Hi Erick and others,

I found this paper because it was referred to in an article in our most
prominent national newspaper, and that's why I sent it to this list. I fully
agree with you: again a very shaky and preliminary 'scientific hypothesis'
is broadcasted as undisputed fact in the mass media. I am hoping that many
of you will put this paper in perspective with whoever wants to discuss this
with us shell-collectors.

As for live collecting: I still think we should not do this, but that can be
discussed in a separate thread, I presume.

Warm regards,

Jan Haspeslagh

mobile +32(0)498 802097
Noord-Edestraat 47
8400 Oostende

"To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul" (Cicero)

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Namens Erick Staal
Verzonden: zondag 12 januari 2014 9:33
Aan: [log in to unmask]
Onderwerp: Re: [CONCH-L] Shells & tourists!

Hello Jan,

Somewhat agree on the limits on live shell collecting (but when looking at
the number of cocklers at the beaches I usually visit, I do not feel
extremely guilty taking the odd live shell or two to be honest).

However concerning the 'research' you're referring to: I call it utter
piffle. I've read it and from a methodological point of view it leaves so
many alternative explanations for the decrease in shells on beaches
unexplored that a MAC truck or two could be easily driven through (nothing
about effects of increased fisheries, nothing about mass tourism, changes in
faunal composition due to invasive species, etc., etc.).
Furthermore: 99.99999% of all shells on a beach are left there by us
beachcombers due to various reasons (broken, already in collection, etc.,
etc.), while these undesired shells still make excellent habitats for life
on beaches.
But shell collectors are an easy target for politicians, etc. since they do
not form a constituency and are therefore an easy target to be able to show
the public that 'something is being done about it'. Let's not feed them,
please? Thanks in advance.

Sincerely, Erick

On 01/12/2014 09:03 AM, Jan Haspeslagh wrote:
> Hi colleague collectors,
>
> I think this article might be of interest to many of us... :
>
> http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.008
> 3615
>
> I was already convinced that live collecting is a big no-no, but how
> to explain to a child that it cannot take that beautiful valve home?
>
> Jan
>
> Jan Haspeslagh
>
> Librarian
>
> VLIZ - Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee
>
> InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7
>
> B-8400 Oostende
>
> t +32 (0) 59 34 01 85
>
> f +32 (0) 59 34 21 31
>
> gsm +32 (0) 498 802097
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> www.vliz.be
>

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