverage focuses on the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) and its role in representing businesses within the UK’s ornamental fish and aquatics sector. Pet Gazette reports on OATA’s policy work, industry guidance, sustainability initiatives, and market insights, as well as its advocacy on behalf of retailers, wholesalers, importers, and distributors. Our coverage provides pet trade professionals with updates on regulatory developments, best practice standards, and opportunities within the aquatic products market.

  • Aug- 2025 -
    8 August
    Trade OrganisationsOATA warns against ‘one-size-fits-all’ fish welfare policy

    OATA warns against ‘one-size-fits-all’ fish welfare policy

    The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has welcomed a call by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) for a code of practice for farmed and ornamental fish, but warned that some of the recommendations could prove “unworkable”. SAWC’s report, Ascribing Sentience to Fish: Potential Policy Implications, supports recognising fish as…

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  • May- 2025 -
    23 May
    AppointmentOATA appoints new finance and office manager

    OATA appoints new finance and office manager

    The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has announced the appointment of Dawn Jones as its new finance and office manager, who will take over from Ray Valovec when he leaves in June. Jones joins from a local accountancy firm where she was personal tax manager and client manager for a…

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  • 15 May
    Trade OrganisationsOATA relaunches biosecurity assessment tool

    OATA relaunches biosecurity assessment tool

    The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has announced that it is relaunching its Business Biosecurity Self-Assessment Tool, now redesigned as a streamlined, easy-to-use online survey. The updated tool guides businesses through a series of simple, tick-box statements covering key areas such as supply chains, quarantining procedures, hygiene measures, wastewater management,…

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  • Apr- 2025 -
    25 April
    Trade OrganisationsOATA calls for simplified tariff regime on US imports

    OATA calls for simplified tariff regime on US imports

    OATA has written to the Department for Business and Trade to raise concerns over potential US retaliatory tariffs, with OATA chief executive Dominic Whitmee urging for a simplified regime and lower tariffs to benefit the UK aquatics industry. In its letter, the trade organisation highlighted three key issues that could…

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  • Dec- 2024 -
    16 December
    Trade OrganisationsOATA appoints two new directors

    OATA appoints two new directors

    The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has welcomed two new directors to its board. Jeremy Gay of Fishkeeping News and Mark Smith of Pets at Home join the 15 other voluntary directors who make up the OATA board. EcoMarines’ Laura Carlin continues in the second year of her two-year stint…

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  • Apr- 2024 -
    3 April
    Trade OrganisationsOATA hits out at ‘so called’ consultation over SVS change status

    OATA hits out at ‘so called’ consultation over SVS change status

    The Ornamental Aquatic Trading Association (OATA) has used its submission to a consultation on Susceptible and Vector Species (SVS) to complain about the way Defra has handled proposed changes to the disease status of a number of popular aquarium fish. OATA claimed that Defra has failed to follow Government Consultation…

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  • Jan- 2024 -
    9 January
    RetailersRetailers urged to discontinue sales of gunnera manicata

    Retailers urged to discontinue sales of gunnera manicata

    Retailers who sell pond plants have been advised to stop selling plants named as gunnera manicata because of the likelihood that many plants under that name are the result of crossing with G.tinctoria, which is banned from sale. Under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 G. tinctoria…

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  • Nov- 2023 -
    7 November
    AppointmentOATA appoints five new board directors

    OATA appoints five new board directors

    OATA has appointed five new directors to its board at the trade association’s annual general meeting which was held on 1 November. Ben Bowles, of Pets at Home, Paul Hughes, of Advanced Aquarium Consulting, Phil Jones of Kingston Koi Company, Max Pedley of Ornamental Aquatics Wholesale, and Maurits van de…

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  • Oct- 2023 -
    12 October
    RetailersHugglePets makes two senior appointments

    HugglePets makes two senior appointments

    Independent pet retailer and wholesaler HugglePets has appointed Frances Marshall as its new online marketplace and data supervisor and Tom Gwilliam as its new sales and marketing director. After 16 years in the pet trade specialising in aquatics and reptiles, Marshall has officially come south to join the team at…

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  • Jul- 2023 -
    19 July
    Trade OrganisationsOATA and NCRW to offer training scheme in inspection

    OATA and NCRW to offer training scheme in inspection

    Ornamental Aquatic Trading Association (OATA) has partnered with the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW) to offer a two-day course for local authority inspectors who undertake animal activities licensing for pet vending establishments. According to OATA, it’s estimated more than three-quarters of all pet shops that require a licence to…

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