Shipping corals from the caribbean
- Thread starter ERICinFL
- Start date
reefD
New member
its illegal. yeah special permits are needed but you can not collect anywhere near these vacationing places. most of these island prohibit this as it is a drive for tourist. diving is popular and nothing is taken just viewed by tourist. even the white coral bone that washes up on the beaches is a touchie thing. it is said that this coral bone is what makes the white sand for the beaches and locals dont like to see people collecting it.
reefD
New member
there is no market in the carib for LFS. first there are no manufaturers of tanks anywhere out there so a lfs would have to work with an over seas shipper and the costs are outragous. basically you would be paying a whole lot of money for something you can order online from a US distributor for far less money. unless you are planning on becoming a wholesaler or something this idea is a waste of money and most likely a head ache to get through and may not even be possible.
most of the islands in the caribean are dependent on tourism. the point is the people have limited money so what locals would spend all of this money on a reef tank (electricity , equipment,etc imagine the heat issues, most locals dont have A/C)...so basically there is no market for this and thus no fish stores.
most of the islands in the caribean are dependent on tourism. the point is the people have limited money so what locals would spend all of this money on a reef tank (electricity , equipment,etc imagine the heat issues, most locals dont have A/C)...so basically there is no market for this and thus no fish stores.
Thanks for the info.the7ferret
New member
I wonder if thier is any place where you can go and get your own coral, fish or rock?
That would be sorta cool considering you could get EXACTLY what you want.
That would be sorta cool considering you could get EXACTLY what you want.
It is illegal to harvest corals anywhere in the world without Cities permit.
As for purchasing corals abroad, it equally is illegal to import to mainland USA with Cities permit.
By the way, most corals found in Caribbean stores such as Ocean Trace in Trinidad are purchased from the USA and exported/imported to Trinidad.
So the likelihood of finding better price or variety is slim.
Support your LFS, if they cannot find what your looking for, shop on-line at many of the sponsored shops found here on Reef Central.
Have a safe journey!
As for purchasing corals abroad, it equally is illegal to import to mainland USA with Cities permit.
By the way, most corals found in Caribbean stores such as Ocean Trace in Trinidad are purchased from the USA and exported/imported to Trinidad.
So the likelihood of finding better price or variety is slim.
Support your LFS, if they cannot find what your looking for, shop on-line at many of the sponsored shops found here on Reef Central.
Have a safe journey!
RicksReefs
New member
where did you come up with that?
in florida, all you need is a fishing liscense.
in the pacific, all you need is access to water.
running them accross international borders is where a CITIES permit comes in. not the collection itself.
I don't have any special knowledge about this, but collecting on your own outside of Florida is likely illegal, period.
However, it may possible to do this if you bought from a shop in Puerto Rico or the USVIs and had them package it up and ship it. The last time I was in Puerto Rico there were a few shops listed in the yellow pages but they were too far away from where I was staying for me to actually visit them. You could certainly check the phonebook for aquarium shops at either of those locales and just call and ask.
Even if it is possible, you're not going to save any $ doing it this way.
However, it may possible to do this if you bought from a shop in Puerto Rico or the USVIs and had them package it up and ship it. The last time I was in Puerto Rico there were a few shops listed in the yellow pages but they were too far away from where I was staying for me to actually visit them. You could certainly check the phonebook for aquarium shops at either of those locales and just call and ask.
Even if it is possible, you're not going to save any $ doing it this way.
That would be a site to see...One collecting corals with only an issued Florida State fishing license.
Corals are protected for a reason, they are on the endangered species list, the collection/distribution is all governed by CITIES.
Here in the USA, it is prohibited to harvest live rock and any/all corals.
Hawaii has even tougher laws, no collection or allowable importation of corals.
Items such as Algae's, soft items NOT attached to live rock, perhaps acceptable.
But for no reason Scleractinia, Hard Corals in any form can be harvested anywhere in the world with special permits...
Again all governed under CITIES, If you know of someone doing it otherwise, they are ILLEGALLY Harvesting!
Corals are protected for a reason, they are on the endangered species list, the collection/distribution is all governed by CITIES.
Here in the USA, it is prohibited to harvest live rock and any/all corals.
Hawaii has even tougher laws, no collection or allowable importation of corals.
Items such as Algae's, soft items NOT attached to live rock, perhaps acceptable.
But for no reason Scleractinia, Hard Corals in any form can be harvested anywhere in the world with special permits...
Again all governed under CITIES, If you know of someone doing it otherwise, they are ILLEGALLY Harvesting!
justinzimm
New member
The only thing you need in the state to collect soft corals IS a saltwater fishing license.
Here it is strait from FWC's website.
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
Trust me I know.
Justin
Here it is strait from FWC's website.
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
Trust me I know.
Justin
Right, Algae and Soft corals NOT attached to Scleractinia with approved F&W fishing license.
As far as hard coral or live rock goes, it is strictly prohibited to collect anywhere worldwide.
The discuss of this thread is can you buy corals from abroad and bring to mainland USA.
The answer is no, as they are prohibited for entry unless you have CITIES permits.
Same applies to a wholesale of corals trying to export corals outside of the USA.
Why, because they are regulated under CITIES, period!
As far as hard coral or live rock goes, it is strictly prohibited to collect anywhere worldwide.
The discuss of this thread is can you buy corals from abroad and bring to mainland USA.
The answer is no, as they are prohibited for entry unless you have CITIES permits.
Same applies to a wholesale of corals trying to export corals outside of the USA.
Why, because they are regulated under CITIES, period!
all this talk is silly because there are people ive met and even fish stores that collect stuff in the keys and sell it. its a shame really. the police dont enforce anything down here. if you were getting more than your quota of lobster the police would get you but even if you dragged a coral head out of the sea down here i doubt theyd do anything. the police are so apathetic. i see people driving all over without license plates, if they dont even enforce having license plates on the vehicles do you really think theyd give a damn about coral?
justinzimm
New member
Here is a good article on the coral and live rock collecting worldwide. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature1
I read somewhere that the US imports 90% of the worlds wild coral and live rock. I do agree that we should stop collecting most wild corals and use aquaculture more. If really want to do import coral you would have to talk to one of these importers and put your corals on their permit. (for a price).
Justin
I read somewhere that the US imports 90% of the worlds wild coral and live rock. I do agree that we should stop collecting most wild corals and use aquaculture more. If really want to do import coral you would have to talk to one of these importers and put your corals on their permit. (for a price).
Justin
RicksReefs
New member
CITIES has nothing to do with collection. period.
it's the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species.
emphasis on international. professional collectors don't need a CITIES permit inside the US. only if it goes across a border. otherwise normal state and federal laws/agencies are the regulatory and enforcement arm. and if you don't think they care, try snagging some rock. they scope you from a 1/2 mile away and wait for you to trailer your boat so they can take your vehicle too.
CITIES.
http://www.cites.org/common/directy/e_directy.html
Florida regs.
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
it's the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species.
emphasis on international. professional collectors don't need a CITIES permit inside the US. only if it goes across a border. otherwise normal state and federal laws/agencies are the regulatory and enforcement arm. and if you don't think they care, try snagging some rock. they scope you from a 1/2 mile away and wait for you to trailer your boat so they can take your vehicle too.
CITIES.
http://www.cites.org/common/directy/e_directy.html
Florida regs.
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
