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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello list members, colleagues, and friends<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Has anyone heard of the Coral Reef Wildlife International Trade and Conservation Act of 2012? Apparently it is a proposal by legislator Bordallo to re-authorize and amend the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. I have read through the act and am concerned about a line item that will likely affect scientific collecting on coral reefs in U.S. waters. A complete description of the act, as proposed, can be found here: <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr738/text">http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr738/text</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The line item in reference is Sec. 206 (Emergency Response Actions), (e) Liability for Costs and Damages to Coral Reefs, (3) Examptions, (C) <span style='color:black'>the necessary result of bona fide marine scientific research (including marine scientific research activities approved by Federal, State, or local permits), other than--‘(i) <u>sampling or collecting</u><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Am I reading too much into this or does this specifically prohibit any collecting of scientific specimens on U.S. coral reefs? Note the amendment also lumps any coral reef within the jurisdiction of the U.S. or any state as a National Marine Sanctuary regardless of whether it has formally designated as such.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Looking forward to responses. If possible, could you all cc me directly with your responses? Sometimes listserve messages do not always reach me. Also, please pass this around.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Jay Cordeiro<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>University of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>And <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Northeast Natural History & Supply<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>jay.cordeiro@umb.edu</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>