Ban Live Rock Imports

[PeterIMA]

I am not sure who is the person (Don) that made the posting on GCFINET. I suspect that he may be associated with the Florida Marine Life Association. There were postings about regulations they wanted in Florida. One regulation proposed was to ban the importation of live rock. The main issue appears to be the fact some importers release their effluent into the ocean. Hence there is the possibility of marine organisms from other oceans entering the marine environment in Florida. This could be handled by ensuring that holding facilities are closed systems.

Peter

 

[brandonberry]

I read a lot of the minutes from the Marine Life Workgroup (I assume that is what you are referring to) and have seen no mention recently of banning imported liverock. Here are links to their minutes if anyone is interested.

http://myfwc.com/marine/workgroups/2008 ... 6-27ML.pdf

http://myfwc.com/marine/workgroups/Arch ... chive.html

Given that some of the people on this group are worried about the small grains of live rock that are harvested with Ricordea, nothing would surprise me though.

 

[PeterIMA]

I used the link you provided to access the 2005 Minutes. Here is the section concerning live rock where the issues of pathogens on live rock and open holding systems were discussed.

Peter Rubec

Live Rock
LE issue: How can you distinguish between domestic and imported live rock?
-Jessica: There is a regulation that states that imported live rock and U.S. cultured
live rock cannot be held in the same tank.
-Forrest: Difficult to discern. Is a challenge from LE perspective. There are LE
concerns that ricordia rock is being chipped in the U.S. and being masqueraded as
an imported product.
-Richard: Imported rock is supposed to be cultured; but it is often a wild product.
What can be done to stop wild live rock from being imported into the U.S?
-Jessica: I can look into who would regulate that.
-Rick: If it is illegal in Haiti then it can be done through the Lacey Act.
-Ken: This is a problem. Domestic cultured rock can be discerned from wild rock
because seed rock is known to DACS. The interior of this rock is a quarried piece of
limestone. Imported rock looks different in the interior and this can be difficult to
discern on the water. No way to tell the difference between a Haitian cultured live
rock or a domestic cultured live rock. If they are collecting ricordia and claiming
import there is almost no way to tell.
-Henry: Animals on rocks should be different based on the animals present on the
rock, but this is not easy.
-Don: Not sure that Haiti has limestone quarries to get the rock. Haitian rock is not
the only problem, Pacific rock is greater issue. Potential for introduction of nonindigenous
pathogens. Recommends FWC look into live rock importation. Could be
a vector for non-native species especially if dealers are not using closed-loop
systems to hold the rock in prior to selling.
-Forrest: What can be done by MLWG to look at the importation of wild live rock?
-Beaver: Lacey Act that you have to prove that the rock was imported illegally
based on the country of origin. If imported legally then Lacey Act would not apply.
-Jessica: A protocol needs to be established. She has contacted DEP and they think
that FWC should be regulating it not DEP. FWC could require wholesale dealers to
hold the live rock in a certain way.
-Liz: What about the inability to import lobsters from the Bahamas. Can?t discern
Haitian from domestic live rock. Needs to be a check just like there is for lobsters
when they come in.
-Pete: A protocol is needed.
-Don: Inspection system is good?but no one qualified to assess potential of
pathogen release by looking into a box of imported rock.
-Liz: Difficult to enforce. It is difficult to distinguish Haitian reef from our reef.
-Pete: There is a way to tell sometimes. Fossilized elkhorn with ricordia never
occurs in Florida so if you see stuff like that then you know it was imported.
-Ken: trying to set up workshop with LE (David Dipre) to assist in this issue.
-Teehan: Appropriate to bring up to Aquaculture Review Council. A multi-agency
issue and could be easier to tackle with more agencies involved.
-Marty: FWC will enforce Florida aquacultured rock. Biggest issue is importation of
foreign pathogens. Will look to ARC for additional input.
-Richard: Common practice that there are ?open systems? or effluent from many
sources being discharged into the Bay.
-Denise: Birds carry pathogens too
Final

 

[PeterIMA]

More from the discussion on Live Rock that took place with the Marine Life Workgroup meeting held November 17-18, 2005. The meeting was between Florida collectors and FWC managers.

