coral collecting in FL

[sharkboy1410]

I'm going to Key West in the end of July, i'd like to know if you'd be allowed to collect small corals, or frags... i know you can't do this in a park (since there are several reserved areas in Key West), but could I collect some if i was not in a national reserve area? I know i can't go up to a large colony of coral an take a piece off, but if there are broken pieces or small corals on the bottom, would i be able to take some? I've actually seen corals before on a dive that were just sitting on the bottom that had been broken off, and some small corals that were on rocks, so that would be the stuff that i'd take...if its legal of course. So, please share some advice, and tips, i won't do this if i'll get in trouble, so i thought that i'd check with you guys first.

[King-Kong]

You cannot take ANY hard corals, rock, and even things like sea fans.

I know *that other forum* has a lot of old posts about what you can/cant take.

Soft corals tend to be OK to take.

[mojo]

It's illegal to take almost anything from Florida waters. This is taken very seriously by the government, and heavy fines can be imposed.

Given the mediocre colors (compared to what we normally put in our tanks), difficulty in keeping somethign alive to bring it back home, and the risk of getting caught, I'm not sure why anyone would want to try it...

[sharkboy1410]

oh, i guess i'm not going to try bringing anything back then... good thing i asked, thanks guys.

[darren24]

I have read that if you are caught they can / will confiscate your boat, scuba gear, car, and then fine you on top of that.

[hng]

I am a diver and from my experience, no dive operation will let you come back on the boat with ANY coral (you can't exactly sneak it on and bag it without being noticed either). They would risk getting heavy fines since almost all of the florida waters are protected reserves. Get some frags from friends here on TRT - they will be healthier and more colorful anyway.

[ReelFreak]

Here's the link to the Florida Regulations.....there are still plenty of things that you are allowed to collect. Read these regs very carefully, and cross reference this with an ID book on corals.

I'm headed to the Keys on Sunday, and you can bet I will be on the look out for Ricordia and Zoanthids (which are legal).....There's a post on RC showing off a guys Ricordia tank who lives and collects in the keys, and he's got one of the most impressive collection of Ricordias you can have.

Regardless of what some people may tell you, it's legal to take "some things" BUT you better know what you are taking!! Here's the link to read through....I'll be taking a copy of it on my boat, w/ my ID book to point out any "discrepencies" the FWC might have w/ my take.

http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm

[sharkboy1410]

thanks for the site, so i guess there are things that i can take.. fish probally would be impossible to catch...

[hng]

I would be very careful about collecting from the Keys. That link from Reelfreak says the following:

"The harvest of these species is generally allowed wherever recreational fishing is allowed. However, the harvest of marine life species or the use of the gear allowed to take these species may be limited or prohibited in state or federal parks, national wildlife refuges, and portions of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary."

Here's the potential problem, just about the entire Florida Keys are part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary unless you go really far offshore. Here is a map showing the boundaries of the marine sanctuary. http://www.mpa.gov/information_tools.../southatl.html

I guess my point is, just be careful. Anyway, shouldn't we discourage harvesting specimens from natural reefs? That's why we share frags isn't it?

[xaoss23]

wouldnt it just be easier to go to the LFS and buy it, rather then collecting the VERY little bit that is left out there?

[ReelFreak]

For those who "think there is very little left out there"....When was your last reef dive, how often do you go etc.....Are these assumptions based on experience or just heresay from others??

There are a ton of people who who "discourage" harvesting corals who have never even dove, much less the spots they are trying to protect.

I guess my point is, In my opinion and experience I don't feel the reefs are in as bad a state as many "conservationist" want you to believe. I dove in Puerto Rico a couple of months ago and read before I went that "90% of the reef is dead", It won't last 10 more years and all of these other assumptions....Well, The reefs I dove were not only healthy, but thriving.

Yes I agree w/ aquacultured frags for the "general public" who don't want to collect on their own......And what happens when you frag your corals?? They grow back, and what colony the frags come from continue to grow as well.....Not all of these LFS corals are aquacultured anyways...

I don't encourage everyone to go out and get all they can raping the ocean of everything....First most "aquariust" only dream of diving anyways, and never make that step.

Enough of a Rant, It's legal and I personally like to bring home things for my tank and watch them grow....But like stated, be very careful of where and what you are taking. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on this issue, I just hope that they are based on "personal experiences" and not just things they've heard or read.

[xaoss23]

well that sucked... just typed a real long post then erased it.

anyway, the short version.

I was a "diver" before an "aquarist" (and I know how to do a dive at 60ft for over an hour without ever touching anything but the boat).

Ricordia and zoanthids are on the safe list only because they are not "reef building" corals (and when you collect them, they dont grow back because youre not typically taking fragments).

(I appologize for using you as an example sharkboy) IMO, I don't think that the average 15year old has the background or training to identify species specific colonies. An ID book is only going to get you so far.

Talk to the "old timers" that have been diving the same sites for the last few decades. Did you see that reef when the other 90% was there? Thriving in comparison to what?

Collection isn't the only thing affection the reefs, but it surely isn't helping when done in an irresponsible manner.

This topic has been debated left and right. Collection is not going to stop and really isn't affecting the reefs enough to make a dent. However, imagine if the hobby could be completely self sufficent (and with the advances in the hobby and marine science... this is very possible)

Point is, be responsible (and remember that your audience isn't always who/what you may think).

[sharkboy1410]

i'm probally not going to take anything, most of you guys have better frags to offer, besides the color coral you take could be something else in your tank, and by bringing in a coral from the ocean, you may bring in an infection, or parasite. Besides, who knows if there'll be any ricordea or zoas..

[hng]

I don't want to seem like I am speaking without experience, I have a couple of hundred dives in my log book. I'm not saying I'm the dive expert but I think I've seen enough reefs to develop my opinions. Yes, the majority of reefs aren't in bad shape, they're actually quite healthy in many places. Perhaps they are healthy because they are protected from harvesting. So no, I don't agree that recreational harvesting of corals is a good idea or harmless.

When I dive, I cringe whenever I see an inexperienced diver crash into a coral head that may have taken hundreds if not thousands of years to grow. I would suspect that you feel the same when you see it. Would you not have the same feeling if you saw another diver pull out a hammer and whack off a few frags? Do corals in the wild grow at the same rate as our corals in the tank? I doubt that frags in the wild are growing an inch a month.

It's a double standard to say it's OK for us to collect corals because somehow we are experts but the general public is ignorant and shouldn't do the same. What's the point in collecting corals from the wild anyway? To get some free frags? Heck, I'll send you some

[Daytona955]

http://www.sealective.com/

Apparently it is not that illegal. Given it is limited types. Here is a charter that advertise that you can collect and they will provide all the means to do it...