The crown-of-thorns starfish, or Acanthaster planci, is a large echinoderm covered in thorn-like spikes that preys upon coral. While it is native to the Indo-Pacific region, the starfish has been described as invasive because of its dense populations, and the devastation it is causing to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral, one-third of the world’s soft corals, 134 species of sharks and rays, six of the world’s seven species of threatened marine turtles, and more than 30 species of marine mammals, including the vulnerable dugong.

The Great Barrier Reef is a refuge for many species of conservation concern. These species of conservation concern include inshore dolphins, whales, dugongs, sawfish, sea snakes, marine turtles and some fish and sharks.

Damselfish, wrasses, and tusk fish are among the most abundant fish on the reef. There are also blennies, butterflyfish, triggerfish, cowfish, pufferfish, angelfish, anemone fish, coral trout, seahorses, sea perch, sole, scorpionfish, hawkfish, and surgeonfish.

Do not engage in any form of purchasing of coral souvenirs. You shouldn’t take anything from the ocean, alive or dead. It is illegal to sell coral in some countries.

As a general rule, do not remove dead coral pieces from the beach as souvenirs. In many locations, collecting coral is strictly prohibited and you might get a hefty fine.

The US: It is illegal to harvest (with the exception of the highly regulated Hawaiian black corals) or to export any corals from the US . The Lacey Act imposes civil and criminal penalties on a federal level for taking, possessing, transporting, or selling corals (and other wildlife) that have been taken illegally.

It isn’t illegal to take dead coral off a beach in Hawaii. According to the Division of Land and Natural Resources, taking small amounts of sand, dead coral, rocks or other marine deposits for personal, noncommercial use is allowed. However, Hawaii plays host to over seven MILLION visitors per year.

For the most part, it’s perfectly legal to collect seashells from Australian beaches provided they are not occupied by living creatures. It’s also a good idea to avoid collecting vulnerable or protected shell species – even if the shell appears unoccupied.

The answer to your question is, yes, it is legal, but it does require some paperwork. There are different rules for collecting natural items from the beach, depending on whether it’s for personal or commercial use.

Shells, shark egg cases, bones, seaweed, corals and other sea life can all be found along South Australia’s beaches, along with interesting rocks, pieces of smooth sea glass and driftwood. It’s fine to take home a few of the empty shells that you find washed up on the beach – but just make sure they are really empty.

In California, state beaches do not allow the removable of any geological features including rocks, gravel, oil, and sand. In general, there are no restrictions against collecting empty shells from California beaches. However, on some beaches, empty shells may not be collected.

Did you know that it is actually illegal to take pebbles from the beach? Under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, it is illegal to remove stones from public beaches. In fact, some areas of the country have large signs warning people that they could face prosecution if they remove stones.