Can you bring home Zoas from Hawaii?

[Cantusaurus]

So… hypothetically. If I saw some nice zoas in some tide pools in Hawaii am I allowed to bring them? I’ve read that stony corals, and live rock is a big no, but there’s nothing that says Zoas cannot be taken. If they’re on a shell or something would that be fair game? Just take them in a small container under 3.4 ounces (for the plane)
Most likely I don’t plan on doing this, but if there are some on a little shell or something I may do it, if it’s legal of course.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Nope, very illegal.

 

[ZoWhat]

Woman who collected queen conch seashells in Florida sentenced to jail

A Texas tourist who collected 40 queen conchs seashells from Key West, Florida, is going to jail for 15 days.

www.usatoday.com

 

[TnFishwater98]

So… hypothetically. If I saw some nice zoas in some tide pools in Hawaii am I allowed to bring them? I’ve read that stony corals, and live rock is a big no, but there’s nothing that says Zoas cannot be taken. If they’re on a shell or something would that be fair game? Just take them in a small container under 3.4 ounces (for the plane)
Most likely I don’t plan on doing this, but if there are some on a little shell or something I may do it, if it’s legal of course.

You’ll have your 20min of fame. I believe you can get permits in Florida and probably other states to collect certain corals/critters. But you have to get a permit for most and there are laws in size and quantity.

 

[A;exr54]

You are hard off to find anyone in Hawaii that keeps reef tanks. It’s very illegal to collect anything from the ocean there.

When I was there I went snorkeling and scuba diving a lot.
I saw some amazing fish. Not so amazing corals.

 

[TnFishwater98]

You are hard off to find anyone in Hawaii that keeps reef tanks. It’s very illegal to collect anything from the ocean there.

And No Snakes! Don’t think about having a pet snake! No Snakes!

 

[ChiCity]

i used to have a guy that would post zoas to us reefers….
this was like 6 or 7 years ago tho.

wild sus; but fatty hawaiian z’s

 

[Cantusaurus]

I know it’s illegal for most things. I checked with this article.

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/files/2018/12/ch95rev2.pdf

It says stony corals, live rock, and it lists other animals. So idk.
I think you can take them, but I’d either have to peel them off the rock, or find some attached to sand or something.

 

[Radman73]

I know it’s illegal for most things. I checked with this article.

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/files/2018/12/ch95rev2.pdf

It says stony corals, live rock, and it lists other animals. So idk.
I think you can take them, but I’d either have to peel them off the rock, or find some attached to sand or something.

Call the Hawaii DLNR and ask. IIRC you can collect fish in certain areas for your personal aquarium, definitely not for resale. But please ask and let us know

 

[Tamberav]

I wouldn’t go off a website. I would call and get documentation that you are allowed. Plus some areas are protected. You don’t want to get caught without proper information. Fines or jail time… no thanks.

 

[ShakerBreaker]

I would never tempt Pele's Curse ...

 

[hsosa]

the crazy thing about Hawaii is there s no corals in tide pools etc, you have to go farther out because most of the coastline is polluted. you only see some fish like damsels, and alot of dead stuff and algae. and yes its illegal to remove stuff from the ocean and the locals will probably keep you a good beating if they catch you doing that good luck

 

[Jdadams]

I feel like if you call and ask, they will hear the words coral, polyp and airplane and it will be a hard NO.

 

[Radman73]

the crazy thing about Hawaii is there s no corals in tide pools etc, you have to go farther out because most of the coastline is polluted. you only see some fish like damsels, and alot of dead stuff and algae. and yes its illegal to remove stuff from the ocean and the locals will probably keep you a good beating if they catch you doing that good luck

Clearly we've gone to different parts of Hawaii.

 

[Cantusaurus]

the crazy thing about Hawaii is there s no corals in tide pools etc, you have to go farther out because most of the coastline is polluted. you only see some fish like damsels, and alot of dead stuff and algae. and yes its illegal to remove stuff from the ocean and the locals will probably keep you a good beating if they catch you doing that good luck

Hmm. I mean that’s what I thought, but at Two step there are some little “pools” and there are A LOT of Zoas (but you have to look close). Very surprising.
But yeah I’m worried about the locals etc

 

[kiran]

With everything I've heard from their export ban from this year I would lean heavily towards the side of no. Maybe if the collection were related to conservationist efforts or education I think they would allow it (with permits you probably have to purchase) but for personal reasons I find it unlikely.

Like others have said in this post though it's better to ask the officials about this rather then risk being incarcerated or fined based on information from even their own website.

 

[ZoWhat]

I feel like if you call and ask, they will hear the words coral, polyp and airplane and it will be a hard NO.

Y'all are assuming Government Workers actually answer their phones...or are even there to answer a ringing phone

 

[Jdadams]

Y'all are assuming Government Workers actually answer their phones...or are even there to answer a ringing phone

Well everytime I’ve called DNR where I’m from with questions regarding hunting or fishing, yes, they have answered the phone and then if they don’t know they put me with the person that over sees the stuff I’m inquiring about.

 

[Cantusaurus]

Y'all are assuming Government Workers actually answer their phones...or are even there to answer a ringing phone

A person from the DLNR responded to my email like 1.5 days later.
They said it was ok as long as I didn't take the rock the Zoas are on

 

[A;exr54]

A person from the DLNR responded to my email like 1.5 days later.
They said it was ok as long as I didn't take the rock the Zoas are on

That is surprising. When I was there it was different. They didn’t want anyone even getting near the corals.