CITES restrictions - bring snails and crabs to Canada from US

[tgunn]

There is a decent LFS in Grand Forks, ND near me that I have purchased fish from in the past which I have brought back to Canada no problems (2 hr dive).

I know I can't bring corals across the border without worrying about CITES regulations. How about the following:
- Snails
- Shrimp
- Crabs (hermits, etc)

Are these legit to bring back?

They're SOOOOOOOOOOO much cheaper in the US. Ie. $0.99 per snail versus $4.99.

Tyker

 

[VGT]

A four hour round trip to save a few bucks?

 

[tgunn]

A four hour round trip to save a few bucks?

We typically take a weekend trip down to Grand Forks every year to stock up on all the goods you can't buy here in Canada and to visit the indoor waterslide park they have there. So if I'm already going there I might as well...

Canada may be just to the north but we seem to get shafted when it comes to variety and quality of products. Great example is LED christmas lights which are dim, have non replaceable bulbs, unreliable, and 2x the cost when purchased locally.

The big LFS here also has a horrible problem with valonia and aiptasia, so I prefer to avoid if possible.

Besides, it's not just saving a few bucks. 160g bucket of instant ocean is around $47 in the US and $90 here.

Tyler

 

[Stumped]

I can't look it up right now to find the exact link, but you can find a very easy to navigate PDF file of all the species you can and can't bring into Canada if you google search something like "CITES canada fish". I'll look for it later if you have no luck.

Just to be clear it has everything related to marine life on it (not just fish) so it would give you a definitive answer for crabs, snails, etc.

 

[GreshamH]

There is only a couple marine fish currently covered by CITES and the only one we're even concerned about are seahorses.

Canada may have restrictions on what you can bring in, that's nothing to do with CITES though.

 

[carnut]

I looked into that last year before macna. Between fisheries canada, food and drug and about three other goverment arms!! Wonder why are taxes are so high!!! There are no rules for fish or inverts however at the end of 2011 there are going to be some changes, so right now you should be good. I plan on bringing some back from macna.

check out

www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/aqua/aquae.shtml

www. inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/aqua/spliste.shtml

www.ec.gc.ca/nature

www.cbsa.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

If you need more info I have 5 pages of emails.

 

[Aquatics Elite]

Inverts do not require Cites. We do import regularly so I am confident in this statement.

 

[GreshamH]

Inverts do not require Cites. We do import regularly so I am confident in this statement.

You are aware corals are invertebrates, right?

 

[jimmy frag]

We typically take a weekend trip down to Grand Forks every year to stock up on all the goods you can't buy here in Canada and to visit the indoor waterslide park they have there. So if I'm already going there I might as well...

Canada may be just to the north but we seem to get shafted when it comes to variety and quality of products. Great example is LED christmas lights which are dim, have non replaceable bulbs, unreliable, and 2x the cost when purchased locally.

The big LFS here also has a horrible problem with valonia and aiptasia, so I prefer to avoid if possible.

Besides, it's not just saving a few bucks. 160g bucket of instant ocean is around $47 in the US and $90 here.
tyler, you have to shop around for your salt, i pay $45 for 200 gallons of reef crystals. also, when i import snails and hermits from the us i have them flown to buffalo, i pick them up there and drive accross the border. never need any paper work.
Tyler

 

[speakupforblue]

Jimmy Frag,

Careful when you cross the border with live goods. You may get taxed on them or held up by border security. Especially if you don't tell the border guards.

Andrew

 

[tgunn]

Thanks for the responses all! I'll give the snails and shrimp a try in the fall when we go for our annual Americana Pilgrimage.

I have brought back some fix in a thermos previously; the customs people saw it, and I paid taxes on the fix, but that was it.

THanks,
Tyler

 

[shaginwagon13]

There is a decent LFS in Grand Forks, ND near me that I have purchased fish from in the past which I have brought back to Canada no problems (2 hr dive).

I know I can't bring corals across the border without worrying about CITES regulations. How about the following:
- Snails
- Shrimp
- Crabs (hermits, etc)

Are these legit to bring back?

They're SOOOOOOOOOOO much cheaper in the US. Ie. $0.99 per snail versus $4.99.

Tyker

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