Ocean collecting question

[madrefkepr]

I will be going to South Padre Island in February (will be a nice time to get out of Minnesota for a while ), and thought I might see what I could find in the ocean to bring back. My question is: are there regulations governing what can be taken from the ocean? If so, where would I be able to find out what I can or can't take? I wouldn't be looking for anything in particular, and I wouldn't take anything I couldn't identify, or anything I couldn't care for. I'm just not sure if I will ever have the opportunity to visit the ocean again. As always, thanks in advance for your input!

Dave

 

[Mac1]

That's a good question, I'd like to know too... I'm going down there in March (a great time to get out of Western New York, too !), and hadn't even thought about it.. I suppose so long as it's a domestic flight, and you're cooler fits through the X-Ray machine (quite obviously not some expolosive's...) but I'll betcha the airport won't be a problem. I think all the corals are protected, but plants and sand and such you can get away with??? I've seen and heard about it before, perhaps a search is in order...

- Mac

 

[Anonymous]

South Padre island is part of Texas right?

Then, unless it isn't within a National Marine Sanctuary, the laws regarding collection will be enforced and issued by the state of Texas. Most states require a saltwater fishing licence, and there are non-commercial limits to what can be collected.

In FL, you can take one 5 gallon bucket/day of caulerpa algae. One 5/gal bucket of Cassiopea, 12 gorgonians (I can't remember exact number), and the fish vary based on size. Some fish are completely off limit.

 

[texasreefer]

Where on South Padre are you going? Most of South Padre Island is a National seashore. Depending on which end of the Island you are going you could go to the local jetties and collect Peppermint Shrimp, Blennies, Porcelian Crabs, snails, hermit crabs, various algae, and several types of juvenile fish, just be careful most of the juvenile fish you collect will get really large really quick. We've collected starfish in the surf by digging in the sandbars and sifting the sand through a collander. As far as the regulations check w/ the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to determine the exact regulations.