Coral Heads for sale in Florida

[handben]

Two weeks ago while down in South Florida for the New Years weekend, I had a couple of good dive days before the cold hit and we had to hunker down on dry land. Just sort of blowing some time, I went into a tourist nautical themed shop in Stuart. I was flabbergasted to see all the coral on display for sale. It had been bleached out, and was coral heads, coral "nests" and other coral that appeared to have been harvested intact (as opposed to found dead on the beach). I thought that it was just the general state of pollution that was to blame for the lack of large coral in the area; but when I saw how much money they were asking (up to $100 or so for a small coffee table top sized coral head). I can see how folks would be killing and taking anything large enough to display. Are there no laws in Florida protecting the coral from this type of harvest?

 

[DennisS]

Most of the corals and shells you see in FL giftshops are imported from Asia.

 

[pafindr]

Most of the corals and shells you see in FL giftshops are imported from Asia.

Also some of those are farm raised

 

[RickI]

"All species of hard or stony coral (Order Scleractinia) and all fire coral (Family Milleporidae) are prohibited for harvest in state waters of Florida unless it is pursuant to a research permit. "

FWC - Saltwater Regulations Coral Questions & Answers

 

[handben]

Also some of those are farm raised

I didn't know that coral was able to be cultivated that way, I guess it makes sense if it can be grown in aquariums. I don't feel so bad actually about farm raised coral as decorative pieces. This is not as bad destroying natural reefs purely for gaudy aesthetics.

"All species of hard or stony coral (Order Scleractinia) and all fire coral (Family Milleporidae) are prohibited for harvest in state waters of Florida unless it is pursuant to a research permit. "

FWC - Saltwater Regulations Coral Questions & Answers

I am heartened to see Floridian lawmakers trying to protect the reefs.