Marcus, perhaps you could post Dr Gould’s mailing address on Conch-L? This
forum has enormously potential for ‘lobbying’ issues like this.

Simon Aiken
Simon's Specimen Shells Ltd
www.simons-specimen-shells.com


From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Marcus Coltro
Sent: 08 June 2010 15:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CONCH-L] Shell Collectors will be soon extinct in USA!

I`ve had a chat with an inspector from Fish & Wild Life department here in
Miami yesterday. She informed me that no one can bring shells on luggage
from international flights anymore. It does not matter if it is a single
shell or 10,000 shells. She said it is necessary a permit to bring shells to
the Country - but they must be shipped and stored on their warehouses until
an inspector can check if all papers are ok. I`ve asked the reasons and she
kept saying it was to protect wild life, especially those shells listed on
CITES - I even tried to show her that the only marine gastropods on CITES
are Strombus gigas and Haliotis midae, besides Tridacnidae, Papuina
pulcherrima, Achatinellidae from Hawaii and some fresh water bivalves. But
she told me that it is the law and there is nothing she could do. You may
call them and confirm 305 526 2620 - I`ve talked to Inspector Valentine.

This means if you are coming from anywhere with shells on your luggage you
might have them confiscated. Customs officers in Miami airport are aware of
this decision made by F&WL and will call them if they find shells on your
luggage. I am not sure about other entry ports as Orlando or Tampa, but it
will certainly spread all over US soon, meaning COA conventions will soon
have only local collectors participating.

I have carefully checked the entire F&WL website looking for any mention on
shell regulations but there is none. This is still a gray area inside the
law and they preferred to shut down the matter instead of talking to
scientists. So, again this is decision made by a few people inside F&WL
which will seriously affect our hobby.

We must start working together to convince the authorities to create a
special permit for collectors affiliated to major shell clubs as they have
in Australia. Otherwise start thinking on another hobby.

I had predicted this coming a long time ago, I just did not expect to happen
in US so soon. Portugal, Brazil, Ecuador and some other countries already
had made a 100% ban on any kind of shell trading. But on these places the
number of collectors is very small.

I sincerely hope that Americans are able to stand up against this
dictatorial measure and prove our importance to the Government before it is
too late and impossible to retrocede. Collectors are not the only ones
harmed with this act. Any Museums, scientists and institutions which were
used to get material and information from collectors will suffer
too. Without their help it can be very difficult to win this war, so contact
as much people you know as possible. Museums must remember that the major
part of their collections are based on private collections donated a long
time ago.

We must not stay quiet and simply close our eyes hoping that it will pass
with time. I will gather as much information related to our importance to
science (shell descriptions made by collectors or based on collectors
donations and information, letter of recommendations from scientist and
museums, magazines, etc.) and send to the Acting Director of F&WL Dr. Rowan
Gould. I will try my best to defend our hobby and I hope to have some of
your help too.

I also made a group on Facebook where we can discuss this matter as well.

Marcus

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