-Forrest: effluent discharge (wastewater) from wholesale dealers likely occurs in
every county in Florida.
-Don: If you were going to import potted plants from around the world they would
not give you a permit to do that, but you can easily import live rock without any
sort of permits.
-Richard: It is a serious problem. If there is an outbreak of rock that does not
come from this area then they are going to blame domestic live rock. It is also an
enforcement issue because you are not supposed to have an open system.
-Bill P: notes other deleterious species introductions
-Jessica: Summarizes. This is a 2 part problem: 1) the invasive species portion is
one part and 2) the wholesale dealers and how they are holding the rock is another.
Staff will work with DACS through Marty and will also try to speak with FWC
invasive species people and possibly form an interagency group to get the ball
rolling on what even needs to be done. Staff will brief at the next meeting.

 

[PeterIMA]

Here is more information on the pathogen and open systems issues pertaining to live rock discussed at the May 12-13, 2005 meeting of the Marine Life Workgroup in Florida.
Peter Rubec

Division of Marine Fisheries Management
Marine Life Workgroup meeting minutes
May 12-13, 2005 Marathon
Final (approved June 7, 2005)

Best Management Practices for Holding Specimens and Shipping
If you have a Aquaculture Certificate for your live rock lease then you have to abide by the Department of Aquaculture and Consumer Services (DACS) BMPs. The main issue is any wholesale dealer in the State of Florida that will be holding live organisms for sale should have to abide by concepts such as a minimum holding capacity to maintain the organisms for a set period of time, a temperature control, protein skimmer, pumps, etc. Something that ensures the long-term health of the fishery not just a tank with an air stone. An open system or a semi-open system that houses invasive species or imported species is the problem. There are concerns about the discharge of water from the systems that are holding these organisms. There is a suggestion to come up with minimum guidelines for these systems in order to prevent contamination and the introduction of non-native species into Florida waters. This is not governed by DACS. In addition to the
invasive species issue, MLWG is concerned about the quality of organisms that are held in sub-par tanks.
Imported live rock (Indonesia) has been shown to contain polyps of invasive species of jellyfish. There could be other invasive species on the live rock, such as flatworms from Indonesia. However there are no regulations for the imported live rock. Is there a law that says you cannot release non-indigenous organisms into the environment? FWC should prevent these open systems especially with the potential release of these organisms.
Maybe a recommendation should be made to FWC about how the wastewater from the tanks should be discharged. Thus, the MLWG wants to be proactive and come up with regulations and possibly a document that could be included within packages of live organisms educating the seller about the release of non-indigenous organisms (within industry document). The MLWG wants BMPs for all wholesale dealers because the people who are doing this are giving the people in the marine life industry and bad image.
These BMPs will open a can of worms because they would make all the bait shrimp facilities illegal.
In Tampa, wholesale dealers who handle foreign species are discharging their tanks directly into canals that are draining into Tampa Bay.
Marty Tanner ? discusses that maybe the BMP could expand upon ideas from DACS. He was involved in a pro-active approach to develop BMPs by ARC through DACS. However these BMPs will come at a cost. For example, their BMPs state that their systems have to have 0 discharge. A suggestion could be a retention pond.
These BMPs would have to be in FWC rule and enforced by FWC rule. DMFM and Marty will come back with more information on this issue.

 

[PeterIMA]

More information from the November 2007 meeting of the Marine Life Workgroup.
Peter Rubec


Best Management Practices - minimum guidelines for holding organisms that
will ensure the long-term health of the fishery including wholesale dealers with
"open systems" instead of recirculating systems. This will not be addressed
immediately and FWC staff would have to decide if this is something they want to
address in the future.

