You DO need a permit to get shells out of the Philippines.  We are going in
March (third trip).

Bobbi

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Vicky Wall
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 3:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Philippines Shelling/Diving

I have wondered the same....about why private collectors with relatively few
shells and impact on the environment would have problems keeping  their
shells when the commercial markets sell so many thousands (millions?)  of
shells yearly with a much larger impact on the environment. Or why some of
my friends have had no problems coming home from the Philippines while
others have their shells confiscated. I have dreamed of collecting shells in
the Philippines since I was a little kid reading shell articles in National
Geographic magazine. I hope so much that if and when I have the opportunity
to do so, the shells will still be there and that I can get them home!
Vicky Wall
from "maybe some snow tonight" Mayodan, NC


Hi Michael,
In 2007 before departure from Davao International Airport (Philippines) my
shells were noticed by x-ray and I had my bags searched.
I was given two options: shells confiscated or obtain a permit.
Permit could only be obtained from the offices of BFAR back in Davao City.
Frantic crazy taxi ride to the BFAR office. All shells were inspected and
everything that looked like it came from a tropical beach was confiscated.
Some "uglier" or smaller shells (like nerites) were of no interest to them
however and I was given a permit for them and any obviously land or
freshwater specimens. (These latter, land and freshwater, were seized on
arrival back in New Zealand but that's another story!)
Another frantic taxi ride got us back to the airport where a paperwork
reputedly required to allow my wife to depart meant she had to miss the
flight but I was able to sprint down the corridors and onto the now waiting
plane still holding my belt etc after the security x-ray! Over the intercom
the pilot welcomed me aboard as I caught my breath and wondered how I could
have failed so miserably to have done my homework properly. (And with more
bad news ahead of me as alluded to above!)
I am not at all sure that the regulations are consistently applied and I
have never seen what regulation it was that I contravened, other than that
my marine shells looked tropical like the ones in their poster on the
wall in the BFAR office.
My marine shells were nearly all species chosen out of great piles of them
being sold as food in the wet-markets. There were certainly no CITES shells,
nor anything especially uncommon.
My experience seems rather odd when one considers the amount of Philippine
shells on world markets!

I suggest that, before your trip, you research what regulations CAN be
enforced on you so that you are prepared if you strike trouble, and know the
law (as I did NOT).
And head to the airport with plenty of time to spare.
Good luck!
Martin



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