Rules

1. Purpose
   1. To encourage members of the aquarium society to breed fish and share knowledge concerning the spawning and rearing of fish.
   2. To recognize the achievements of society members concerning the breeding of fish.
   3. To promote an interest in and make available a wider variety of fish.
   4. To make more members active participants in the society.
2. BAP Point Awards
   1. Spawns may be registered from any class or combination of classes in the achievement of BAP awards at all levels.
   2. Beginning Breeder Award: a Certificate will be awarded upon accumulation of 25 BAP points or successful rearing of the minimum number of fry from each of 3 spawns.
   3. Plaques or trophies or other awards will be awarded to breeders in the following categories:
      1. Breeder Award -- 100 points
         
      2. Intermediate Breeder Award -- 250 points
         
      3. Advanced Breeder Award -- 500 points
         
      4. Expert Breeder Award -- 750 points
         
      5. Master Breeder Award -- 1000 points
         
      6. Grand Master Breeder Award -- 1500 points
         
      7. Life Master Breeder Award -- 2000 points
         
3. Special (non-point) Awards
   1. No fish may be entered for a special award that has not also/already been submitted to the BAP program for points.
   2. Rookie-of-the-Year - An award will be given to the new BAP participant who successfully spawns and BAPs the most fish in the 12 months following his or her first BAP entry. The eligibility of a rookie participant whose first BAP occurs in January will end in December. The eligibility of a rookie participant whose first BAP occurs in February will end in January. The award will be given in January and will include only those participants whose eligibility ends during the previous year. All participants of any age are eligible for the Rookie-of-the-Year Award. In case of a tie for the most spawns, the highest BAP point total wins.
   3. Breeder-of-the-Year - An award will be given to the BAP participant who has the highest BAP point total in any given calendar year. The award will be given in January. In case of a tie for BAP points, the breeder with the fewest spawns (averages the highest points per spawn) wins. A participant may be awarded both the Rookie-of-the-Year and the Breeder-of-the-Year awards in the same year.
   4. Specialization Award - An aquarist must spawn 6 different members of one family of fish (for example: Barbs, Tetras, Cichlids) or 6 different and distinct trade recognized colors and/or fin types (example: gold, black, blushing, silver, etc. varieties of Angle fish) or 6 of one Genus of fish (such as Hyphessobrycon, Cichlasoma, Poecilia, etc.) and points received in Genus categories cannot be used for general point categories nor transferred if the attempt is later aborted. Before an attempt at a specialization award will be recognized, it must be cleared with the BAP Chair(s) and fully defined as to your intentions. The most favorable type of specialization is very narrowly defined, such as that for spawning from one Genus group (such as Haplochromines) or from a very difficult set of fish (such as Crenicichla). The idea behind specialization is to make it a challenge and not just a trophy chase. Entrants to the specialization program must also BAP their fish. Specialization breeders are required to bring a bag containing at least 4 minimum 60 day old fry to the general society meeting for auction. The Specialization registration sheet must have a section completed for each fish so registered and must be brought with the fish to the meeting for the BAP Chairs to sign. The participant is fully responsible for this sheet until the full 6 spawnings are completed. Specialization fry may be from the same spawn as those turned in for BAP points but must be in a separate bag (two bags with a minimum of 4 fry in each will cover both awards).
   5. Diversification Award - An award will be given for diversity in breeding. To receive this award, the participant must have received BAP points for at least one fish from each of the following categories: The participant will be responsible for informing the BAP committee of the completion of this award.
      1. Livebearers
      2. Anabantids
      3. Cyprinids
      4. Cichlids
      5. Characins
      6. Killifish
      7. Catfish
      8. Rainbowfish
      9. Gobies
      10. Other
   6. Marine Awards - Any successful spawn of a true marine fish and the subsequent raising of at least one (1) fry to at least 30 days post hatch will receive an award. The eggs (eggs, roe, or plankton) must be verified by a member of the BAP Committee as well as the fry at 30 days post hatch to receive a Recognition Award. Auctioning of the fry will not be required unless 4 fry survive to 60 days post hatch and the breeder wishes to obtain BAP point recognition. At that time, normal BAP guidelines are to be followed to receive points for the fish.
4. Rules and Program Definitions
   1. Eligibility:
   1. A fish may only be turned-in once for points by any one participant. Both species and subspecies of fish in a Genus that are recognized as naturally occurring are accepted and given full points.
   2. The name of a fish, scientifically, is recognized as Genus-species-subspecies. A subspecies, as accepted by the BAP Committee, is a naturally occurring population different from another subspecies only in color or geographic location (found in different places). Subspecies recognized by the BAP program are those found in publications acceptable to the BAP Chairs. If the 'scientific community' later recognizes a fish (subspecies) to be a truly different species, or the taxonomic name(s) are changed, the BAP Committee will reclassify each animal appropriately.
