Catalina Island is very corrupt especially Avalon. I should have no problem obtaining permits. I can also take my boat into international water's. Maybe I will just stick with the horns and leopard sharks. I still have a while till I get them. I am working my way up the food chain.
That actually becomes a federal crime, and you will end up in prison for it. You'd be smuggling black market animals into the country. They don't take kindly to that at all.
If you are serious about this project, heed the words of wisdom being offered. You have posted you have minimal experience with this type of thing. There are several on here with decades under their belt. Having a goal like getting a species named after you (which won't be happening in this type of set up) might be the wrong way to approach this. Projects like this aren't something you just jump into blindly.
I highly suggest you get the proper permits and start with your fish and other small animals. Work your way up. If you feel like skipping the research, planning and permitting stages, I'll offer this for you: In the last 24 months I've been called in as an 'expert' with several large scale "shut down" projects that were very similar ponds/enclosures created illegally. The owners are not in a good situation right now, all of the animals were confiscated and being held as evidence for federal court cases and many are facing serious prison time on top of the fines. As of now, you've already posted on the internet about your intentions. IP address is logged and can be traced back.
When done well, a natural lagoon like this is one of the most amazing things you have have to watch. I strongly encourage you to take the proper steps so you can see your dream take shape. If you want help with the process, there are several members here who can show you the things you'll need to do in order to make it work well.