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Local Items: Shells forbidden?
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2007: Archives - 2007-01-01 to 2007-06-30: Shells forbidden?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jorge Arias (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Saturday, June 9, 2007 - 11:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi all, We are from Uruguay and we are visting Bonaire for the first time on June 27th. We usually collect shells as a souvenir....Is it true that marine park regulations forbid this activity? Thanks for your answers

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Thorpe (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #149) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 1:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Jorge,

First of all, "welcome", I know your enjoy your participation on this dicussion board.

When we did the diving orientation we were told that removing shell from the island was forbidden.

I was absolutely amazed when I drove over to the east side of the island, by the mangroves, to see piles of conk shells.

I too like to collect shells from places I visit, but so far have been able to refrain from doing such on Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jane Rene Dozier (BonaireTalker - Post #25) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 1:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We were really surprised at how few shells there actually were when we were diving.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #743) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 7:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Marine Park regulations do in fact forbid taking shells.

On a visit several years ago we were leaving the island and the couple in front of us had shells and coral taken away from them by security at the airport. They were told it was against Marine Park Regulations. I often wondered if the inspector returned the items to the seaside.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan - www.bsdme.info (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #426) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 7:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Check the new STINAPA web site for all sorts of information pertaining to both the BNMP and Washington Slagbaai National Park. They really did a great job and you can lose hours reading all the information provided!

www.stinapa.org

Here is what they say about taking shells

4. Collecting: It is prohibited to remove anything, alive or dead, from the BNMP. In exception to this prohibition are fish caught using traditional fishing practices.
A special note to our visitors: Do not collect seashells, sea fans, sand, or dead pieces of any type of coral. This includes purchased souvenirs that may include any of the mentioned items. These items will be intercepted by the customs x-ray machines upon your departure and will be removed from your luggage. This can lead to unnecessary delays of your flight.

(Message edited by sporter on June 10, 2007)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian back in Blighty (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2983) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 1:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Look at the CITES agreement many forms of coral and shells etc. are protected. You could be prosecuted when you return home if you have "protected" items with you.

Leave only bubbles and take home just memories (and batteries).

BTW the Conch shell piles are very old and not current.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1753) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 2:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Besides, if we all took shells home, where would the hermit crabs live?
Leave the shells where you find them.
mare

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jorge Arias (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 5:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We will have then just to see those shells and avoid taking them home..I understand the regulation but at least for us sounds a bit strange. Thanks all.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Becky H - another with no trip in sight (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1178) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 7:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just remember the divers motto: Take only pictures, leave only bubbles... or something to that effect. :-)

oops - didn't see that Brian had already said that, sorry

(Message edited by morgans4me on June 10, 2007)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #124) on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 9:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sadly most photographers leave a lot more then just bubbles .......

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bas Noij (BonaireTalker - Post #94) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 2:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I fully agree with Menno on this. I think underwater photography is a beautiful thing, but sadly a lot (most) photographers care more about the shot than the environment. Very very sad. With the growing numbers of divers on the Bonairean reefs I really feel that more underwater patrols are needed and that there needs to be a system where dive operators control their guest on this issue when boatdiving.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian back in Blighty (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2984) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 3:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

My personal view is that each camera should require a separate Marine Park tag, then it could be revoked if the camera owner violates the park rules. Note I did not use the term Photographer.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2084) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 5:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

i can assure you that photographers have more "accidents" with respect to the reef...but i'm pretty sure that's no reason to start sounding "judgemental" towards photographers...

just another skill to be learned - good pictures without wrecking the reef;)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #126) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 9:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just forbid camera's that needs operating and handling with more then more hand in the BNMP. Those digital snapp-shot kind of camera's do a great job, especially when the diver actually can control his / her buoyancy........: Buoyancy control, another phrase where a lot of divers have heard from in the past but never have experienced themselves ...... A never ending story this is ......

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian back in Blighty (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2985) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 10:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Menno It's not the camera that causes the problem it is the diver. I have a large housed camera and pride myself on my bouancy control. I do see divers who are normally very good at keeping off the reef lose all control when taking pictures as the shot becomes the most important thing to them. - No shot is worth damage to the reef.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #127) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 7:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I do agree with you Brian, but, it's not the gun either that does the damage - it's the person who pulls the trigger ....... better act when there is something left to do that for !!!!




 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2086) on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 7:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

it's more than buoyancy control...it's knowing when and where to take what sort of shot...experience counts...

i suspect however that far greater dangers face the bonarian reefs than that posed by photographers...



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #128) on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 9:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh so true Bob.
Let's just start with getting that experience anywhere but on the Bonairian reefs. A training pool with a fake reef perhaps ??
You second point is a different level. Sadly that level is beyond everybody's reach, although some think "they" do listen.......

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Angus Magrudder (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 9:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Menno - artificial reefs are a great training ground!

Why is the danger to Bonaire reefs beyond everybody's reach?

"although some think "they" do listen" (to what?) I'm not sure what you are getting at!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #129) on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 10:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

It's not the divers who are the greatest threat to the reefs imho. Things like our sewage-system (the lack of having it), the Freewinds with their continious dumping, the way the fueling of the web happens, etc. etc. are a much bigger threat imho.
So, I was referring to our Government not listening although some people (the voters) still think they do. I already do regret that statement, and will not go in any further on that.
I just hope that the divers and photographers will take matters in their own hands and stop doing damage to our reefs otherwise I fear that the freedom of the diving we have on Bonaire will disappear. Maybe even sooner then we expect !!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech/Bonaire Insider (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6167) on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 4:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Regarding the original topic of discussion, Linda and I were talking about crafts made with shells and the cite from the STINAPA materials above. I don't know how good the folks at security are at understanding or detecting this, but there are two sources of shells on the island which do not originate in the Bonaire National Marine Park.

The first is land snails. These are everywhere in the wild, and have a distinctive shell pattern. See photo:

Land Snail

Linda and the kids used a lot of empty land snail shells in making Christmas decorations a couple of years ago that were sold to a myriad of people when we were still in the Cinnamon Art Gallery, including to tourists taking them off the island.

The second is tourist items which were purchased elsewhere (e.g. the U.S.) by local merchants for resale as souvenirs here on Bonaire. I've seen a fair number of different such items which use imported shells.

I too would be curious to what extent airport security staff is confiscating shells, specifically those embedded in some sort of handicraft. I know in years past they would confiscate conch shells - back when security was to the right of the check-in there used to be a table piled high with conch shells there, but what about now?

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sparty (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 10:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

They also confiscate beach glass.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2570) on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 4:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The beach glass is a good lead in to my question.

As I understand it, the BMP extends from the high tide line down. Thus, it would seem to me, that any object found above high water mark is not subject to BMP rules, including not being confiscated.

For instance, on the east side south of Sorobon there is usually a considerable quantity of broken staghorn coral that has been thrown up by the waves: by my reasoning that coral (and beach glass and conch shells from the Sorobon piles) should not be subject to confiscation. There are also occasional shells: I have a trunkfish exoskeleton that was well above high water mark down south. (Amazingly enough, it is almost intact! It looks as though an octopus may have done the job.)

Can anyone comment on how this is being interpreted in practice? As in 'innocent until proven guilty' or 'we will take it because it must have come from the Park". Perhaps someone from BMP or STINAPA will chime in.

(Message edited by glenr on June 26, 2007)

 


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