CITES: shells, coral and ivory

CITES regulates trade in listed living species and their parts. Fossils are generally exempt — the convention's definition of specimens excludes fossils unless a listing says otherwise — so an ammonite or a fossil coral crosses borders without a CITES permit. Mixed collections, however, contain modern material that is listed, and the border does not care that it sits in the same drawer.

Shells: all giant clams (Tridacna and Hippopus), queen conch (Strombus gigas / Aliger gigas) and all chambered nautilus (Nautilus spp., since 2017) are Appendix II — export permits from the country of origin are required. Most other shells are unlisted, but many countries restrict collection on beaches and reefs regardless.

Coral: all stony corals (order Scleractinia), black corals (Antipatharia), blue coral, organ-pipe coral and fire corals are Appendix II, whether dead skeleton or live. A polished coral head sold as décor needs a permit to cross a border, and several countries ban its export outright. Fossil coral is exempt.

Ivory: elephant ivory is Appendix I (some southern African populations Appendix II) and commercial trade is effectively closed; US federal rules under the Endangered Species Act and the African Elephant Conservation Act allow only narrow antique exemptions. Walrus, sperm whale and narwhal material fall under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act. Hippopotamus is Appendix II. Mammoth and mastodon ivory are not CITES-listed, but New York, New Jersey, California, Hawaii, Washington and others ban their sale to close the laundering route, and eBay and Etsy prohibit all ivory including mammoth.

Meteorites, minerals and rocks are outside CITES. Amber with insect inclusions is outside CITES, but Myanmar amber carries a separate ethical and sanctions problem worth reading about before buying.

Stratum's Market compliance gate blocks listings for elephant, walrus and whale ivory and warns on modern coral, shell and mammoth ivory; the category and material fields on the record drive it.