hey i was browsin a few other forums, and one was talkin about a ban that is going into effect on ricordias! does anyone have any info on this, or has even heard of this taking place?
I am not sure if there has been an update, but they have been talking about it for years. A while back people used to collect rock covered in rics down in Florida and of course collecting rock there has been banned for a while.
It is possible at any point we could see stuff like that happen in the industry and it would really shake things up, but for time being nothing like this ever excites me.
“Fiji rock has been cut off, no more rock will be coming from Fiji this year as the quota has been met. Last chance to grab some” and a week later we hear the same thing when another shipment comes in. I also don’t know what ever happened to the ban on yellow tangs as well. They said they would be more expensive them purples soon.(still not the case) There is always, “talk†and even when there is a hard law it is at times over turned. I wouldn’t get excited unless you hear something from a very reputable source.
At least stuff like this shakes stuff up in the industry. It gets some people thinking about our impact on the wild and others just spending money.
I know this is going to be a HJack and maybe controversial, but i can not wait until things like this become common place among all marine aquaria.
I think when the prices are increased 500% and you have to pay $30 for a green chromis the quality of the hobby will change drastically. An emphasis will be placed on captive breeding and aquaculture and a lot of the irresponsible hobbyists will be pushed out. I dont mean to say that this should be a hobby for the financially elite(god knows im not that) but people will tighten up their games when they are loosing $100 fish instead of $20 fish or get out.
Before i get slammed, what im referring to is what ive seen a thousand times. People provide habitats for their animals based on financial factors instead of what’s ideal for their animals. Whan an LFS employee tells someone that they should have at least a 6’ tank for that tang/angel it is ingnored when its a $20 fish. IF it dies in their 20L who cares, its only $20. When that tang/angel is a $200 fish it will be a different story. I realize that this wont affect aholes with money and it might push out responsible, compassionate people without money but i think that will be the exception. Passionate hobbyiest willl always find a way to stay in the hobby. Im thinking of Jon’s story of only being able to keep hermits becuase of lack of money ;D
Shawn I stand on your side on this issue. I’ve thought what you said for a long time.
Dude I loved those hermits and appreciated every second of my FOWLR. (I did have two $10 fish in there) Before every animal I bought I would force my self to read for two weeks about the animals to make sure they got along with each other and that I could provide for them. I don’t wait that long now as I’ve read about all of the animals I am purchasing and I know where to get to reliable information quickly vs the old days of browsing forums for information. Kind of funny that when I walk into an LFS now instead of asking the employees about the animals I am buying I often try to teach them something about it.(though many really don’t care)
[quote=“Gordonious, post:4, topic:1816”]
Kind of funny that when I walk into an LFS now instead of asking the employees about the animals I am buying I often try to teach them something about it.[/quote]
+1
[quote=“Gordonious, post:4, topic:1816”]
(though many really don’t care) [/quote]
+1 also … unfortunately …
RICORDIA FLORIDA are pretty tightly regulated
The corallimorph involved in this matter, Ricordia florida, are prized by aquarists for their varied coloration and their ability to impart a “natural†look to tank displays. Both federal and Florida law closely regulate the harvesting and sale of such marine life. Pursuant to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration issued regulations in 1997 to govern activities within the sanctuary. Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 922 prohibits the removal of, injury to, or possession of coral or live rock and further prohibits moving, removing, taking, harvesting, damaging, disturbing, breaking, cutting, or otherwise injuring any living or dead coral or coral formation, or attempting any of these activities without a specific permit. Florida Administrative Code, Section 68B-42.008, prohibits the harvest of live rock and Florida Statue 370.07 requires that a person who sells salt water marine related wildlife such as Ricordia florida, to hold a State wholesale and retail license.
although RICORDIA YUMA are from what i’ve read not banned
[quote=“TimH07, post:6, topic:1816”]
Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 922 prohibits the removal of, injury to, or possession of coral or live rock and further prohibits moving, removing, taking, harvesting, damaging, disturbing, breaking, cutting, or otherwise injuring any living or dead coral or coral formation, or attempting any of these activities without a specific permit.[/quote]
… damaging, disturbing, breaking, cutting, or otherwise injuring …
So, by the letter of the law (and I realize this is merely a synopsis of it.), fragging is not legal without a permit?
indeed, along the same lines, HR660 suggests that one would not be able to breed any non native species at all … better hope your copepods dont breed or your getting locked up!! lOl
that better not pass…
Ok, since I seem to have quite a bit of knowladge on this subject, I figured I would step in and clear up some misconceptions.
It is completly legal to harvest ricordea florida. The rumor you may have heard has originated with the new restrictions that Florida is putting on collecting. For the hobbyiest that collects their own ricordea, the limit is going down from 20 individuals a day to 5. This should NOT affect the hobby at all, as people who collect with a recreational licence are prohibited from selling any than they do collect. The new restrictions will also limit collectors with a commercial licence to only 500 individuals a day. As you might imagine, most collectors, even commercial ones do not collect 500 ricordea a day, so this also will not impact commercial collection much if at all.
[quote=“TimH07, post:6, topic:1816”]
Pursuant to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration issued regulations in 1997 to govern activities within the sanctuary. Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 922 prohibits the removal of, injury to, or possession of coral or live rock and further prohibits moving, removing, taking, harvesting, damaging, disturbing, breaking, cutting, or otherwise injuring any living or dead coral or coral formation, or attempting any of these activities without a specific permit. Florida Administrative Code, Section 68B-42.008, prohibits the harvest of live rock and Florida Statue 370.07 requires that a person who sells salt water marine related wildlife such as Ricordia florida, to hold a State wholesale and retail license.[/quote]
The laws that you quoted here that prohibit the removal of corals is in relation to scleractinan corals. Ricordea are in fact considered “anemones” by the state of Florida, as are zoanthids. It is only “Hard” corals which are prohibited from collection in US waters.
While we are on Florida collecting laws, Is there any Florida aquacultured Elkhorn coral to be had, anywhere? to further the tank raised population , of course. It might surely be needed some day soon. It’s almost gone from the reefs now.
So Bellamy you can collect them down there to get different species. Then once the idividuals you collected are fragged several times you can sell us the frags? Just curious Mr. Expert. 
Thanks,
Jon
i stand corrected icey 
Ken - The only way to get any Caribbean hard coral is to buy live rock that is aquacultured in Florida, and happened to have the corals settle onto them when the rock was at the aquaculture lease site. You might try to contact some of the live rock aquaculture places to see if they might help.
Jon - There is kind of a grey area there. You can collect for your “personal” aquarium, but not to sell commercially. I am assuming that fragging and later selling would be fine, as long as you are not simply collecting to sell the collected specimens. I think the not being able to sell stipulation was put in so that everybody doesnt just collect stuff and sell it on ebay right off the reef, which I am sure happens even though there is a law against it.
[quote=“icy1155, post:13, topic:1816”]
which I am sure happens even though there is a law against it. [/quote]
Of course, but I’d never ask you to break the law.
Well, it wouldn’t be breaking the law when I get my collecting license. First I need a boat and a truck to haul the boat though.
…and to fly your fellow rebreather diver down to collect all you need… >LOL<