Indeed there are species protected by law. Those interesting in your case
are basically Tridacna and Hippopus. They are on the Washington-list.
Charonia was on that list but was erased for reasons i donšt know. Cassis
and Turbo are not protected by international regulations.
There is an illustrated list of protected species, available only in german
language, but may be it is of help in arguments. It can be obtained from
Dr. Vollrath Wiese
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>Von: Tim Pearce <[log in to unmask]>
>An: [log in to unmask]
>Betreff: Philippine Regulations: Simon Aiken's experience
>Datum: Son, 28. Feb 1999 21:36 Uhr
>
> This news from Simon Aiken on the return from his trip to the
> Philippines:
>
> PLEASE SPREAD THIS AROUND: (liberally)
>
> At Manila international airport, I had a very unpleasant brush with the
> agriculture/fisheries people, who insisted that I was in violation of
> CITES
> regulations. (Tridacna sp., Hippopus sp., Turbo marmoreus, Cassis
> cornuta
> and Charonia tritonis are the regulated species from the Philippines.
> Naturally I avoid these shells, which are all big common shells in any
> case.) I spent 30 minutes arguing with half a dozen inspectors, who
> wanted
> me to get the 'paperwork' for my non-CITES-listed shells at another
> office,
> which would obviously have meant missing my flight. Alternatively, I
> could
> have left the shells with them and had them sent as cargo, which would
> have
> meant almost certain damage.
>
> I'm not sure exactly how I windled my way out of it, but Royal Brunei
> actually held the plane for me and I ran down the aisle with everyone
> glaring at me - but I had my shells. The inspectors basically wrote out
> some 'fake' paperwork for me on the spot. I was in the bizarre
> situation
> of being 'coached' by an inspector about what to say to the others, in
> order to avoid to looking like bribery was involved! (Yes, such things
> have been known in these countries....)
>
> It may be that regulations are being applied on a random basis, and I
> was
> just unlucky. (Indeed, I got them to acknowledge the irony that Cassis
> cornuta and Tridacnas were on sale at the souvenir shop in their own
> airport!) From what I was told, it looks like some sort of paperwork is
> required from the Ag/Fish office in Quezon City, in advance of taking
> non-regulated shells out of the Philippines - at least in theory. I
> would
> urge anyone collecting in the Philippines to do this and avoid
> unpleasant
> situations.
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