I love black market smugglers!

[sostoudt]

So you would rather these corals be destroyed then put on public display? Ignorance is not an excuses, just because the guy did not know you think he should be able to keep the corals.

i think he should receive them back after he pays a fine. so you think they should be destroyed?

the items he brought in werent illegal. theres no need for complete confiscation or destruction of legal merchandise, simply for not being registered right.

im of the opinion the punishment should fit the crime, theres no need to cause massive financial loss and possibly ruin him. if you forgot to renew a decal on your car would you want it confiscated by the state or would you want a ticket.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Looks nice

 

[Bderick67]

i think he should receive them back after he pays a fine. so you think they should be destroyed?

the items he brought in werent illegal. theres no need for complete confiscation or destruction of legal merchandise, simply for not being registered right.

im of the opinion the punishment should fit the crime, theres no need to cause massive financial loss and possibly ruin him. if you forgot to renew a decal on your car would you want it confiscated by the state or would you want a ticket.

No they are fine right were they are on public display. I don't forget to renew the sticker on my vehicles so not sure what your implying. I'm sure the gentleman will have the proper paper work in order to legally collect corals on his next trip.

Here in Colorado we have a similar problem, only they are not smugglers they are poachers. These people are in possession of legal game without proper paperwork and I'm sure there first excuse is" I didn't know" which is generally a typical BS excuse from most criminals.

If restrictions such as these are not put into place to protect the environment, the there will not be an environment left that's worth protecting.

 

[sostoudt]

No they are fine right were they are on public display. I don't forget to renew the sticker on my vehicles so not sure what your implying. I'm sure the gentleman will have the proper paper work in order to legally collect corals on his next trip.

Here in Colorado we have a similar problem, only they are not smugglers they are poachers. These people are in possession of legal game without proper paperwork and I'm sure there first excuse is" I didn't know" which is generally a typical BS excuse from most criminals.

If restrictions such as these are not put into place to protect the environment, the there will not be an environment left that's worth protecting.

yea your really protecting the environment confiscating farmed coral. you could actually be damaging it if the farm suffers losses, you should helping the farms all you can if you want to help the environment, alot of reefs are dying.
sometimes you have to use your better judgement on the enforcement of laws in certain cases, hopefully the judge will if possible. in virginia its a misdemeanor to have sex out of marriage, do you know how many people would be charged if police suddenly went around and enforced that.

 

[Bderick67]

yea your really protecting the environment confiscating farmed coral. you could actually be damaging it if the farm suffers losses, you should helping the farms all you can if you want to help the environment, alot of reefs are dying.
sometimes you have to use your better judgement on the enforcement of laws in certain cases, hopefully the judge will if possible. in virginia its a misdemeanor to have sex out of marriage, do you know how many people would be charged if police suddenly went around and enforced that.

My better judgment is not needed here, I'm sure the local authorities are correctly doing there job. Citing laws that have absolutely nothing to do with this proves nothing.

As does any of this discussion considering the true facts of this case are not know. Farmed coral, why do you assume this coral is farmed? Maybe it is farmed coral and has been stolen, hence the lack of paperwork.

 

[sostoudt]

My better judgment is not needed here, I'm sure the local authorities are correctly doing there job. Citing laws that have absolutely nothing to do with this proves nothing.

i guess i could say citing problems that have absolutely nothing to do with this proves nothing too

Here in Colorado we have a similar problem, only they are not smugglers they are poachers. These people are in possession of legal game without proper paperwork and I'm sure there first excuse is" I didn't know" which is generally a typical BS excuse from most criminals.

As does any of this discussion considering the true facts of this case are not know. Farmed coral, why do you assume this coral is farmed? Maybe it is farmed coral and has been stolen, hence the lack of paperwork.

here i highlighted it red for you.

Y This was all farm raised coral heading to the pet trade. To the average person it would seem like a good thing. If you do the right thing in the wrong way, it's still wrong.

 

[Zoodiver]

When you move coral in the amounts this came in on for a living, you KNOW the law.
No way in the world someone could think otherwise. It's like driving a car and not knowing there's a speed limit.

 

[jlnguyen74]

sounds like they just busted a average guy trying to make a living, not a "smuggler" just someone who didnt know he needed permits.
kinda makes me think the USFW is the bad guy. they couldnt just let him bring in perfectly legal animals with a fine for his forgetfulness, they had to confiscate them all probably to the detriment of the live stock.

i hope after the guy pays his fine, he is reimbursed for any lose of livestock that happened from this.

edit: is the holding tank even equiped for the coral? proper lighting? filtration? macroelements?

"Didn't know" is no longer an excuse for an adult!

i think he should receive them back after he pays a fine. so you think they should be destroyed?

the items he brought in werent illegal. theres no need for complete confiscation or destruction of legal merchandise, simply for not being registered right.

im of the opinion the punishment should fit the crime, theres no need to cause massive financial loss and possibly ruin him. if you forgot to renew a decal on your car would you want it confiscated by the state or would you want a ticket.

Actually, this is more like driving a car without a driver license!

 

[likestofish]

Really there is no excuse if he was this prepared he obviously did know what he was doing. and why should he be paid for his error?

 

[ericifish]

Really there is no excuse if he was this prepared he obviously did know what he was doing. and why should he be paid for his error?

i agree. if this guy was harvesting coral, there is no way he just "didn't know" about the permits