Q: Hello, I have a 3-year-old who has decided he wants to go snorkeling and catch Nemo. Are there any laws or rules of snorkeling that would prevent us from capturing a fish in Florida and bringing it back home? -- Roger
A: The question of children and Nemo has come up a lot in the general media since the Disney movie Finding Nemo came out. Pet stores' demand for clownfish -- the kind of fish that the animated character Nemo is -- has been strong since.
Clownfish typically live in the Pacific Ocean, from what we know. However, some people have reported seeing clownfish in Florida's coral reefs. These Florida clownfish could be "escapees."
But if you were able to find a clownfish in Florida, could you just take it? I couldn't find anything against the take of saltwater fish on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Web site, but that doesn't necessarily mean there aren't any laws against capturing a clownfish. Some Florida reefs are in sanctuaries where collecting species and fishing are prohibited, for example.
Although your toddler probably didn't grasp it, the Nemo movie itself points to the questionable ethics of capturing wild species. It would be much better to buy a clownfish from a pet store that gets its fish from a fish farm that breeds clownfish just for home aquariums.
In any case, be prepared for a clownfish pet. Clownfish are a saltwater species, of course, which means you would need a saltwater aquarium. Saltwater aquarium setup and maintenance take effort and can become expensive.
And for those kids who want to set a captured clownfish free, well, some experts say the sudden change from aquarium to ocean could possibly shock the fish and cause it to die.
Snorkeling with your son is still a good idea, Roger, and a good way for him to get to know nature. It can also be a fun learning experience. Realizing that he can't take home wildlife with him, and that people should "take nothing but memories, leave nothing but bubbles," are good lessons for him to learn early on.
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