Man, this is getting intense. I can't believe I actually read it all.
I'm bored.
lol you must be very bored
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Man, this is getting intense. I can't believe I actually read it all.
I'm bored.
Somewhere in this thread - 30m was "determined" to be deepwater.
and more...
several things including...(doing this to save space-drainbamge)
And finally, you are ignoring the FACT that not all the zoanthids in question are or were the same species - I presume because you really don't have any arguement on that issue.
It just boggles me that a hobbyist that has never studied a zoanthid in their entire life would argue with a man that has dedicated his life to them. Not to mention study them in the country he works. This argument is almost pointless.
(many things-drainbamage)
They're very unlikely to be Japanese. I live in Japan and zoas like that are rare to the point of being non-existent (starting to appear). They're more likely to have come from Vietnam. Exporting coral from Japan is, AFAIK, very difficult.
So I noticed a thread just like this one that someone recently started on another forum about some alleged JDWZ that he bought and a guy in japan posted this:
...
"Hey I have a friend named George from Ontario Canada, do you know him?"
It's not really like that^
But yeah he lives in Tokyo. No I don't know him. I live in Michigan.
Here is what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had to say:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of corals from Japan that will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
If you intend to import these corals for commercial purposes, consistent with our definition of commercial, regulations contained in Title 50, of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 14.91, require that you must obtain an import/export license prior to engaging in business as an importer or exporter of wildlife or wildlife products. The license is valid for one year from the date of issuance and costs $100.00. In addition, as an import/export license holder, you must pay inspection fees for each wildlife shipment imported or exported under the license. For information on inspection fees and how to calculate the inspection fees that you will be required to pay, please visit our website at: Download the Law Enforcement Annual Report <http://www.fws.gov/le/AboutLE/2010InspectionFees.htm>
Any wildlife shipment would be considered commercial if the shipment is being imported or exported " related to the offering for sale or resale, purchase, trade, barter, or the actual or intended transfer in the pursuit of gain or profit, of any item of wildlife and includes the use of any wildlife article as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting sales."
You can view our complete definition of commercial at the following website: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: <http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=2a9652dc6b37e04aa0e7360c424f07e5&rgn=div8&view=text&node=50:1.0.1.2.8.1.7.4&idno=50>
You can find the application for an import/export license on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/forms/3_200_3.pdf <http://www.fws.gov/forms/3_200_3.pdf>
If you are not importing these corals for commercial purposes, consistent with our definition of commercial, you do not have to apply for an import/export license. However, you may still have to pay inspection fees depending on the species involved. If you import corals that are not protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an inspection fee of $56 will apply. However, if you import corals that are protected by CITES, an inspection fee of $112 will apply. For information on inspection fees and how to calculate the inspection fees that you may be required to pay, please visit our website at: Download the Law Enforcement Annual Report <http://www.fws.gov/le/AboutLE/2010InspectionFees.htm>
An import/export license only authorizes the importation or exportation of wildlife or wildlife products in general terms. Please be advised that this license is in addition to, and not in place of, any other licenses or permits required for protected species of wildlife.
Corals in the Order Zoantharia are not protected however, you should be aware that other species of corals, and in particular, stony corals, in the Order Scleractinia, are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices according to the degree of protection they need. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid overutilization that may threaten them with extinction. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Party countries for assistance in controlling the trade in that species. We recommend that you check the CITES website at:Appendices I, II and III to determine if the coral species that you wish to import are protected by CITES. <http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml>
If so, you must obtain a valid CITES export permit issued by the CITES Management Authority in Japan in order to import those CITES-listed coral species into the United States. You can find contact information for the Japanese CITES Management Authority on the CITES website at: National Contact Database <http://www.cites.org/cms/index.php/lang-en/component/ncd/?country=JP> <http://www.cites.org/cms/index.php/lang-en/component/ncd/?country=JP>
Whether or not these corals that you wish to import are protected by CITES, as you prepare to import these corals into the United States, you must complete Form 3-177, Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife. You can find this form on our website at the following address: Forms available in .pdf format through the Office of Law Enforcement This form is not difficult to complete, although you must provide the scientific name for each species of coral that you wish to import. <http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/faqs.htm>
Please have this form completed and have it, any required Japanese CITES export permit, a copy of your import/export license, if applicable, and these corals available for inspection as you prepare to import them into the United States.
You must import your corals at a designated port. You can find a list of designated ports and contact information for those ports on our website at the following address: FWS Law Enforcement Designated Ports <http://www.le.fws.gov/inspectors.htm> Since this is a live commodity, we require that you contact 48 hours in advance the port where you will be importing your corals in order to coordinate their clearance into the United States. <http://www.le.fws.gov/inspectors.htm>
Thank you for your cooperation in complying with our regulations that help protect fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. Please feel free to respond to this message with any further inquiries that you may have regarding this matter.
[Sigh...] I still have no proof. :sad:
BTW he is closer than we are and there are tons and tons of aquarium shops in the mega huge city that is Tokyo. Until I get proof I am much more inclined to believe what he is saying true. (at least about the part where he usually doesn't see zoas like these IN JAPAN!)
[Sigh...] I still have no proof. :sad:
BTW he is closer than we are and there are tons and tons of aquarium shops in the mega huge city that is Tokyo. Until I get proof I am much more inclined to believe what he is saying true. (at least about the part where he usually doesn't see zoas like these IN JAPAN!)
[Sigh...] I still have no proof. :sad:
BTW he is closer than we are and there are tons and tons of aquarium shops in the mega huge city that is Tokyo. Until I get proof I am much more inclined to believe what he is saying true. (at least about the part where he usually doesn't see zoas like these IN JAPAN!)