Are corals and live rock illegal in Hawaii?

[celbrise]

Can't find accurate information on this topic. Some say yes others say they had no issues shipping corals to the islands. Their is this one store here and probably the only store here that has a good variety of salt water things but the last time i went/first time i went they had a coral tank ( with those egg crates and all that ) but no corals looked like they were ready to recieve new shipment majority of their stock was gone. I don't see ANY stores here on the island that sells live rocks in general. I know of a company that sells coraline algae itself here on the islands but not on rocks. they grow it on these plastic sheets and sell those for an arm and a leg.

Any idea if they are legal and if so does anyone know what types? the thread I saw said zoa's were legal to ship here. not sure if all LPS and SPS are legal here as well.

 

[silverado61]

Its illegal to harvest live rock or coral in Hawaii. As a bussines or a private citisen. As far as shipping into Hawaii? I have no idea. It would probably cost a small fortune.

 

[celbrise]

Harvesting live rock is Legal I know that 1lb per day I believe. Harvesting corals here is illegal and fish as well without a permit i believe. I mean Shipping out of state here to Hawaii can't find any stores that sell corals on the island or any locals.

 

[jay0705]

Hmm thats weird. I know a few popular fish come from Hawaiian waters, iam shocked u cant buy corals tho.

 

[2quills]

I'd call that local store and ask them.

Last I had read about that stuff is that Hawaii doesn't import livestock only export. Hawaii is regarded as having one of the most sustainable requirements and practices when it comes to harvesting livestock.

I believe its that attitude that they feel most places have more destructive practices. So they don't import livestock as they feel like that just supports bad practice.

But I could be wrong.

 

[deejeff0442]

I have a freind who used to live there and harvest fish and especially tube worms and make a ton of cash.now he has been back here in texas for years but he did it.that being said I dont know What kind of licence if he had one.

 

[celbrise]

Fish wise i know it was legal years ago we;ve done that before when I was a kid no problems but now i think they want you to have a license for harvesting. Liverock I just confirmed is legal corals still unsure not sure about importing the live rock though people here are getting them from the ocean as far as my sources go I will try to buy some online see what happens. I know stores won't ship unless legal had this issue with plants and animals in general a few years back.