UK's largest illegal coral seizure at Manchester Airport
21.01.08
A Yorkshire aquarium dealer has received a warning notice after HM Revenue and Customs made the UK's largest ever seizure of endangered species and live coral at Manchester Airport destined for the aquarium trade.
The animals, valued at £50,000 and protected under The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), were discovered in air freight that had travelled to the UK from Malaysia. It is believed the retailer had pre-ordered items that were discovered in the consignment of live corals and clams.
The corals had been stolen from Indonesia's protected reefs and taken to Malaysia before being flown to Britain. In this latest case, they were falsely declared on the Customs import declaration, in an attempt to allow banned species to enter the UK masquerading as unprotected species.
Demand is being driven by the fashion for 'reef aquariums' and owners eager to have the rarest and most colourful specimens, even if they are endangered species. But for each live specimen that reaches an aquarium, dozens more die during collecting and shipping.
An investigation into the illegal shipment, which took place in September 2007 is ongoing. Aquarium wholesalers and traders in Manchester, Cheshire, West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Scotland have been issued warning notices in relation to the seizure.
The corals and clams in the shipment were transported to London Zoo, where they are now thriving in its aquaria.
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