Very Interesting. I just read up on Bokissa, sounds like a beautiful
place. You can hike through the jungle, catch fish from shore or
from a boat (not catch and release), and they encourage you to catch
your own lobster for dinner. Just don't pick up dead shells off the
beach, eh?
I could be wrong, but I'd guess you weren't challenged by a local.
I have been challenged on South Pacific beaches about a dozen
times, although I wouldn't have gone to any place that called itself
an "Eco Island" simply because I would figure it's strictly managed
by foreigners with their own "laws." I've been challenged by two
Americans, one Australian, one guy from England, and about eight
or nine New Zealanders. The Americans explained to me how it
was morally wrong, the Aussie told me I needed a permit, the Brit
told me I'd be arrested when I tried to board the plane with shells,
and the Kiwis told me it was absolutely illegal, without exception.
If you try to tell them you know the local laws, and are complying
with them, a few will back off, but some will try to make your life
difficult. It's probably better to keep a low profile, just to avoid
the hassle, and familiarize yourself with the real laws before you
go to one of the islands to collect shells. Very few of the island
countries have strict collection rules, and most of them only con-
cern the commercial species (Charonia tritonis, Cassis cornuta,
Trochus niloticus, Turbo marmoratus,and the Tridacna species).
By the way, T. marmoratus is "protected" in many island countries
where the species has never been found, I assume because some
of the countries simply copied the laws of other Pacific nations?
Cheers,
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Wilson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: Effects of collecting shells from beaches
> Stephen,
>
> My wife & I were challenged while we collected a few shells from the beach
> at Bokissa island off Espirito island, Vanuatu. No mention in the
> brochure, but later found out when we read the in room info that it was an
> eco island. So we had to put the shells back, a real pity. We didn't take
> much but a couple of nice items. But rule are rules I guess.
>
> This is such a nice pastime, more places in Australia are prohibiting
> beach collecting esp around the major cities.
>
>
> Regards,
> Simon
> Melbourne, Australia
>
>
> Hello, all:
>
> I'm a recent addition to this list, a shell enthusiast, and a journalist.
> This thread caught my professional interest: Is there a movement afoot to
> stop
> beach-shell collecting? The woman (I think) who started this thread
> reported
> a confrontation on a beach in (I think) Thailand; I'd appreciate hearing
> from
> her and others with similar stories or knowledge of efforts to prevent
> shell
> collecting. The science is certainly interesting. Many thanks.
>
> Stephen Rae
>
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