 

[Anonymous]

More from the discussion on Live Rock that took place with the Marine Life Workgroup meeting held November 17-18, 2005. The meeting was between Florida collectors and FWC managers.

-Forrest: effluent discharge (wastewater) from wholesale dealers likely occurs in
every county in Florida.

Are they worried about saltwater effluent that gets flushed into freshwater sewers that then gets treated in a water treatment facility in florida and eventually trickled back down into the aquifer?

:?

 

[PeterIMA]

Chris, You saw what was discussed by the Marine Life Working Group. They appear to be concerned about the threat posed by the direct release of water from import facilities into estuaries or the ocean.

On GCFINET there are other scientists that are concerned about the issues you have raised. One woman associated with the IUCN that I talked with on the phone today stated that many spores can survive primary sewage treatement. She cited the case of caulerpa that got loose in the Mediterranean and became a big environmental problem. She also stated that wastewater dumped on the land could contaminate the groundwater seeping back to the ocean from coastal sites, allowing spores or bacteria to enter the marine environment. She appeared to favor banning the trade in live rock, corals, and other reef related organisms. These issues will be discussed by coral reef scientists at the International Coral Reef Symposium to be held in Fort Lauderdale.

Peter

 

[spawner]

There have been discussions among coral reefs scientists on the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Network (GCFINET) about banning the importation of live rock. Below are some of their concerns.

Peter Rubec

This message was originally submitted by Don

I have a real bad feeling about the imported live rock business regarding the possibility of it being a source for the introduction of invasive species. Presently, live rock comes into the US from numerous locations (Fiji, Tonga, Haiti, etc) with very little regulation.

It is legal to take a chunk of the reef from half way around the planet, ship it to the US for sale in the aquarium trade. I have made numerous calls to different agencies and found there really is not much in the way of regulation. As long as there is no contraband or endangered species involved it seems to be OK with all the agencies. To make matters worse, some wholesalers in the US hold imported live rock in open systems. Who knows what is being flushed into near shore waters! We could be importing all sorts of pathogens, ascidians that overgrow corals, or jellyfish. Can you imagine what the impact on the tourist industry in South Florida would be if we got a bloom of box jellyfish, similar to those found around Darwin Australia?

If a nursery business ever tried to get a permit to import potted plants (with soil, etc) from Africa I am sure they would be denied. However it is perfectly legal to take a living piece of the reef from half way around the world, bring it to the US, sell it and not be accountable for what happens to it from that point on. It is a serious problem. Anyone have any thought on this?

Don

Why not ban all international shipping or trade? Sure is a lot of issues that pop into my head when it comes to international shipping introductions.

Maybe you should tell them to contact Paul Zajicek, Paul was working on risk assessment in the trade.

I don't know of a single wholesaler in Florida that currently holds there exotics in an open system. If there were that sure would be an easy problem to fix.

 

[PeterIMA]

The woman who is associated with IUCN (but works for a consulting firm) that I spoke with has proposed on GCFINET that the federal law on exotics and ballast water should be amended to include a section on life rock. This is a federal law that would be applied nationwide. At first, I thought she meant that closed sysems would be enforced and that wastewater from holding faciities should be treated prior to disposal (through the sewer system). But, apparently (from talking to her on the phone) she believes that sewage treatment or on-land disposal is not enough because spores are resistant etc. She (and other scientists who attacked me on that thread) believes that more stringent controls (like a ban) are necessary. So, it would not just apply to Florida (if they get the federal legislation).

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

The woman who is associated with IUCN (but works for a consulting firm) that I spoke with has proposed on GCFINET that the federal law on exotics and ballast water should be amended to include a section on life rock. This is a federal law that would be applied nationwide. At first, I thought she meant that closed sysems would be enforced and that wastewater from holding faciities should be treated prior to disposal (through the sewer system). But, apparently (from talking to her on the phone) she believes that sewage treatment or on-land disposal is not enough because spores are resistant etc. She (and other scientists who attacked me on that thread) believes that more stringent controls (like a ban) are necessary. So, it would not just apply to Florida (if they get the federal legislation).

