Dear Guido,

With all due respect I beg to differ regarding a few points from your email below.

There are quite a large number of divers working the shell areas on a continual basis.There are what 8+ shell dealers alone in Western Australia. The majority of these have teams of divers working for them. From what I've been told some of the northern cypraea zoila species are in real trouble.

These species are endemic to Australia and are "direct developers", unlike their tropical cousins. Once they are overcollected in one area that's usually it, they are gone!

The Cypraea friendii thersites for example are particularly vunerable because their most common habitat is the shallow water (2-15m) of the South Australian gulfs. These are easily found by snorkelling and even wading at extreme low tide. They are also a reasonable size, a very attractive shell and easily found. They do not live in rocky reefs, under rocks or in caves but on or near sponges. With good viz you can snorkel on the surface and find them (if they are there!). These unlike most cypraea species are easy to find during the day.
The older diver I was speaking to has been diving since the 60's and has seen the decline. He also told me of his sadness and anger when he saw all the thersites (majority in poor condition) that were brought into his museum the collectors expecting to sell them to him for good $.
The SA state quota of 1 shell per person per day is very hard to enforce amd simply doesn't work. I was told of a single diver on a boat (with 8 other non divers) was legally allowed to take 8 specimens. What's to stop them making mulitple trips on the same day?
It should be 1 specimen per diver!

I have been reliably told by two dealers and a diver from SA that the large thersites that were previously found off Kangaroo Island & in the Port lincoln area's are extinct. No specimens have been found in at least the last 3-4 years. Don't waste my time & money going there to try and see one I was told. This also applies to the large dark shallow water (<40m) Cypraea armeniaca "brunnea" form from Port Lincoln. GONE, NO MORE BEING FOUND!
If specimens were found these would be sold, as they are valuable on the market.

The figure of only 5% of the Australian coastline being properly explored for shells, I do not know where you got that figure from. There are a number of Australian shell dealers who regularly run expeditions to find shells along our coastlines (diving & trawling). In WA & SA there are plenty of ameteur divers who collect zoila and on sell them, like crayfish they have $ value and are sought after!

Why am I worried about this. I care about the marine environment. When I go on a diving holiday to SA, I'd like to be able to see a couple of thersites in their natural environment and if I see a really nice one take one. In 15 years time I'd like to take my nephew diving in SA, will we be able to see a thersites? I truly hope so!


Regards,
Simon






> Automatic digest processor <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
From: Conchologists List On Behalf Of Guido Poppe
I cannot agree on that. I think not even 5 % of the coasts of Australia have
been properly explored for shells. There are so few people diving
professionally and the costs in getting these shells are so high that these
rather explain the price than the rarity. I agree that some populations can
be truly devastated in small corners... and I also agree that quality is so
important that a shell with growth line, sand grains etc.. is worthless.
Especially in the thersites they are good for the garbage. We make a point
on Guphil I by not collecting damaged shells, unless the crew wants to eat
them.

At present, we know of NOT A SINGLE MARINE SPECIES extinct by humans. At one
moment there was discussion about a northern American limpet, but it was
found again recently.

Instead of pointing the finger to collectors one should think about the
truly destroying things, such as building a town along the coast.

Guido

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