LR harvested with crowbars: myth?

[SteveC]

I've seen it mentioned on several forums and in articles such as this one (http://www.nap.edu/issues/17.1/bruckner.htm) that live rock is at least sometimes and in some places "harvested" by prying/smashing it off the reefs with crowbars or similar tools. Usually it's stated in an off-hand manner, as if it's just something that everybody knows.

Personally I find this a little hard to believe. I've held a crowbar in my hands and I have a hard time imagine somebody swimming around with one or having enough leverage in the water to use one effectively. However, I would like to know if this does ever happen and, if it does, where it happens so I can avoid purchases from those places.

Thanks!

[GreshamH]

I know many companies don't use crow bars. Walt Smith had a deal with Fiji to remove rock from some channels from what I've heard. MSI's collectors in Fiji don't use crowbars. Theres more companies then that, those are just two I mentioned. I believe the author of that article, is on the USCRTF ( United States Coral Reef Task Force), but I could be wrong.

Check seacrop.com (http://www.seacrop.com) and see if they sell rock. If they do, theres your source.