How is it not right if it is all above board and legal?

Again. I am not sure how anyone took my words as doing something wrong or illegal. I had all the paperwork, i brought them across legally, but was a pain in the butt, even though I had all the right paperwork etc. Not all corals are illegal to bring across the line!

You actually paid for a cities permit?

Permits are required for importers/exporters not hobbyists. Schedule types play a role as well.
i am no expert by any means. I spent the time researching and talking with customs etc so that i could drive back with some corals. It was awhile back and do not remember every little detail, because in the end run it was a hassle. If the paper work was not exactly what a customs agent wanted, they could rake me over the coals. Like anytime you go across the border, the agents vary in mood, knowledge, expectations etc etc. Where one agent might think all was good, another will haul you in, interrogate you an then search your vehicle. I lived in California for quite awhile and spent many crossing in the office for nothing, while the next time I crossed with my parrot and nothing happened, just a have a good day.

I also physically drove them across, and from what customs told me, If i were to try and ship them across, that would be a whole different story. There are some US online stores that apparently can and will ship to Canada. Some people have said they have bought from these places and had them shipped with no issues. I have no experience in that, so I have no comment or knowledge of this method. It is my understanding that if the coral is cultured in the US it is way less complicated to import.


http://ec.gc.ca/Publications/0D42F8E...Trade_e_v6.pdf

I think you are wrong there. If something is listed as requiring cites it doesn't matter if you are a business or an individual. You still need it. You might get lucky and get an agent who is ignorant as to what is allowed or not. But if you get one who is knowledgeable, and you are bringing something across without proper permits, you might be setting yourself up to get cavity searched every time you cross the border in the future. In my opinion not worth it.

The only thing I can say to that is that the agent I spoke with said I did not need one and when I came across with corals, I was not asked for a permit. So did I get wrong info from the first guy an the second did not know any better as well,or was the first guy correct and that is why I was not asked for one by the second agent? Or is the info you believe to be correct, actually incorrect?

All I know is that I hid nothing, had the paperwork that I was told I needed and came across with the corals. They spent more time trying to figure out if it was for a business or hobby and the fact that my passport was expired than any CITES issues. Which is the opposite of what I thought would be an issue

Exactly doesn't matter who you are stony coral all need cities permit think you got lucky you can bring back soft coral I'm pretty sure unless they are attached to rock. Live rock is not allowed.

Sounds like you had a lucky day pretty sure everyone you dealt with was confused.

Not sure where you are getting your info, but the link I put up, that is from the Gov website, states that no permit needed for hobbyist. I am not sure if this applies for all countries or just for the US/Canada import/export

As I stated before, I am no expert, but I find it hard to believe that my experience was based on pure luck.
I have no Idea of what your background is, in bringing corals across the line. Can you tell me what your experience was, when you brought them across? In fact, what has anyone's experience been? I am curious if I was in fact lucky, or my research and efforts paid off by doing it properly as per the customs agents direction.

I put them on acrylic plugs before crossing, so there was no confusion as to what material the plug was..IE concrete or live rock.