I would like to thank Gary Rosenberg sharing his excellent article on
collecting and habitat problems.
 
I think nature can do more damage in one storm, not only to species
numbers but habitat damage, than an army of collectors could do in
years.
 
I notice after heavy weather huge quantities of dead shell washed up on
our beaches while a walk over the habits show corals and rocks dislodged
and overturned.
 
I recall in the Solomon Islands watching the women and children in a
village living along the shoreline, collection Lambis and Cypraea for
eating, this has been going on since time but the species continue to
thrive in the area.
 
However I also recall a horrible shelling trip with a shell club on an
Island that shall remain unnamed, where the members of the club went
armed with short crowbars to lever off corals to search for Cypraea etc.
One member had collected a large, very juvenile Cypraea, and when the
identification was pointed out to him, insisted that I didn't know what
I was talking about, according to him it was a new species of Volute. So
much for education in that particular club.
 
I like the Code of Ethics for Collectors used by the Malacological
Society of Australia
 
1. CAUSE MINIMAL DISTURBANCE TO HABITATS
 
Habitat destruction is the most potent threat to molluscs (and other
biota). Although other factor (e.g. pollution and land clearing) cause
habitat destruction on a large scale, collectors can have significant
impacts on local areas if they do not observe some simple rules:-
 
(a) Always carefully replace any log, rock, coral boulder etc.
immediately after inspecting the underside for molluscs. Try to disturb
as few habitats (e.g. boulders, vegetation) as possible because the
simple of lifting a rock or log may destroy animals.
 
(b) Always observe the laws regulating access to sites (e.g. reserves
and parks). These rules have been established to protect habitats and
their constituent communities.
 
2. COLLECT THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF SPECIMENS NECESSARY
 
Indiscriminate collecting can have devastating effects on local
populations of molluscs. In keeping with this, the members should:-
 
(a) Abide by local, national and international laws governing species
and habitats at all times.
(b) Never collect more specimens than are strictly required for study
and if possible collect empty shells.
 
(c) Never collect individuals that are involved in reproductive
behaviour (e.g. egg guarding, breeding aggregations).
(d) Try to avoid the collection of juveniles or living individuals with
damaged shells. In the first case, these are yet to breed and in the
second case, damaged shells, if left alive can add to the pool of
animals available for reproducing but are usually of little value to
collectors.
(e) Photography should be considered as alternative where ever possible
(especially for larger species).
 
Kevin Lamprell