July 1997

Public aquariums, are often the recipients of animals that are
confiscated. The confiscation of these animals are usually the result
of: 1) incorrect documentation accompanying the shipment; 2) an over-
zealous wildlife officer or; 3) the organisms being shipped are not
allowed to be imported. Mainland importers often encounter the first
two reasons when attempting to import corals and giant clams. When
confiscated, these animals typically end-up in nearby public
aquariums. There is, however, one state where the third reason does
occur; Hawaii. In a recent issue of another fish magazine, a book
reviewer implied that stony corals could be obtained by residents of
Honolulu, HI. This innocent remark highlighted for me the ignorance
that many hobbyists have about import regulations or an apparent lack
of concern. This is not confined to just hobbyists as some retailers
and wholesalers are also unaware of or choose to ignore these laws in
pursuit of a quick sale. An excellent example of this ignorance or
lack of concern occurs when shipments are made to the state of Hawaii.

The importation of plants and animals into the state of Hawaii is
enforced by the state department of agriculture and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife service. Many of the corals common in the aquarium trade are
not native to Hawaii. It has always been illegal for private
individuals to import non-native stony and soft corals, tridacnid
clams and live rock, into the state of Hawaii. It is also illegal for
shops to import and sell non-native corals, clams and live rock. It
is even illegal to simply transship these items through the state of
Hawaii!

In the past, residents of Hawaii could collect native Hawaiian stony
corals. However, this became illegal on June 15th, 1988. On March
7th, 1990 it became illegal to sell native coral, on May 23rd, 1991
it became illegal to collect and/or sell live rock, and on June 18th,
1993 it became illegal to intentionally damage live coral heads or
live rock. At present the only exceptions to these laws occur when
permits are issued to use live coral or live rock for educational or
research purposes. This involves a very lengthy period of permit
applications, testifying before state boards and gaining approval
from state agencies. This is a process that usually takes several
years!

Several times each year the Waikiki Aquarium receives confiscated
shipments of stony and soft corals, zoanthids, corallimorpharians and
tridacnid clams seized by state agricultural agents. Many of these
shipments originated on the US mainland. Dealers and exporters who
ship these organisms are not only breaking the law, they are setting
a bad example for the hobby. Unfortunately, this is not restricted to
just corals but also occurs with marine and freshwater fish imported
illegally into the islands. Venomous fish such as lionfish are
illegal to import into Hawaii, yet each year the Waikiki Aquarium
receives confiscated specimens that originated on the mainland.
Actions such as these only help to perpetuate the negative image that
many people have of the marine aquarium hobby. I was recently called
down to the state plant quarantine office to ID some confiscated
corals. Many of these pieces were cultured specimens, as evidenced by
the plant holders they were growing out of and had been packed using
methods pioneered at the Waikiki Aquarium. I am somewhat distressed
that corals are becoming so easily propagated that they are now
available for smuggling. Please, if you are selling corals, clams
or fish, do not sell them to people without checking what their
destination is! If they are going to Hawaii, first check to make sure
they have a valid import permit!

Hawaii has a very unique and fragile ecosystem. There are more
endangered species of plants and animals in the state of Hawaii than
in any other state in the United States. Please help us protect our
precious resources by educating yourselves and others about the
various import and export restrictions regarding corals and fish
(marine and freshwater) into or out of the state of Hawaii. If you
have any further questions, or if anyone is planning on shipping
plants or animals into or out of the state of Hawaii, please call
Domingo Crevallo, Hawaiian State Department of Agriculture, Plant
Quarantine branch at 808-586-0844 to obtain a list of what is and is
not allowed into and out of the state of Hawaii. Let us all work
together to preserve our environment and our hobby!

Q. I recently purchased a long tentacle anemone which is yellow with
purple dots at the end of its tentacles. Firstly, I would like to
know approximately how much light per day this anemone needs.
Secondly, I noticed that when I touched the anemone to place it in a
specific spot in the tank, I did not feel any sting. What does this
indicate? Should I assume that the anemone is dying? I have lost
anemone in the past and I hope that this one doesn't die on me
because I am ready to give up on keeping anemones. They are
beautiful, but extremely difficult to keep even if water conditions
are monitored frequently and kept in the proper range.

I hope to hear from you soon and I want to thank you again for all of
your help.

John D New York, Internet

John, unfortunately the yellow anemone you have is most likely
Heteractis malu. The reason I say unfortunately is that the
yellow colouration is not natural. Exporters take advantage of the
fact that anemones can completely expel the water in their central
cavities and then refill themselves. The anemone is placed in a moist
tray, which causes it to deflate. It is then placed into another tray
of seawater, or the tray is simply refilled with seawater, that
contains a yellow dye. The anemone then re-inflates, filling itself
with the yellow-coloured water, the tissues become stained and voila,
you have a yellow anemone. Often the anemones are kept in the dark
prior to this treatment so that they loose their zooxanthellae and
look white with purple tips. The consumer then purchases these
brilliantly coloured anemones and becomes dismayed as over the
anemone withers away and dies, or if it recuperates, the
zooxanthellae population regrows and it becomes a light beige colour;
its natural colour. The lack of stickiness is natural, these anemones
do not have a powerful sting, unlike carpet anemones
Stichodactyla spp.

I have received a few letters about anemones and the poor results
aquarists have keeping them. Next issue we will explore the
techniques for keeping these beautiful creatures alive, healthy and
reproducing!