Is sea sponge harvesting legal?

Question

Are there any conservation laws against harvesting sea sponges? I saw them being sold at a department store and I was wondering if that was legal.

Answer 1

Those are  farmed.

We as individuals are not allowed to harvest sea sponges.

Answer 2

They are still harvested in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Philippines sadly.  In the Mediterranean they are just about wiped out.

There are a number of areas in the oceans where sea sponge harvesting has been banned -- the Great Barrier Reef and all U.S. coastal waters for example.

Almost all areas that they are still harvested in have heavy licensing requirements.  It's not like you can go snorkeling and snag a few sea sponges to take home with you.

Australian research has shown that sea sponges are not only under pressure from over harvesting, but pollution and sewage discharge.

Interestingly sea sponges are not an animal or plant -- they fall into a class of species called porferia, which means "pore bearing".  Pretty cool.

Answer 3

well in athens/ naples  florida they have guys diving for them and selling them in plain view like a tourist attraction

Answer 4

YES THERE IS ..AND PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS TOO..SEA SPONGES COUSIN

Answer 5

Absolutely illegal! They may have been from another country, most likely China.

Answer 6

if they are sold at a department store, the fuzz would have already busted them by now.