Hi all,

In regard to California:

You can view the California Fish & Game Regs at
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceanfish2003.pdf

Things may get quirky when there are overlapping regulations.
For instance, there are laws governing California's four National Marine
Sanctuaries, and
collectively they occupy a very large percentage of California waters.
(Monterey Bay, Farallones, Cordell Banks, and Channel Islands)

For more information on National Marine Sanctuaries (presently 13
throughout the US,
visit http://sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/oms/oms.html

Likewise, in places such as Monterey Bay, there are local laws as well.

Here on Guam:

There are five marine preserves where shell collecting is prohibited.
Tumon Bay, Piti Bomb Holes, Pati Point, Sasa Bay, Achang Reef Flat.
Visit: http://www.uog.edu/marinelab/mpa/page6.html

I consider this a very positive step, regardless of my personal desire
to collect in areas like
Tumon Bay and Piti. Should this interest you, there is a very good
article,
Status of the Coral Reefs of Guam, by Robert Richmond and Gerry Davis,
at:
http://www.nccos.noaa.gov/documents/coralreef_state/guam_coralreef.pdf


Cheers,

Bob Abela
Tamuning, Guam
http://www.guamcell.net/~babela/bobsguamshells/