Red and pink corals came one step closer to gaining international protection today at a meeting of the 171 member nations of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) taking place in The Netherlands from June 3-15.
The proposal to provide CITES protection to 26 species of red and pink corals (Corallium spp.), which are collected from the wild in order to make jewelry, was submitted by the United States. If the decision is not overturned by the end of the meeting, the species will be listed on CITES Appendix II which allows international commercial trade to occur but only it is determined to not be detrimental to the survival of wild populations.
"We thank the United States for leading CITES to protect red and pink coral from over-exploitation through international trade," said Teresa M. Telecky, director of the wildlife trade program for The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International.
Red and pink corals live throughout the world in temperate, subtropical and tropical deep ocean environments. These animals are particularly susceptible to over-exploitation because they reach late maturity when they are 7-12 years in age and they do not produce many young.
Corallium corals are the most valuable type of precious coral in the jewelry trade. They are collected from many regions of the world and manufactured into jewelry and carvings in China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and The Philippines. In 2006, more than 1.8 million such items were imported to the U.S. alone. The global trade volume is unknown.
The corals are collected by using dredges, consisting of iron bars that are dragged along the ocean floor, that wipe out not only red and pink coral populations but entire communities of life. The pattern of exploitation has been one of sequential extirpation: as new coral beds are found and soon are wiped out by collectors, who then move on to other coral beds. The species are not protected by any other international measures.
"In addition to providing greater protection to red and pink corals, we hope this CITES decision will highlight to the public the plight of corals," continued Telecky. "We urge people not to buy coral jewelry because of this destructive trade."
Today's decision will need to be approved a second time later in the week before it becomes finalized.
