Dear Nick,

I seem to remember that the capiz shell is on the list of shells that are
illegal to export from the Philippines - presume they want all of them for
the native crafts industry.

Tom Rice
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Marchesi <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, June 06, 1999 12:36 PM
Subject: Placuna placenta trade


>Dear Conch-listers,
>
>I am a marine biologist currently working for a Toiletries and Cosmetics
>company in the UK.
>The company is planning to use Placuna placenta (known as Kapiz shell or
>Windowpane shell) from the Philippines to produce soap trays.
>
>They have asked me to find out if the shells are the by-product of a food
>fisheries and if the fisheries is environmentally sustainable before
>committing themselves and contribute to further depletion of marine
>resources (I must say I am quite surprised and pleased to receive such
>request from a profit oriented group).
>
>I have recently followed the debate on the list regarding 'honest shell
>collecting, exporting and dealing' and I seem to remember that the species
>was mentioned by Dr. Gary Rosenberg in his interesting overview of the
>current shell collecting scenario. I was wondering if anybody on the list
>could provide me with further information on the state of Kapiz shells
>biology and populations, the way they are harvested, current rates of
>harvesting, size and characteristics of the trade, existing limiting
>regulations and likely sustainability or extinction scenarios. Ideally, I
>would like to be able to suggest environmentally friendly (i.e.
>sustainable) sources of Kapiz shells to the company and maybe get them
>involved, along with other UK importers, into an eco-labelling approach to
>the problem.
>
>Any information in the form of reports, publications, newspaper articles or
>contact details would be extremely welcome especially if substantiated by
>facts and figures.
>
>I take the opportunity to thank you all in advance for any information you
>will be able to give me.
>
>With kind regards,
>
>Nick Marchesi
>Marine Environmental Scientist
>90 Gosport Street
>Lymington
>Hants SO41 9BD
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>