   3. All fish MUST be registered by scientific name. If you know that the scientific name has changed recently, please add all of the previous synonyms to the BAP Report that you know it used to be called by. This will be helpful when pointing your fish.
   4. If changes in name, or point value assigned, result in a subspecies being elevated to full species status, and/or in increased point value, the burden of proof falls onto the participant. Written proof must be presented for the change. Word-of-mouth or consensus vote is not acceptable.
   5. Eggs must be obtained from your own spawning and not purchased from an outside source, such as the A.K.A. (American Killifish Association). Any Paid-up member is eligible to participate in the program.
   2. Point Classification - The BAP Committee will be responsible for the point classification of each fish registered. If a point value of a fish changes, over time, only new registrations will be affected.
   3. Awarding of Points:
      1. To receive points for a fish, 4 fry must be auctioned per the details under paragraph E. 'BAP Auctions' below. To receive points through the BAP program for freshwater spawns of fish having BAP point values assigned of 10 and 15, each participant must have had their spawn verified in their home aquarium by an unrelated Society member in good standing. Spawns of fish valued at 5 points need no verification. Participants spawning freshwater fish with BAP point values of 20 and 25 must have the spawns verified by a BAP Committee member. A BAP Committee member must verify the spawning of any marine fish for which a participant desires to receive recognition following the outline indicated in the rules for 'Marine Awards' shown above.
      2. Each spawn must be registered by filling-out a BAP form that is signed by the participant and witness and turned in to one of the BAP Chairpersons at the time of the General Meeting auction. The Treasurer's sales sheet must also be filled out at that time. Exceptions to this rule will rarely be granted and must be approved by one of the BAP Chairs and at least one other BAP Committee member. Registration of spawned fish is from the BAP form only, so if a fish is allowed to be auctioned without a form being turned-in at the time of the BAP auction, no points will be posted and the record of the spawn will not be entered in the database, and sent to the Aqua News or FAAS (Federation of American Aquarium Societies) for publication until the form is made available for entry into the BAP database.
      3. Spawns that are made for the first time in the United States will be awarded an additional 25 points. The participant is responsible for providing proof to the BAP committee for this.
      4. The participating members are responsible for obtaining, completing, and turning-in all forms required for participation.
   4. Articles detailing the raising, care, and spawning experiences you have had are not required, but are encouraged and the Aqua News editor(s), and the BAP Chair(s), and/or other mentors of the Society will assist you with this in any way they can.
   5. BAP Auctions:
      1. To get BAP points and recognition, at least four (4) fry must survive to 60 days post hatch, or birth for livebearers, and four (4) young fish must be auctioned at the General Meeting. Auctioning of BAP spawns at the semiannual Society auctions or flea markets will not be allowed unless special permission has been given by the BAP chair because of special circumstances, such as great distance, or infirmity of the member.
      2. The proceeds of the auction of all fish submitted for BAP points shall go to the Society. The moneys are to be used for awards, book purchases, speakers, and any other expenditure that the MAS Board deems correct.
      3. To encourage breeders of rare and/or valuable fish to participate in the BAP program, a limit for the Society's 'cut' of an auctioned item is set at $30.00. All bids above that amount will go to the breeder, if the breeder requests the club do so. The breeder may set a target price (if he so wishes) for the item to be auctioned. If a target price is set, it must be over $30.00. The breeder may participate in the bidding, but may not continue bidding above the target price he has set. The auctioneer will judge whether the target price is attainable, and then decide whether to actively try to reach the target price in bidding, or to start bidding at the target price. If the target price is not reached, the breeder may withdraw the item, or allow the fish to by auctioned without the target price. A $30.00 donation to the Society for the breeding of a rare or expensive fish in lieu of bringing fry to the BAP auction is not acceptable. This rule is intended to accomplish the following:
         
         1. Limit the loss of value to breeders of truly rare and/or valuable fish.
         2. Provide an opportunity for such breeders to receive BAP points and Society recognition for their efforts.
         3. Provide an opportunity for other Society members to see more rare fish, thus giving the BAP table and auction new life.
         4. The Society will benefit from the sale since very few items auctioned at the regular meetings break the $30.00 barrier.
         5. The target price limitation may allow some Society members to purchase rare fish.
      4. The BAP Committee, with whom resides final authority, will settle disputes.
      5. The BAP Committee consists of the BAP Chainrman, BAP Co-chairman, and club members as disignated by the Board of Directors.