yamaha racer
New member
ok for my graduation my mom is taking me somewhere and i want belize. but i heard that they have very strick snorkling and diving rules. i really need info on belize.... can u guys help me out?
thanks
thanks
help!!! belize
- Thread starter yamaha racer
- Start date
pagojoe
Team RC
You can't touch anything in the standard diving/snorkeling places, which are all reserves. However, there are a lot of other areas that are outside the reserves. If you go with the usual dive tours, the guides won't let you touch anything even if you aren't in a protected area. I assume you will be on Ambergris Caye? There are signs at some of the shops in San Pedro that advertise collecting trips, so if you want to bring something back, you'll probably want to arrange to spend a day with one of those guys. They can take you to the areas where collecting is permitted, and tell you what may be collected.
Cheers,
Don
Cheers,
Don
yamaha racer
New member
well what kind of stuff cann be collected?
pagojoe
Team RC
Like I said, the guides can tell you if there are things you can't collect. You can collect most snails, although you can't bring Queen Conchs back in without a permit, and they may have outlawed collecting the big Triton Shells (Charonia variegata) and possibly the large Helmet Shells (Cassis madagascariensis and Cassis tuberosa). You should be able to bring back fish, assuming you can keep them alive, and most or all crustaceans. You'll have to ask them about corals.
Cheers,
Don
Cheers,
Don
pagojoe
Team RC
The CITES permit is only required if endangered species are taken. The USF&WS import license is only required if you are in the BUSINESS of importing or exporting wildlife. To avoid any problems, you might want to contact them and ask any questions so that you can educate Customs or any other inspectors when you return to the U.S., as they very likely won't know the laws pertaining to you bringing back animals for your aquarium. At least, I've never found one yet that knew the laws.
http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/Regional_Permit_Offices.htm
Cheers,
Don
saltykelly
Member
My dad lived in San Pedro Belize and has a local friend who owns fishing operation there. He would probably let you dive through him. I know he snorkels and goes to Ambergris Caye regularly.
bangaii man
New member
I can't help you with belize, but I just dove in the keys and did a colletcion dive outside of the sancutary and brought back some fish and soft corals it was an awesome dive, the fastest hour I ever spent underwater, so if you can do a collection dive go for it
airinhere
New member
Here is a little info I dug up on importing corals and fish as a private individual.
I just got back from a collecting trip to Florida so I didnt have to use much of what I discovered.
And make sure the boat captain is okay with collecting because some are totally cool with it and others are strongly opposed to collecting. Kinda like spearfishing, some boats allow it and others get all wound up over it.
Florida collecting regs
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
CITES rules
http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/cpc.pdf
Maps of reefs around the world
http://reefgis.reefbase.org/default...=1990&mpatoyear=2007&mpayearunspecified=False
Cool webpage, terrible design. Highlight everything and you can read it easily. Lots of good insight.
http://www.petsforum.com/characin/carey//carey/articles/97/import_rules.html
Dont forget to take lots of pictures so we can all see what you did!
I just got back from a collecting trip to Florida so I didnt have to use much of what I discovered.
And make sure the boat captain is okay with collecting because some are totally cool with it and others are strongly opposed to collecting. Kinda like spearfishing, some boats allow it and others get all wound up over it.
Florida collecting regs
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
CITES rules
http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/cpc.pdf
Maps of reefs around the world
http://reefgis.reefbase.org/default...=1990&mpatoyear=2007&mpayearunspecified=False
Cool webpage, terrible design. Highlight everything and you can read it easily. Lots of good insight.
http://www.petsforum.com/characin/carey//carey/articles/97/import_rules.html
Dont forget to take lots of pictures so we can all see what you did!
AQUA DAVE
New member
Belize is great! They are really strict on collecting or touching corals there. I went last winter and stayed for 9 days. It ended up that those 9 days ended up being the best 9 days that I've had for a long long time. Great people, great reef, great beer(Bellican), and they also have this great hot sauce similar to tabasco but with much better flavor. In truth I had a whole lot of fun even though i didn't bring anything back but some great photos. I would recomend it collecting or not. Also swam with the sharks and rays, went cave tubing, zip lining through the rain forest. Now I am investing in a time share in belize. The only thing i will warn against is being out after 11pm as some of the locals get crazy after hours(Stabbings and Roberry).
