E-commerce and Caulerpa: unregulated dispersal of invasive
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sdcfish":3sh4tja9 said:
Eric,
So in that vane just what is the law? Is it a California state law? Is it a US law on importing and moving across states lines? Is it illegal to sell in some states and not others? Which states? It is easier to follow the laws when we know what they are. Also I seem to remember Mary taking the lead in fighting the ban. I remember signing some sort of petition she had, not to make it a total ban on caulerpa. So Mary didn't attend that workshop? Give credit if credit is due.
Mitch
Mitch-
The law banning almost all Caulerpa species is a California state law. Along with C. taxifolia, it makes it illegal to own, import, etc. the following species in California;
From the DFG site-
"The other varieties have the potential to spread indiscriminately in the California marine environment, or have appearance similar to Caulerpa taxifolia. They are cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis." The only species seen in the hobby with any regularity that is still legal is C prolifera. San Diego county went one step further and created an ordinance outlawing C. prolifera in San Diego County.
The state law was in response to several outbreaks in Southern California coastal waters of Caulerpa taxifolia. As you all know this is the same species causing havoc in the Med. They outlawed so many species so that enforcement officials didn't have to try and detrmine which species was which, since they all supposedly looked similar. To say some of them looked similar is like trying to say that an oak tree looks similar to a date palm. The second kicker for adding these additional specis to the ban was that the panel descided tha these species also had the "possibility" of being released and becoming a problem.
Due to how invasive C. taxifolia is, The US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (SUSDA-SPHIS) restricted interstate commerce and importation of the Mediterranean clone of C. taxifolia prior to the California invasion. Which basically makes it illegal to import, own, etc. C. taxifolia in the United States.
The law banning almost all Caulerpa species is a California state law. Along with C. taxifolia, it makes it illegal to own, import, etc. the following species in California;
From the DFG site-
"The other varieties have the potential to spread indiscriminately in the California marine environment, or have appearance similar to Caulerpa taxifolia. They are cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis." The only species seen in the hobby with any regularity that is still legal is C prolifera. San Diego county went one step further and created an ordinance outlawing C. prolifera in San Diego County.
The state law was in response to several outbreaks in Southern California coastal waters of Caulerpa taxifolia. As you all know this is the same species causing havoc in the Med. They outlawed so many species so that enforcement officials didn't have to try and detrmine which species was which, since they all supposedly looked similar. To say some of them looked similar is like trying to say that an oak tree looks similar to a date palm. The second kicker for adding these additional specis to the ban was that the panel descided tha these species also had the "possibility" of being released and becoming a problem.
Due to how invasive C. taxifolia is, The US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (SUSDA-SPHIS) restricted interstate commerce and importation of the Mediterranean clone of C. taxifolia prior to the California invasion. Which basically makes it illegal to import, own, etc. C. taxifolia in the United States.
"Due to how invasive C. taxifolia is, The US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (SUSDA-SPHIS) restricted interstate commerce and importation of the Mediterranean clone of C. taxifolia prior to the California invasion. Which basically makes it illegal to import, own, etc. C. taxifolia in the United States"
Daniel,
This doesn't make is sound like it is illegal to possess taxifolia in Kentucky. Or even to sell it to in-state customers. Shipping it in or out however probably would be. Am I reading it wrong?
Mitch
Daniel,
This doesn't make is sound like it is illegal to possess taxifolia in Kentucky. Or even to sell it to in-state customers. Shipping it in or out however probably would be. Am I reading it wrong?
Mitch
Mitch-
Okay, I did some additional research. Since C. taxifolia (Med strain) is formally listed as a noxious weed by the Feds, this makes it illegal to own, import or distribute it on a national level. I doubt that anything short of full dna testing could id a Hawaii native taxifolia from the med strain.
The law is a little unclear about states where the species is native. But it is very clear that it is illegal to own, import, distribute in the lower 48 states.
Marc
Okay, I did some additional research. Since C. taxifolia (Med strain) is formally listed as a noxious weed by the Feds, this makes it illegal to own, import or distribute it on a national level. I doubt that anything short of full dna testing could id a Hawaii native taxifolia from the med strain.
The law is a little unclear about states where the species is native. But it is very clear that it is illegal to own, import, distribute in the lower 48 states.
Marc
Knowse,
The best rule of thumb we all use now is: If a caulerpa is green and feathery in shape/texture, you can basically say it's Illegal.
