Shell collecting poll

TMHeimer · Dec 16, 2013

A few threads on it before and after I joined SB 7 years ago. Check which best describes you. Elaborate if you like, but it's all been said. Check one.

Centrals · Dec 16, 2013

Highly improbable that we will ever dive together!

Storker · Dec 16, 2013

I don't collect shells. I pick them. And take them home and eat them, 'cause seafood is yummy! Provided I dive my home waters, at sites with a healthy exchange of clean water and a good population. I don't harvest vulnerable species or populations.

Oh, you mean for a collection? Nope. My wife tells me I drag too much stuff into the house as it is, and shells aren't on the top of my list of stuff I'd like to collect.

Centrals · Dec 16, 2013

Storker:
I don't collect shells. I pick them. And take them home and eat them, 'cause seafood is yummy! Provided I dive my home waters, at sites with a healthy exchange of clean water and a good population. I don't harvest vulnerable species or populations.

Oh, you mean for a collection? Nope. My wife tells me I drag too much stuff into the house as it is, and shells aren't on the top of my list of stuff I'd like to collect.

China had just banned the import of geoduck, bivalves etc. from certain states in USA because of arsenic contamination!!

Doc · Dec 16, 2013

Centrals:
China had just banned the import of geoduck, bivalves etc. from certain states in USA because of arsenic contamination!!

That might be the public line, but it's more an issue of a trade, protectionist embargo. Pot calling the kettle black, anyway.

Shell collecting and export is illegal in many places. Want a good laugh? Hit eBay with the word "roatan" and see how that law is working. Same with any other prohibited place or product.

koozemani · Dec 16, 2013

I can't say that I've never collected a dead shell, but in general I maintain a hands off approach. I would never collect a living shell solely for the shell.

100days-a-year · Dec 16, 2013

Dead only unless I plan on eating it.No different than hunting an elephant or rhino for tusks or horn and throwing the meat to the vultures.I was taught only to kill what I planned to eat.

Eric Sedletzky · Dec 16, 2013

Collecting and hunting to me are different.
I HUNT live abalone to eat (legally)
I HUNT scallops to eat (legally)
I collect small empty abalone shells that lay on the bottom because I think they are neat to collect. Nothing illegal or wrong with any of it.
Empty shells will just get ground up into powder on the ocean floor anyway so what difference does it make? As long as nobody is living in them.

Bob DBF · Dec 16, 2013

Eric Sedletzky:
Collecting and hunting to me are different.
I HUNT live abalone to eat (legally)
I HUNT scallops to eat (legally)
I collect small empty abalone shells that lay on the bottom because I think they are neat to collect. Nothing illegal or wrong with any of it.
Empty shells will just get ground up into powder on the ocean floor anyway so what difference does it make? As long as nobody is living in them.

A real good start and much the way I look at shell collecting.

However, I know shell collectors and they do have some nice shells and enjoy them. I would suggest that the collector have to physically collect the shell for his collection and ban the sale or trade of shells. Just as in fishing, it is not the individual fisherman who changes the balance, its the commercial operations that when trawling, kill everything in their path to select a portion to harvest and sell.

Bob
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"No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously" -Dave Barry

Doubler · Dec 16, 2013

Doc:
That might be the public line, but it's more an issue of a trade, protectionist embargo. Pot calling the kettle black, anyway.

Shell collecting and export is illegal in many places. Want a good laugh? Hit eBay with the word "roatan" and see how that law is working. Same with any other prohibited place or product.

It was reported on KIRO News 7 here in Seattle last night that high levels of contaminants were found in the Geoduck population. Nothing to do with trade or China just stating a fact. Although I think it is a pot/kettle situation if you compare it to the poisoned pet treats they shipped here.

Shell collecting poll

Check one

I don't care

Don't take or touch anything, including shells with hermits

Collecting dead shells OK, live ones, not OK

Don't take, I know about mollusc populations

Don't take/touch anything--Agencies say so, though I don't have data.

I collect sometimes--don't really think about it

All good, I am a shell collector

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TMHeimer

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Centrals

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Storker

ScubaBoard Supporter

Centrals

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Doc

Was RoatanMan

koozemani

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100days-a-year

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Eric Sedletzky

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Bob DBF

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Doubler

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