Helix Pomatia being sold to restaurants?

[Johnnywho]

Hi guys, I was looking through yesterdays paper in which my Dad bought, and there was an article on Roman Snails (Helix Pomatia) And as most of us know these species are protected.
I read that people are taking them from their natural chalk and limestone habitats and are selling them for £:1.00 a Snail.
I was sickened when I saw that people are actually going to into forests and areas in which limestone persists and are taking them away to be poached and eaten.
If you want to read the article here's the link. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9356749/Snails-poached-for-sale-to-French-restaurants.html

[mechangel]

That is horrible! I'm glad that the locals got wise to the poachers, hopefully they will be aptly discouraged from snail poaching. I don't understand why people don't understand the meaning of wiping out a species... for a quick buck.

[Johnnywho]

I agree, it just goes to show how careless and greedy people can be when it comes to getting money, and they're not exactly difficult to catch either, you could have a whole batch within at least a couple of hours

[pinkunicorn]

That is disgusting. Restaurants should be closed down on health and sanitation basis if they get their snails from anywhere but certified snail farms. Along with punishing the poachers that should take away the economic incentive to drive this species into extinction. Maybe also snail lovers in this area could start conserving this particular genetic variant in captivity, as well as protect the wild snails? It'd make possible reintroduction of the snail into the wild easy if the population does die out., without having to import a foreign variant of the species.

Call to action, British snail folks! Conserve H.pomatia, adopt a local snail and start a captive population.

[Johnnywho]

That's what I wanted to do, start a breeding conservation of them apart from they aren't in the area in which I live, but if I were to find a few i'd definitely keep them and try to breed them

[shaydeesnail]

The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 makes it illegal to "kill, injure or take a Roman snail" or "sell, offer for sale or advertise live or dead Roman snails." Police said they would investigate any breach of the law.

...I know this is to stop people selling British caught Roman snails, of course, but does this extend to Roman snails that have been imported from other countries and being sold as pets and for breeding between snail enthusiasts?

That was a little off topic I know, but it did worry me a little, although I'm sure the chances of actually getting to trouble for that must be minute.

In reply to this thread though, I agree that it's disgusting that people would be so careless as to nearly wipe out a species just for money. I'm so glad that the local people are making a stand, it's not often that the snails have someone to stand up for them. If anyone knows of any websites or pages devoted to the conservation of the Roman snails I'd love to see them.

[gunshotglitter]

In France, collecting Helix pomatia is allowed except in May and June. I know many people do this so I don't feel half bad for taking a few of them from nature, at least they are safe with me XD

[PennyFarthing]

Perhaps you can get a license to keep Roman snails? There must be someone that snail breeders/owners could contact for advice, surely?

[strangemouse]

Natural England: www.naturalengland.org.uk is the authority that manages licences so would be the best people for advice.

Technically I suspect you could be prosecuted for keeping Roman snails imported from other countries or captive bred, but the law has not been tested as far as I am aware.