Peter

So if these people have their way I could be violating federal law dumping water from my tank after a waterchange down the drain or in the back yard?

 

[Raskal311]

Dumping it down the drain should be ok since this water would be treaded before it hits the ocean; it’s dumping it in the street that is a problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Dumping it down the drain should be ok since this water would be treaded before it hits the ocean; it’s dumping it in the street that is a problem.

Read the ladies quote. She does not believe sewage treatment treats everything.

 

[PeterIMA]

So if these people have their way I could be violating federal law dumping water from my tank after a waterchange down the drain or in the back yard?

Yes, if they get their way. Personally, I feel research is needed to assess whether or not there is a serious environmental threat associated with pathogens, bacteria, and/or hitch hikers on live rock. Admittedly there have been situations like the caulerpa incident where spores released from a public aquarium have had detrimental impacts in the Mediterranean. But, I am not aware of any environmental problems that have been demonstrated to be related to import facilities situated in the coastal zone. A number of scientists made postings on GCFINET which disagreed with me (but did not provide any data).

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

She cites the Med. Caulerpa case as something that might happen in FLA? :lol: You have the very same species native to FLA all ready :lol: It never made it into any treatment plant, it was directly released in AU, CA/USA as well as the Med. Sure it can in theory make it past treatment, but it hasn't from my understanding

So she's a knee jerk politically driven scientists AKA a pseudo scientist. A national ban is so unscientific it's not even funny.

What about spores on travels luggage and shoes? We need to ban luggage and shoes I tell yah. Oh, spores in lungs, ban lungs!@

 

[PeterIMA]

About 10 years ago, there was an importer that dumped his supposedly dead fish imported from the Philippines into the canal behind his facility (near Tampa). There were several reports of marine aquarium fish species being caught (alive) from Tampa Bay. So, I guess if we carry this argument further the federal government needs to ban the importation of all organisms (fish, rock, and inverts) by the marine aquarium trade. Personally, I hope that more reasonable measures will prevail.

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

We should ban all birds as well. They can import gnarly diseases as well as seeds and spores in their poop/clung to their feathers and feet. Furthermore, we need to ban all insects as they can harbor parasites that can kill our own as well as take over. We should have banned killer bees prior to them crossing the boarder!@!@ Air currents drop spores from every nation on us, ban them as well. Heck, half the pollution I see here in Cali is supposedly from China.

Don't forget about oceanic currents and events like El Nino. El Nino brought a ton of non natives into Cali back in the early 80's. We should have banned El Nino when we had the chance, geesh

 

[PeterIMA]

With regard to live rock imports, I spoke to a Department of Agriculture inspector (on the phone) who threatened to confiscate/block a live rock shipment from coming into Miami, because there was an insect found in the box. I had to point out to him that the so-called insect was most probably a polychaete worm. Being a marine organism, it did not pose a threat to agriculture.

 

[Raskal311]

Dumping it down the drain should be ok since this water would be treaded before it hits the ocean; it’s dumping it in the street that is a problem.

Read the ladies quote. She does not believe sewage treatment treats everything.

Jee, next thing you know they’ll force Asians into quarantine before entering the country. Do these people have nothing better to do? What’s the point of banning rocks if you’re not going to ban very thing else related?

 

[Anonymous]

Dumping it down the drain should be ok since this water would be treaded before it hits the ocean; it’s dumping it in the street that is a problem.

Read the ladies quote. She does not believe sewage treatment treats everything.

Jee, next thing you know they’ll force Asians into quarantine before entering the country. Do these people have nothing better to do? What’s the point of banning rocks if you’re not going to ban very thing else related?

I made the mistake of telling the customs people at the airport that I visited a farm when I was overseas.