[Coral-List] reply to "selling coral" post

[Svein A. Fosså]

Dear coral-listers,

without taking any stand on the question of the legality of the trade from
this one particular vendor (who I don't know anything about), I have to
correct Dr. Frias-Torres' claim that Scleractinians are CITES appendix I.

All scleractinians are CITES appendix II, and thus legal to trade in,
provided the necessary export permits or re-export certificates are in
place.

Fossil corals, however, are exempt from CITES.

Regards,

Svein A. Fosså 
AKVARIEKONSULENTEN 
Fladefjell 15 
NO-4878 Grimstad, Norway 
Tel: +47 37 09 18 88 
Fax: +47 37 04 30 29 
Skype: svein.fossa
E-mail: sfossa at online.no 



-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of
Sarah.Friastorres at noaa.gov
Sent: 13. februar 2008 21:53
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: [Coral-List] reply to "selling coral" post

Dear coral-listers,
in the web site provided by Ed Blume on "selling coral" 
http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/front
Steven Thorne claims to be the "only licensed UK and European 
distributor of coral from the Great Australian Barrier Reef". The site 
clearly has a commercial purpose (=wants to sell the corals).

Let's review CITES, the Convention of International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. I think it's appropriate 
since Australia and all the countries in the European Union (including 
UK) are members of and have ratified CITES.

All stony corals (Scleractinia) are listed under Appendix I CITES, 
with the exception of coral fossils listed under app. II. For the look 
of the photographs at the site, it seems they are live (non-fossil 
corals) that have been killed and cleaned. 
Appendix I CITES PROHIBITS INTERNATIONAL TRADE in specimens of the 
species listed because they are in danger of extinction. The only 
exception are imports of such species for non commercial purposes 
(i.e. scientific research). Further exceptions apply (Under Article 
VII) if the corals have been propagated in captivity (which is not the 
case here). 

So, what do you suggest should be the next step now?

Sarah Frias-Torres, PhD
CIMAS-RSMAS University of Miami & MRAG Americas


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