Calling all experts out there.

[biju708]

Hi Friends,
In my country Malta(Central Mediterranean) It's illegal to import Hard Corals and most invertebrates only soft corals are allowed and not even live rock or live sand.

The problem is that our environmental department is very much miss informed and when you try to import something they will immediately refuse because according to them someone might throw the hard coral in the sea and it will destroy or alter the natural enviornment of our island. The funny thing is that other European countries do import hard corals as a matter of fact I have to go to Austria buy hard corals from there and then get back to Malta since we are part of the EU they do not question why I have corals in my luggage and I simply go through. As you all can imagine this way it's very expensive. Since I am not a marine specialist all my attempts to convince these people went in vain and was hoping that maybe someone can give me some pointers or maybe point me to some websites where I can get information on the matter and get back to the environmental department with some studies to backup my points of discussion.

[Cougra]

To be honest, I don't think you will have very much luck finding the information you are looking for. Unfortunately there have been way too many documented cases of animals being imported into various regions around the world and out competeing native wildlife for space and habitat. It is a real problem around the world and many governments have impossed bans on a lot of different fish, animals and plants for that very reason. Case in point is that it's nearly impossible to import ornamental North American fish anywhere in Europe because too many people released them into the wild and they were able to survive and in some cases established viable breeding colonies.

In the case of importing live rock and corals again this could be a potential problem if they were released into the wild. However, a second thing you should check out is if your country has signed up for CITES as this convention has very strick guildlines on live rock, SPS and LPS corals as well. From the ban that you described I would say this is playing a huge role in what is available to you and what isn't. I know here in Canada a lot of our SPS stock was illegally imported from people crossing the US boarder and buying things from there and smuggling them back into Canada. Although some SPS corals can be imported here the list is fairly short.

I fear that you are fighting a loosing battle.

[cheeks69]

The Caulerpa taxifolia invasion on the Mediterranean Sea is one of the reasons why many countries particularly in Europe have become very strict on what is imported especially for the marine hobby. It has caused very serious problems spreading "like a cancer".

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/algae/chronology.html

[biju708]

Wow this is looking very bad for us. Thanks a lot for the information guys.

[daveat]

yes there are many freshwater critters that i am not allowed to have here in central IL due to restrictions. i was in key largo florida when they had a huge dive team involved in trying to retrieve a batfish that was illegally dumped into the ocean, according to my dive guide it had already cost the state several million to get it out of the area so it did not ruin the natural balance. many places are becoming more strict on importing live animals, look what happend in australia with the cane toad... here in IL one of the two big problems are asian flying carp and african (i believe) snakehead fish. the flying carp have actually killed several recreational boaters.

[reefjitsu]

Invasive species are a problem everywhere. No matter who you are or where you live in the world, there are introduced wildlife that are causing problems in your community. Most people only have to look as far as their own yards to find them. I am sure there are some who will read what I have just wrote and say Nah-uh not in my community, but Ya-huh, you might not know about it but they are there. This is a growing problem and it is something that will need to addressed in the near future. Soooo, if you live in an area that has laws that restrict imports of certain things, then count yourself lucky to live in a place that cares. Also, count yourself lucky that laws are not as strict as they really should be.

biju708, I know that this is a small consulation, but at least you get to live in Malta. I for one am very jealous of that. I am somewhat of a history buff and would love to come to Malta and see your country's rich heritage.

[Jerome]

Your best bet is to form a group or clubs with other local people in the area and do frag swaps, and exchange the corals that you can propigate yourselves. The hope for the marine aquarium industry is the becoming self-reliant. Sooner or later importation of corals and fish will end not just in Malta but everywhere. The freshwater aquarium industry imports less than 10% of it live stock from the wild according to Anthony Calfo's book. The marine industry and aquarist need to follow suite.