Importing Coral Discussion (CITES)

[Scythanith]

Originally Posted by davej

LPS requires cites permit.
Any stony coral does.

DaveJ is correct. There are all sorts of ways around the system, applying for CITES permits with old documentation of the original importation into the USA, mislabelling corals on CITES re-export permits hoping border crossings won't know better, etc. But for many corals commonly traded or that have been in the hobby for sometime it's extremely unlikely someone has the original paperwork that that specific corals was imported under. For a brand new coral from Australia or something like that, sure I can believe that they may have that paperwork!

Anything coral that grows a calcareous skeleton requires a CITES re-export permit to legal bring across the border. Anything else is just shady.