wii64brawl
New member
An update came out last month on Aug. 9th, I didn't see it till today.
"NOAA Fisheries has proposed to list 66 coral species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)--54 as "threatened" and 12 as "endangered." In addition, NOAA Fisheries proposed to reclassify two Caribbean species [elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and staghorn (A. cervicornis) corals] from threatened to endangered.
This is important for those of you who own these corals: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/201...sed_corals.pdf
The section most relevant to us is:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/corals.htm
What about nurseries, grow-out facilities, aquariums, zoos, and corals in captivity?
Maintenance and asexual propagation of endangered corals in a nursery would not require a permit. Additional activities such as experiments, transfer, or outplanting of captive animals will require a permit. Import or export may be authorized under a permit only for research or enhancement purposes.
An ESA permit cannot be issued to import, export, or take listed species for the purpose of public display. Public display may occur if it is incidental to a permitted scientific research or enhancement activity or if the specimens were legally held in captivity at the time of listing. Selling, receiving, transporting, or shipping listed species in interstate or foreign commerce is prohibited, even if the specimens were legally held in captivity at the time of listing.
For corals currently maintained, it is your responsibility to demonstrate that the animals were already in captivity before the final listing decision. Please contact us at 301-427-8401 for information on this process."
The problem is many of these corals can only be told apart through DNA analysis, making this a very touchy area. My advice is to take pictures of any corals that might be one of the listed species and post them online before November 30, when the final decision comes out. That way, you'll have dated proof of purchase before 11/30.
"NOAA Fisheries has proposed to list 66 coral species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)--54 as "threatened" and 12 as "endangered." In addition, NOAA Fisheries proposed to reclassify two Caribbean species [elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and staghorn (A. cervicornis) corals] from threatened to endangered.
This is important for those of you who own these corals: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/201...sed_corals.pdf
The section most relevant to us is:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/corals.htm
What about nurseries, grow-out facilities, aquariums, zoos, and corals in captivity?
Maintenance and asexual propagation of endangered corals in a nursery would not require a permit. Additional activities such as experiments, transfer, or outplanting of captive animals will require a permit. Import or export may be authorized under a permit only for research or enhancement purposes.
An ESA permit cannot be issued to import, export, or take listed species for the purpose of public display. Public display may occur if it is incidental to a permitted scientific research or enhancement activity or if the specimens were legally held in captivity at the time of listing. Selling, receiving, transporting, or shipping listed species in interstate or foreign commerce is prohibited, even if the specimens were legally held in captivity at the time of listing.
For corals currently maintained, it is your responsibility to demonstrate that the animals were already in captivity before the final listing decision. Please contact us at 301-427-8401 for information on this process."
The problem is many of these corals can only be told apart through DNA analysis, making this a very touchy area. My advice is to take pictures of any corals that might be one of the listed species and post them online before November 30, when the final decision comes out. That way, you'll have dated proof of purchase before 11/30.
