<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14988807#post14988807 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Terra Ferma
Jmaneyapanda,
Steve is a pretty busy dude, especially after a shipment, especially on the weekend: arguing with misinformed hobbyists during his time off - I doubt it is a form of recreation for him.
I can't/won't speak for Steve, but I will say this: the confiscation had to do with a classification/paperwork issue between two countries that could not be avoided given the circumstances. There was no attempt at smuggling, and you gotta realize Clipperton is a long ways to go (and a great expense) to try and make a quick buck on the sly.
Everyone who has made comments about smuggling and any law breaking concerning these Clipperton Angels should reconsider their statements. Steve has been accused of smuggling before (even by someone who has made comments on this thread...and that person was proven dead wrong). Don't believe the hype - but DO believe it is not someone's responsibility to come on RC and answer YOUR questions based on incomplete/bad information. And DO believe it is your responsibility to have the facts before making statements.
This thread started with someone's blog posting, which should not be confused with news, and is arguably the most dubious source of factual information in the free world. Steve may come on and more directly answer your questions, or he may not. But rest assured if he does not provide more information to you, your statements, theories and assumptions will continue to be incorrect and incomplete.
I appreciate the consern and alliance to Steve here, but I am basing all my statments of what Steve himself has stated. Here are some impirtant facts of the matter, which need to be considered here also. Steve can "pass the buck" all he wants to his Mexican colleague, and maybe thats accurate, if the MWExican colleague is the actual person importing the fish. But, I am of the understanding that it is Steve who is doing so. I am under the impression it was Steve who supplied the USFWS impiort/export l;icense, and Steve who was actually importing the animals. As such, Steve is responsible for all the paperwork, and their throughness and legality. He, wouldve needed to fill out this form to import animals to the US:
http://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/3-177-1.pdf
Please pay special attention to box 16A. This is where Steve, and Steve alone, has made the mistake, and where he is at fault. You are required to put the scientific name for the species in this box. Steve (or Steve's cohort- again, it doesnt matter, because Steve has purportedly taken responsibility for the import, so he is responsible) has put in this box "Holacanthus passer", which is the scientific name for an entirely different species of fish. Why? If, indeed these fish were collected legally, there would be no problem in putting that name. They are not CITES protected, and no additional permitting would be necessary. But, it wasnt, it was labelled as an entirely different fish species. Might as well as been Amphiprion occelaris, because it was decietful all the same. The fact that they wre labelled as "blue passers", eads to even more suspicion of deception. Why such the effort to incorrectly claim these fish to be something they are not? And please note, this was all done by the importer- Steve. Not USFWS, not some other beaurocratic entity. But Steve. So USFWS, sees this, and determines that these are not Holacanthus passer, but instead Holacanthus limbaughi. And, as such, are confiscated. All of those facts came from Stebve Robsinson himslef, in this thread. So, for the sake of discussion, lets define smuggling. It is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons past a point where prohibited, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of the law or other rules. This is exactly what Steve was attempting to do. So, if I am so wrong in my interpretation, where did USFWS misstep and cause this problem, and why is Steve so innocent? Steve has also mentioned, that, in retrospect, he wouldve simply put "Holacanthus sp." on the paperwork, rather than Holacanthus passer. Why? Why not Holacanthus limbaughi? This also screams illegitimacy.
To make matters a little more cloudy, the original report stated that he had stated their origin was Mexico. I dont know how true that is or not, but if he did, in box 20 of the form above, he indicated Mexico. If that happened (and thats only IF that happened), he has yet added another "nail to his coffin", as this is one more instance of falsifying the information, and attempting to decieve. Steve has not said whether this is true or not yet, though.
I understand Steve will be busy now. However, in light of the information and facts that HE himself has provided, Steve did, in fact, attempt to smuggle animals into the country. Certain peopel seem quite fixated on defending his actions, passing the blame to USFWS, or ignoring the realitities of what he did in light of this amazing collection trip. Amazing trip and experience, Im sure. But, as you ahve requested, the absolute facts, from the "horses mouth" in this case, show that he isnt as innocent as many are claiming.
Even though it's wrong and such, the basic premise is that this event is hopefully shining a light on the whole ordeal. If we all just sat back and said 'oh well, we'll never get H. limbaughi's" that's what would happen, we'd never get the fish. This event hopefully brings some light that some actions need to be take. 
