NOAA announces the proposal to list 66 stony coral species as endangered ..

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by saltcreep

But you still haven't explained how it will increase costs. Permitting is already required under CITES. One thing to consider, this is an American piece of legislation.

Oh. I'm not aware that CITES permit is currently required, but I've been out of the fish business since 2008. Then this is simply US regulations catching up to international regulations and it's impacts no more different than the current level of compliance with CITES.

[Samw]

I think the implications of being placed on the endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would be a complete ban on commercial import/export of those corals in the US. Currently, stony corals are in Appendix II which means the species are not necessarily threatened with extinction globally and trade is allowed but regulated (meaning permits are required). If those proposed corals are listed as endangered under the ESA, then I think those specified corals will be relisted into Appendix I of CITES which essentially places a ban on commercial import/export of those corals and that would affect all countries that follow CITES as well. That is my interpretation. But I don't know. These things are confusing.

http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/cont...-coral-species

"If listed, the corals would be banned from collection in U.S. waters, banned from import into the United States; interstate shipment would become illegal. Captive propagation would require a federal permit, and corals could only be bought and sold within states. “Effectively, this would end the international trade in stony corals to the United States,” Meyers said in an exclusive interview with CORAL Magazine."

[Samw]

Now that they are moving forward with their proposal, it sounds like it is getting closer to reality.

[saltcreep]

Originally Posted by Samw

I think the implications of being placed on the endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would be a complete ban on commercial import/export of those corals in the US. Currently, stony corals are in Appendix II which means the species are not necessarily threatened with extinction globally and trade is allowed but regulated (meaning permits are required). If those proposed corals are listed as endangered under the ESA, then I think those specified corals will be relisted into Appendix I of CITES which essentially places a ban on commercial import/export of those corals and that would affect all countries that follow CITES as well. That is my interpretation. But I don't know. These things are confusing.

Bang on. However, I'm not sure whether the corals would be listed in Appendix I solely due to the ESA legislation (at least not right away). The CITES secretariat is an independent body with their own protocols.

This still may not have any affect on the trade into Canada (save for increased permitting) as evidenced by the trade in Arowanas. This is still permissible in Canada, but not in the US.

Only time will tell.