>I confirm for the Maldives. Shelling is also totally banned in Seychelles
>Island an Mauritius Island. But if you can't find any dealer of local shells
>in Seychelles (the shells comes from Philippines), it seems that nobody know
>the law in Mauritius. When you talk with natives, the answer is "yes, it is
>"a little" banned". And you can buy endemic species - harpa costata, lambis
>violacea, etc. - without any difficulties (but with lot of money).

Friends of mine came back from both Mauritius and Seychelles with many
shells in their luggage without any problems.
In Mauritius they heard about restrictions from local people, but they did
not have problems at the airport (nor were able to check at a local
authority).
About Maldives, I heard there are controls at the airport, even if small
shells are not usually detected or of interest to guards.
The most "serious" situation is in one of the most interesting places: the
Red Sea.
Here under is something like a summary and I will be very grateful to
people wishing to add or correct information:

From North to South, clockwise:
Israel: banned
Jordan: no info
Saudi Arabia: no info on shell collecting, but I heard about difficulties
in obtaining visa to enter the country
Yemen: probably no restrictions
Djibouti: lot of marine parks, no idea if any regulations outside them
Eritrea: I think no restrictions, but a country with a very delicate
political situation
Sudan: total ban? no info on permits
Egypt: controls at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh airports.  No info on other
localities.

Paolo


Paolo Giulio ALBANO
Bologna, ITALY
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