I do vaguely remember Mary starting up a petition as well, but unfortunately she was not at the workshop that day to voice her opionion. I was fortunate enough to speak and give the perspective of the wholesaler, as did many others from other industrys.
I think most of our suppliers are now aware of the law, and dont send green "look-a-like" plant rocks.
Best regards
Eric
The best rule of thumb we all use now is: If a caulerpa is green and feathery in shape/texture, you can basically say it's Illegal.
I do vaguely remember Mary starting up a petition as well, but unfortunately she was not at the workshop that day to voice her opionion. I was fortunate enough to speak and give the perspective of the wholesaler, as did many others from other industrys.
I think most of our suppliers are now aware of the law, and dont send green "look-a-like" plant rocks.
Best regards
Eric
I've found Caulerpa on several etailer's websites so far...just doing a simple search for "caulerpa for sale" on a popular search engine.
One site lists it as Caulerpa sp. (Indo) but when you click on it, you get a message that it's frequently unavailable or seasonal, with no option to purchase it currently.
On another they list Maiden's Hair Caulerpa but the picture shows Grape Caulerpa (C. racemosa). The only other species they offer is red only - so that seems to follow suite with the law as it has been explained here, but I'm still puzzled by the photos of "Maiden's Hair"... That entity is in CA.
Another site has lots of different Caulerpas including, "Assorted Caulerpa will contain either Grape caulerpa, Needle caulerpa, Lettuce caulerpa or Feather caulerpa." - no restrictions on where it can be shipped, at least not on the information portion of the page. That establishment is not in CA, and I'm not aware if they ship only from their facility or if they drop ship such as others do.
Another site offers it, no description, just a picture of some Feather Caulerpa and the price. That entity is also out of another state, not CA, but again, no disclaimer on where they can or cannot ship.
I did find an etailer site right here in GA that offers C. prolifera, racemosa, taxifolia and Chaetomorpha with a disclaimer "NOT SOLD TO CA"... so somebody gets it at least! At the bottom of the page it states:
"*Please note: We cannot ship Caulerpa species to California. According to the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife, there are 9 species of Caulerpa banned in the state: Caulerpa verticillata, Caulerpa floridana, Caulerpa taxifolia,
Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa cupressoides, Caulerpa mexicana, Caulerpa sertulariodes, Caulerpa scapelliformis, and
Caulerpa ashmeadii. In September 2001 the State of California passed legislation banning the transportation, sale, distribution
and possession of these nine species of Caulerpa."
I'm sure there are plenty more sellers out there... it only took me a few minutes to find those.
Jenn
One site lists it as Caulerpa sp. (Indo) but when you click on it, you get a message that it's frequently unavailable or seasonal, with no option to purchase it currently.
On another they list Maiden's Hair Caulerpa but the picture shows Grape Caulerpa (C. racemosa). The only other species they offer is red only - so that seems to follow suite with the law as it has been explained here, but I'm still puzzled by the photos of "Maiden's Hair"... That entity is in CA.
Another site has lots of different Caulerpas including, "Assorted Caulerpa will contain either Grape caulerpa, Needle caulerpa, Lettuce caulerpa or Feather caulerpa." - no restrictions on where it can be shipped, at least not on the information portion of the page. That establishment is not in CA, and I'm not aware if they ship only from their facility or if they drop ship such as others do.
Another site offers it, no description, just a picture of some Feather Caulerpa and the price. That entity is also out of another state, not CA, but again, no disclaimer on where they can or cannot ship.
I did find an etailer site right here in GA that offers C. prolifera, racemosa, taxifolia and Chaetomorpha with a disclaimer "NOT SOLD TO CA"... so somebody gets it at least! At the bottom of the page it states:
"*Please note: We cannot ship Caulerpa species to California. According to the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife, there are 9 species of Caulerpa banned in the state: Caulerpa verticillata, Caulerpa floridana, Caulerpa taxifolia,
Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa cupressoides, Caulerpa mexicana, Caulerpa sertulariodes, Caulerpa scapelliformis, and
Caulerpa ashmeadii. In September 2001 the State of California passed legislation banning the transportation, sale, distribution
and possession of these nine species of Caulerpa."
I'm sure there are plenty more sellers out there... it only took me a few minutes to find those.
Jenn
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