How to bring back stuff from USA?

[a1a2a3alex]

Hi,

I'm travelling to Orlando Florida for vacation and I'm just wondering if I get some fishs or corals from the aquarium store there with a valid receipt, will custom let me fly back (if I check my luggage since it is more than 3 ounces of water  )?  Or do I need to air mail it to my home address at the US post office?  I'm just curious about the logistics

Thanks.

[Hookup]

You'll need a permit from CFIA.  I'm sure one of the sponsors will give some more details as they do this all the time.

[omarshabaz]

Coral and saltwater fish are regulated by CITES regulations. You have to apply for a special CITES license in order to bring anything over the border.
If you're caught at the border trying to bring any fish or coral into canada WITHOUT a license, you could face serious fines and even jailtime.

Sometimes they will let it pass it the fish are not on the CITES list but you have to wait for an officer to assess you. Other time no permit no pass.

[JetJumper]

Honestly not worth the hassle in my opinion.

[bluepointer]

as everyone is saying, you would need an export permit from the USA and an import/CITES permit for Canada, you likely cannot get one unless a business or affilated with a university

[new2salt]

FYI

You will be disappointed, when you see the prices in Florida.

There are few if any deals to be had - Corals and Equipment and NOT cheaper in the States.

Was in Orlando area in February - stopped at a few SW outlets and discovered that I am happy to be Canadian when it comes to being involved in Salt Water as a hobby.

The only DEAL was for Live Rock, but as previously stated by others Permits = $$$$$$$$$

Enjoy Florida - hope you have nice weather - I didn't - Saw snow in palm trees & on the beach in Myrtle Beach - early February - locals said first time in over 10 years

[veron]

with all the good stores in ottawa an TO there is no reason to transport anything

[holachicka]

with all the good stores in ottawa an TO there is no reason to transport anything

Word!!!

[mikerobart]

No way this will happen unless you smuggle it, and you probably wouldn't be saving money or getting anything you can't get here. Not worth it. Either by car or plane your taking a bit risk either way without the CITES.

[Severum]

You could always sneak it it. I know someone that brought a couple Atlantic starfish from Maine in a tupperware container right through the border. Then again I would not advise it. There are people from CBSA lurking everywhere...

[93GTCANADA]

lol good one severum. also people from fisheries and oceans.

[Snowgrrl83]

I work for the Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment Canada) - we enforce and put into place CITES, species at risk act and other national wildlife issues.  I'll let the enforcement guys in my office know...lol/jk...

I simply wouldn't go through the trouble of going through all the paperwork quite frankly. 
Maybe you could pick your specimens on site and then get them shipped legally to your home (like some of the LFS do) on your date of return to Canada....

[Hookup]

I'm sure one of the sponsors will give some more details as they do this all the time.

[holachicka]

 

Maybe business and personal have different regulations?! Otherwise - lol

[a1a2a3alex]

Yeah, I'm just thinking of just looking at the local fish store there and if I see something really interesting I just buy 1 or 2.  Does the CITES license applies to non business as well?  'Cause that would be silly ... amongst other airline rules.

Maybe business and personal have different regulations?! Otherwise - lol

[ciaus]

You could always sneak it it. I know someone that brought a couple Atlantic starfish from Maine in a tupperware container right through the border. Then again I would not advise it. There are people from CBSA lurking everywhere...

Ya! Them lousy government wankers is everywhere!

[ciaus]

Yeah, I'm just thinking of just looking at the local fish store there and if I see something really interesting I just buy 1 or 2.  Does the CITES license applies to non business as well?  'Cause that would be silly ... amongst other airline rules.

CITES is not another silly airline rule.  It is a treaty amongst nations to inhibit the illegal trade in endangered species.  I think the full acronym is Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species.  The airlines have zero to do with the treaty, but your friendly American and Canadian governments as signatory nations sure do.

Under special circumstances you can obtain a CITES permit, for little of no cost from your local game warden, so you can legally own a taxidermied raptor, like an Owl.  To obtain a CITES permit for other critters is, to my knowledge a nearly impossible thing to do.

HTH
Ciaus

[Hookup]

I've been hunting in the US and was told that if you can hunt it, and it flies, you can bring it into canada... cause it could have flown in itself.  Nothing special required.  I know that doesn't apply to coral... well i've never hunted flying coral before.. LOL... but that's what I was told by the customs agents that were searching my gear/guns at the border.

From the few times I've looked into getting some ORA corals into canada, it's required a permit.  I do not want to miss-quote the system/product as I didn't look into it with crazy detail, but it didn't seem straight forward... I seem to remember some requirement for the wholesaler to help complete the forms?  Not sure... but any one of the sponsors could definitely provide the details.

[RossW]

Based on some discussions I had w/ the ORA folks @ MACNA last year, the original import permit for the coral must be shown to obtain the export permit.  It is also 1:1.  That is you can not bring in 1 colony w/ 1 permit, frag it, and obtain n permits to export it.

IMHO, if you want to import pieces cost cannot be an issue.

[Snowgrrl83]

If you have questions about CITES and/or would like to import or export coral that may be listed under CITES you need to obtain a permit.  Not all corals are listed under CITES. 

If you have specific questions you can call Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement here in Ottawa:

613-990-5406

Permits may take 6 to 8 weeks to obtain.


....maybe we all need a presentation on specimens that are illegal in the aquarium trade.... It really would be good to know which are ok to trade and which aren't...