BLA auctions
General Auction Information
Auction methods
The BLA will use display stands to allow the buyers the opportunity to view the fish prior to being auctioned. Should circumstances arise that make the use of display stands unworkable at an auction, then the committee reserve the right to revert to auctioning lots directly from the seller’s boxes.
Descriptions of both methods are outlined within this write up.
Livestock not accepted in the auction
- Fish with deformities. This includes inbred deformities such as “Balloon” types or those with exceptionally “long fins”.
These and other similar debilitating deformities are detrimental to the health of the fish. - Livestock that have been injected with dyes.
- Genetically modified livestock such as “Glo Fish”.
- Any fish deemed inappropriate for sale at a BLA event:
for example ‘tank-busting’ species, and aggressive hybrid fish (such as Flower horn cichlids).
Welfare of Livestock
The welfare of all livestock offered for sale is of paramount importance.
Please Note: All auction lots must be in polystyrene boxes with properly fitting lids. The boxes must be packed in a safe manner that will allow the lid to fit properly and the bags to remain secure and not roll around. Heat packsor containers with warm water should be included when the ambient tempreture in low enough to affect the temperature within the polystyrene box.
All matters concerning the welfare of the fish are the seller’s responsibility only.
Please ensure that all livestock are healthy prior to sale and correctly bagged.
Cash only Payments
Please note all BLA events are cash only.
Due to the influx of counterfeit currency, £50.00 notes will not be accepted at any BLA event
Prebooking of auction lots.
To be able to sell any livestock at a BLA event, you must apply for an auction letter. This letter allows to us to identify your auction lots easily.
Please do not allow anyone else to sell their livestock under your letter.
Requesting your auction letter and booking forms
An auction letter can be requested alongside with the relevant booking forms you require by completing the on-line contact form found under ‘BLA Events’ on the menu bar above. The seller can also contact the auction manager directly if necessary.
If the seller has any questions or is unable to download the booking form for any reason, please contact the auction manager.
Auction lots
The auction is for fish only.
The seller can enter a maximum of 50 auction lots, with a minimum of 80% of those lots being livebearers.
Please check with the auction manager if you need some leeway on the above restrictions.
Livestock labelling
All auction lots must also be correctly labelled and match the Booking Form.
Commission rates
The standard commission rate of 15% is applied to a seller’s auction lots provided they are pre-booked correctly and booked in on the day of the auction at least one hour before the auction start time.
A rate of 20% commission will be applied to a seller’s auction lots if do not meet the above criteria.
Display stand auction
fish will be removed from the seller’s poly-boxes and placed onto the viewing stand is a sequence to ensure a fair distribution of all the seller’s auction lots.
Please note: Nobody other than the Auction Team will be allowed around the Viewing Racks at this time.
The auction team reserve the right to inspect the auction lots within the seller’s poly-boxes prior to the auction. They will check to ensure the fish health, the bag condition and suitability, and accuracy of the labelling.
Note: if any lot fails the inspection process, the lot will be returned to the Seller for remedial action or will be withdrawn from the auction.
- The Auctioneer will inform the Buyers when they are permitted to view the fish on display.
- The auctioneer will announce that the auction will begin in 5 minutes and all Buyers must then return to their seats.
- The Auctioneer will auction the lots.
- A “runner” will take the Auction Lot to the winning bidder and collect payment. This process will continue until the Viewing Rack is empty.
- The Auction Team will repopulate the racking.
- When the Auction Team are ready the Auctioneer will again call the Buyers to the viewing area to repeat the cycle as previously described. This process will continue until all the Auction Lots have been offered for sale.
It is the Seller’s responsibility to ensure that all livestock are healthy when bagged, the optimum conditions are provided, and the correct type/size of bag is used. Please adopt the following guidelines when preparing fish for transport:
Lots not deemed fit for the auction will be returned to the Seller and the lot withdrawn. This will include bags with dead livestock.
The Committee’s ruling will be final on all decisions.
Any unsold lots will be placed back in the seller’s box with an unsold label attached. It is possible that any unsold lots may be re-auctioned after all other lots are sold.
Selling from boxes auction
Under certain circumstances it may become necessary to change the auction format from the display stand to selling direct from the boxes.
boxes will be selected for auction in the following order
- Volunteers helping with the auction
- BLA members
- Alphabetical order according to the seller’s letter.