I will tell you about my experience with Israel: some time ago I asked information about shelling there. As it has been confirmed on this list too, in Israel you can't collect any species anywhere. I think this is a very good example of an excessive ban. Moreover, I asked to local authorities if and how a permit could be obtained. The answer was that I could apply for a permit if I was working on the behalf of an istitution. This practically cuts off most if not all of the private collectors. Moreover, half (yes, I said half) of the collected material should be sent to an israeli institution. I think this is a very good way of avoiding collecting in Israel and at the same time a good way to avoid knowledge of israeli shells and contacts with local collectors: how many times in the occasion of a trip somewhere you get in touch with local collectors and make new friends? Moreover the israeli malacofauna is interesting because of many lessepsian migrants into the Mediterranean. Moreover I also heard, but of this I do not have personal experience, that even in places like Sharm el- Sheikh (Sinai, Egypt) you can not fly away with shells in your luggage. Apart for the restrictions in Ras Muhammad marine park, you are likely to have troubles if shells are found in your luggage when cheching in at the airport wherever you collected them. Even if in such a touristic locality a good regulamentation is needed to avoid overexploiting of reefs even by hand of tourists looking for a souvenir, it is quite disappointing for serious collectors looking for non-destructive shelling. I heard the same about Hurghada (Egypt) and about Maldives (Indian Ocean). I would be grateful to anyone who may confirm or correct or add details on what I wrote, especially if you had personal experiences. Thanks, Paolo Paolo Giulio ALBANO Bologna, ITALY E-mail: [log in to unmask]