Hi Chris,

 

I must say I was very supprised when you said that you have taken some Pachycerianthus before having had the pleasure of diving with them in Loch Fyne they are truly amazing anemones. However this has prompted me to look them up as I was pretty sure they they would have some protection. The best way to be sure though would be to contact Scottish Natural heritage (enquiries@...) and ask them specifically including the locality.

 

From what I have read on the internet, I understand that Loch Duich is designated as a marine Special Area of Conservation and therefore of European Importance. I am not familiar with this area but I gather this is for the sheltered rocky reefs there for which Protanthea simplex(amongst other species) is listed on the Site Account (http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/about/directives/Lochs_Duich_Long_and_Alsh_Reefs.pdf). the Loch is also noted for its particularly rich deep muds and burrowing megafauna which are a Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat. Although the Pachycerianthus may appear to be locally abundant in the loch it is actually nationally important and deemed to be scarce (http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Pachycerianthusmultiplicatus.htm). Pachycerianthus is a long-lived and slow growing species (http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/all_Marlin_dossiers.pdf) and would therefore be highly sensitive to removal ie I expect this is a highly unsustainable activity.

 

I would imagine that to keep one successfully in a tank like at the aquarium you mentioned you would have to have a very larger tank set up specifically for them with a very deep layer of soft mud ( I guess 50+cm?) with maybe a metre of water above and very gentle water circulation. Something dificult to acheive on a domestioc scale...!

 

Good luck with your other anemones,

 

Charlie

>>> "chrisrickard77" <chrisrickard77@...> 06/11/08 4:59 pm >>>

Good question Divemouse.....I've never seen anything saying that
they are protected....if anyone knows for sure, let me know and I
obviously wouldnt remove one. Like I said, I collected a few for an
aquarium and they are all still going strong three years later and
look spectacular in their tank.

I personally had no reservations about collecting a couple from Loch
Duich, where I know from experience that you can get concentrations
upwards of 30 within sight at one time and a good few hundred per
dive. I would never remove one from a spot with only a small number
of specimens.

Like I said...If anyone has evidence that they are in any way
protected let me know....
Chris R.

--- In Glaucus@yahoogroups.co.uk, "Divemouse" <divemouse@...> wrote:
>
> Is it really alright to collect things like Fireworks anemones
from the
> wild? I thought they had some level of protection?
>