No doubt there are some old shells from Galapagos that are being
recycled.

However, the notion that "Some people have collected in the
Galapagos in recent years (in limited areas) by permit" is hard to
credit.  I live in Ecuador; I am familiar with the permit situation.  If it
is difficult to get a collecting permit for scientific purposes in
continental Ecuador, there is no way one could readily get a
legitimate collecting permit for commercial purposes in the
Galapagos Marine Reserve.  And, to remove the shells from the
country would also require an export permit.  If these requirements
were met, the seller can provide copies of the documentation that
backs up his material.

But wait, Ecuador is a third world country.  There are lots of ways
around the law.  The easiest is to just ignore it.  The others involve
bribery of one kind or another.

>>
 Kate Clark .
P.O. Box 17-12-863
Quito, Ecuador


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