Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA Ltd)

06/05/2026

Have you downloaded our QR code labels that offer an instant link to our range of caresheets?

Unfortunately we’ve had issues with some of the QR codes not working so we’ve created new sets of labels for all 60+ caresheets. That means you will need to download fresh QR code sheets to display on shop tanks or in store, if you are using them.

You can find them on our website at the bottom of our Customer Care Sheet page.

And if you haven’t downloaded them yet – well now’s the right time! They are designed to give your customers instant access to care information about a wide range of fish, coral and other aquatic species – right there on their smartphone.

It will help your customers and show local authority inspectors you’re meeting animal activity licensing conditions.

Find a link to the QR codes in the comments below.

05/05/2026

We’re very pleased to announce that we are a sponsor for this year’s National Pet Shop Day!

This will be the third year for this fantastic campaign which is all about celebrating and supporting pet shops and all they do!

Our Chief Exec Dr Matt Bond says: “We know how vital pet shops are to the fishkeeping hobby. Shops that sell fish are important places to inspire the next generation because getting the chance to see these beautiful creatures swimming around is quite mesmerising. We’re very pleased to put our weight behind this campaign which seeks to shine a light on the importance of bricks and mortar pet shops and the part they play in educating owners in picking the right pet and caring for it properly.”

National Pet Shop Day takes place on Saturday July 11 and we’d urge all aquatic retailers to sign up and get on the map! You’ll get updates about the day, advice on how to make the most of your participation, including ideas and resources to share on your customer channels to help you get more people into your shop on the day!

We’d love to see lots of aquatic retailers showcasing what you do and we’ll happily share what you’re up to! Find a link to the campaign website in the comments or on our website!

01/05/2026

We are very pleased that the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) is extending its fee hold until 31 May. It had originally agreed to put an element of its fee increase – planned to come into effect on 1st April – on hold until the end of April but this has now been extended for another month. We have continued to provide evidence to HARC about ongoing issues so we’d like to thank the team at the HARC for listening and responding to our concerns, especially as the flights available to fish importers are very limited in comparison to other imports entering Heathrow.

We’ll carry on discussing these proposed fee increases with HARC particularly as importers remain concerned about the disruption of flights caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

30/04/2026

We have new ways to pay for OATA membership and our City & Guilds-accredited training programmes. We've added PayPal as an option - and annual direct debits for membership. PayPal offer the ability to split payments so that means you can spread the cost of our annual membership and training programme fees, making it much more convenient!

29/04/2026

We're pleased to say our Scientific Support Officer Leigh-Marie Hobday has passed her OATA City & Guilds-accredited Advanced Programme with flying colours.... of course!

She said: "Going through the course myself has proved a valuable experience. It gave me the opportunity to step into the learner's perspective, while also strengthening my existing knowledge- particularly in aquarium operations and husbandry practices.

"Experiencing the training first hand reinforced the importance of accessible high-quality education within the aquatic industry- something I am passionate about.

"It has also been great to see how our courses can support a wide range of roles beyond retail staff in aquarium shops, including pet shop inspectors, store managers and consultants across the sector.

"I am looking forward to putting this into practice as I continue my journey towards becoming an OATA course assessor, and contributing to education and professional development across all aquatic sectors."

28/04/2026

Thanks to Pond Life Aquatics for sharing this, and the longer YouTube video he mentions is also worth a watch. Please sign the petition - we really want to show the support there is to our Say No To Pet Bans campaign. All links in the comments.👇👇

27/04/2026

Is your business based in Scotland and Wales? Then you’ll know there are elections coming in May. So please check out our Say No To Pet Bans campaign, take part and share it with your customers. Let’s make sure the wannabe politicians understand the issues when it comes to fishkeeping and pets.

Find more about the campaign on our website.

24/04/2026

Our Chief Executive Dr Matthew Bond has been looking through the manifestos for the main political parties in the Scottish & Welsh elections coming up soon. Here's his take on what he found! Find links to the petition and our joint manifesto that he mentions in the comments below.

23/04/2026

OATA has coordinated a joint response to send to several Government departments raising issues with the recent consultation on the Wildlife Trade Regulations.

The letter, which was written in conjunction with other pet trade and keeper organisations, expressed concerns about how certain CITES requirements are in opposition to Government targets supporting small businesses, without bringing any tangible conservation benefit.

The letter called on the Government to rethink its approach and commit to target deregulation in certain areas, for example Article 10 certificates. The letter also highlighted the failure to enforce current regulations, which again demonstrates how the additional rules are not working and actually and end up costing legitimate businesses. You can read the full letter on our website.

Joint letter raises concerns over continuing CITES rules Posted by Pauline Davey | Apr 13, 2026 | Latest News | 0 | OATA has coordinated a joint response to a number of Government departments raising issues with the recent consultation on the Wildlife Trade Regulations. The letter, which was written...