RicksReefs
New member
I got reprimanded by a FWC cop down in the keys for picking up a carbonate rock used to pave a parking lot. he was going to still consider it live rock even though he was 10 feet away and saw me pick it up.
Found Some Interesting Information About Collecting in Florida
- Thread starter NanoKat
- Start date
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
IMHO IS JUST NOT worth the hassle.( collecting)
Many LFS and farmers sell local stuff and try to make a living at it. Wrong but it is what it is.
In the past I've been part of the biss( investing) and for sure I'll tell u it happens more often than not-even the so called reputable stores!(nameless) as well as farmers and so forth.
One thing is for sure there's just IMHO no reason to collect period.
BTW _ I did stay at a hollyday inn last night.
Many LFS and farmers sell local stuff and try to make a living at it. Wrong but it is what it is.
In the past I've been part of the biss( investing) and for sure I'll tell u it happens more often than not-even the so called reputable stores!(nameless) as well as farmers and so forth.
One thing is for sure there's just IMHO no reason to collect period.
BTW _ I did stay at a hollyday inn last night.
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RicksReefs
New member
if anyone selling can't produce the paper trail that leads back to the collector they're subject to getting busted.
most LFS's, etc., won't risk their licence for some bluelegs and snails.
most LFS's, etc., won't risk their licence for some bluelegs and snails.
scubasteve247
New member
i know its a lil late to respond, but your completley right. down in the keys spear fishing is heavily regulated. many reefs and areas are designated as marine santuaries or preserves. i highly recommend getting a good chart from somewhere like bass pro, boat us, or west marine. most areas protected in the keys are marked off however its always better to know where you are. as for spear fishing specificaly its illegal to spearfish between miami dade and long key. that whole area is protected from spearfishing, beyond the long key nature preserve it is legal to spearfish.
RicksReefs
New member
to CSI? we're talking invoices here, not DNA. 
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
Ok I give up LOL.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9960030#post9960030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
to CSI? we're talking invoices here, not DNA.
Invoices, unfortunately many many many people work w/o them.
How many people daily come in in the keys, south miami and so forth with tons of livestock w/o getting caught. We just get a glimpse in the news every now and then.( including fillet of blue marlin, and sea turtles pre sold at multiple high end restauratnts around town.)
In fact there's people I'm sure that u know that continue to be shady and get caught w/o consequences. In the big picture ! this is a big industry and nor you or me or anybody really knows what goes on behind close doors.
I dont claim to know everything or anything but I'm entitled to my opinion.
I've realized that this busiiness is cut throat and malignant
I still enjoy the hobby part of it as much as I did when I was 10 back home and used to collect whatever whenever w/o consequences.
Cmon do you guys really believe that 90% of the people that go out collecting really care about the reef as much as we do, furthermore I bet you half of the so forth experts in the field don't know that:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
This act encourages federal agencies to conserve and promote conservation of nongame fish and wildlife and their habitats to the maximum extent possible within each agency's statutory responsibilities, providing they have manpower available.
In no way this is meant as a rant but in reality is a big problem and the solution is not close b/c the stink of money is all over it.
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chrisaggie
Premium Member
Reply from FWC:
"Good Afternoon Mr. Little,
Thank you for your inquiry to the Division of Marine Fisheries Management. The Blue-legged or tricolor hermit crab, Clibanarius tricolor, is a species that is regulated by the Marine Life Rule. You are correct that you can collect up to 20 of these crabs per day for your own personal use. However, the Marine Life regulations limit harvest to an aggregate bag limit of 20 species (in any combination), of the species included in the Marine Life rule. Of those 20 species, no more than 5 may be angelfish, and no more than 6 may be colonies of octocorals (each colony or part thereof is included in the aggregate bag limit)."
"Good Afternoon Mr. Little,
Thank you for your inquiry to the Division of Marine Fisheries Management. The Blue-legged or tricolor hermit crab, Clibanarius tricolor, is a species that is regulated by the Marine Life Rule. You are correct that you can collect up to 20 of these crabs per day for your own personal use. However, the Marine Life regulations limit harvest to an aggregate bag limit of 20 species (in any combination), of the species included in the Marine Life rule. Of those 20 species, no more than 5 may be angelfish, and no more than 6 may be colonies of octocorals (each colony or part thereof is included in the aggregate bag limit)."
RicksReefs
New member
gasman, it all good. I understand your point and totally agree with it for the most part. it was just the broad brush you were using that got me qouting the law. I agree there are far to many ways that the rules are getting skirted, but the laws are already in place to bag them. they just need to go after them more. if they don't have an invoice to cover those 400 bluelegs and get caught, they're in the poop.
I manage a SW only LFS with wholesale and import permits. we buy directly off of a few collectors in florida (for our bluelegs
)and a couple in hawaii, they do seem to care about the reefs, since they make their living on them. I have people offer critters I know they just caught in the lagoon all the time. I qoute them the FWC rules and send them on their way every time. hopefully someday FWC will start doing stings the same way. you buy'em, your busted.
I manage a SW only LFS with wholesale and import permits. we buy directly off of a few collectors in florida (for our bluelegs
)and a couple in hawaii, they do seem to care about the reefs, since they make their living on them. I have people offer critters I know they just caught in the lagoon all the time. I qoute them the FWC rules and send them on their way every time. hopefully someday FWC will start doing stings the same way. you buy'em, your busted.
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
AGREE!<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9964527#post9964527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
gasman, it all good. I understand your point and totally agree with it for the most part. it was just the broad brush you were using that got me qouting the law. I agree there are far to many ways that the rules are getting skirted, but the laws are already in place to bag them. they just need to go after them more. if they don't have an invoice to cover those 400 bluelegs and get caught, they're in the poop.
I manage a SW only LFS with wholesale and import permits. we buy directly off of a few collectors in florida (for our bluelegs
