Collecting specimens from the wild in Texas

[Willow]

First let me say that I have never been to the Texas coast .. and don't have any current plans to go there (would love to .. but I don't have anyone to babysit my horses & dogs).

This question came up in a discussion this past weekend and I didn't know the answer.. so I thought I would ask here...

Is it illegal to go to the coast and collect either anemones, macro algae or anything similar?... I know I read once that certain grasses were illegal to collect... but nothing more than that.



So come on guys.. what's legal in Texas?

[caferacermike]

You need a fishing license with a salt stamp. Look through the old posts about the Port Aransas collection trips/bigbird barbecue. Last years was chock full of information. Most everything appears to be ok if hand collected and in small numbers. Just don't get caught without that fishing license or you may have to walk back to Killeen.

[captexas]

As long as you are collecting for personal use, not for commercial sale, I believe all you need is a valid fishing license from the Texas Parks & Wildlife. As far as the grasses go, I know it is illegal to import and export certain plants to certain states, but I'm not sure what specifics there are for Texas. I do think there is some kind of law about removing items/damaging the sand dunes along the coast.

[beaconstreet95]

OK.. I can tell you from years of experience that collecting macro algae/seagrasses is not illegal. I had to collect just about every species for my marine botany class once, along with everyone else in my class. This has been going on for years and no problems. It is stated in the outdoor annual regulation book that a license is needed for taking any aquatic wildlife in public waters. For algae I would say you are OK without a fishing license but the game warden still has the right to inspect your bucket. You will be safest getting a fishing license while contributing to the conservation of wildlife and avoiding any conflicts with the law. As far as seagrasses go, you can collect them in areas that are not preserves. Because so many people with boats that completely disregard the function and purpose of seagrasses by using their prop to get up on plane in shallow water, we have implemented seagrass preserves. In these areas if you are caught destroying seagrasses or using your propeller you will be fined $500+. The main area this is enforce is the Redfish Bay Scientific Area in Aransas Pass/Rockport. FYI the first Saturday in June of every year is the annual free fishing day when you are not required to have a license to fish/collect.

Now for my marine biologist/fisheries ecologist lecture: If you plan on coming to this part or any part of the coast to get stuff for your tank: Please, please, please, collect only what you need personally. Please do not collect to sell on the internet or to share with everyone and their grandma!! these organisms play the same important role in the wild as they do in your tank. Not only that they are a food source for many other organisms. We need them to have a healthy ecosystem!! And above all else: DO NOT EVER RELEASE AN AQUARIUM CREATURE INTO THE WILD!!! There are so many problems with this it is unbelievable. For instance: Lionfish were rarely caught on hook and line by fisherman. Well in Florida and other Gulf States there has been an increase in reporting of these instances. My bosses sent me some information to distribute to fisherman about lionfish. I told him that they are not common here and we probably would not see any instances reported in my part of the gulf.. Well what do you know, the day I am handing out this information one of the captains said he caught one. The place he caught it was not even out in the gulf. It was along the ship channel closer to the bay than open water structures. This is a huge problem. So if you can't keep that venomous fish that you just had to have for your tank, please just give it away or put it in the freezer and then put it in the trash. It is better to kill one than to release an invasive/non-native species into the wild where it will take over habitats of native organisms.

OK I am off my soap box and hope that I provided you with some good information about collecting. The Port A jetties are a great place for collecting algae. Be very careful though because when big ships come through there is a ton of current ripping through and will slam you into the rocks. Also never go snorkeling there on an outgoing tide. This could have you ripped out to sea in minutes. So play it safe and check all the weather and tide reports for that day, and never go out there alone. :D

[LoneStar]

Try contacting the Texas Parks and Wildlife office. They would probably be able to fill you in on whats legit and whats not. Usually with a Texas State Fishing license with the saltwater stamp your good to go.

[brewercm]

Very good points beaconstreet95. Not only animals but the same problem exists with aquatic plant life into the lakes. They did the same thing here many years ago with hydrilla into the lakes then it started to take over. So then they decide to put Tilapia into the lakes to eat the hydrilla that's gotten out of hand, now the tilapia has taken over much of the lake so the game fish can no longer survive.

It becomes an ugly circle very quick, and this is even at the hands of the people who are attempting to control such matters.

[Willow]

I'm glad I asked this question... seems there is a lot of important info here!

thanks again everyone for your comments, replies and knowledge.. and maybe one of these days I'll manage to get out from under my rock up here and take a trip to the coast!

[erikharrison]

A sunny sidenote about collecting. After we picked up our stuff from the Jetties, we went to the beach to kayak on some waves. My cousin wiped out and was coming in when he found an anemone stuck to a shell. It was cool! It's in my big tank, while the other two are in the kiddos tank!

[Willow]

A sunny sidenote about collecting. After we picked up our stuff from the Jetties, we went to the beach to kayak on some waves. My cousin wiped out and was coming in when he found an anemone stuck to a shell. It was cool! It's in my big tank, while the other two are in the kiddos tank!
I would really love to have an anemone or two from there.. you guys are so lucky!!!

[captexas]

Very good points beaconstreet95. Not only animals but the same problem exists with aquatic plant life into the lakes.


That's why most of the knowledgeable online retailers post that they won't ship certain macro algae to certain states as it's illegal. State governments are trying to keep non-native species out as they threaten the natural ecosystems they have.

[brewercm]

Yeah, but from my understanding these boneheads did it on purpose here.

[BIGBIRD123]

Hope this helps....we added this before the last years...2nd Annual Bigbird Collection Trip and BBQ

http://marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8347

Steve

[Willow]

Hope this helps....we added this before the last years...2nd Annual Bigbird Collection Trip and BBQ

http://marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8347

Steveooo yes it does.. thank you!

now if I could only find a horse-sitter... lol...