Oregon Public Broadcasting

A man accused of smuggling threatened species of coral from the Philippines has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Portland. April Baer reports.

One overcast spring day in 2008, federal prosecutor Dwight Holton says, something floated into Portland that seemed not quite right.

Dwight Holton  "A savvy fish and wildlife inspector out at the Port of Portland opened up a container that was supposed to contain broken gravel and rocks, and instead what he smelled was the ocean."

The sender was 66-year-old Gunter Wenzek, a German businessman who sells things you'd put in aquariums - pebbles, sponges, and coral.

He'd sent the container full of protected Philippine coral in February. During its passage, he learned U.S. officials had tightened restrictions.

Instead of declaring the coral, he took steps to conceal the cargo. By pleading guilty to charges concerning the container's documentation, he'll avoid more serious smuggling charges.

Attorneys are recommending three years probation, and a total of $25,000 in fines.

Wenzek's sentencing is scheduled for early next year.