Seller's Responsibility for Buyer's Losses in a Fair Ornamental Fish Sale and Purchase Agreement

Buying and selling ornamental fish is not new, but it is becoming increasingly popular. In practice, if a loss occurs, the seller is not liable for the loss suffered by the buyer. Sellers deny responsibility, arguing that ornamental fish are not physical objects. They believe that loss is a risk borne by the buyer.Although not explicitly stated in the Civil Code, ornamental fish are essentially objects as objects of sale and purchase agreements due to the application of the law of attachment in Article 500 of the Civil Code. Referring to the concept of the law of attachment, ornamental fish that occupy a container either due to natural factors (for example, ornamental fish living in a lake), or due to human actions (for example, ornamental fish kept in a pond), will become one with the container, so that the ornamental fish are also objects. All provisions relating to the seller's responsibilities can be applied in the event of a loss to the buyer of ornamental fish. General provisions regarding the seller's responsibilities are regulated in Article 1474 of the Civil Code in conjunction with Article 1491 of the Civil Code. Sellers who refuse to provide compensation may be deemed to have committed PMH and can be sued through the BPSK or a general court.