>Red and pink corals are called precious corals because they are collected and their hard skeletons are used for jewelry, a significant global trade. Their story provides a striking example of the unsustainable nature of coral extraction for trade. Red and pink corals are vibrantly hued coral species found throughout the world's oceans at depths ranging from shallow to thousands of feet. They are a slow-growing species (less than 1cm per year) with a long life span and late reproductive maturity; they are permanently affixed to a substrate. Smaller colonies have higher mortality rates and lower reproductive success. All of these factors make this species particularly vulnerable to overfishing.
>Red and pink coral colonies are designated as habitat-forming corals since they provide protection from strong currents and predators and are known for being areas of increased biodiversity. The spaces and gaps between coral branches serve as shelter and refuge for the eggs, larvae and juvenile animals such as shrimp, crabs and fish. They provide crucial services to the ecosystem providing structures suited for feeding, spawning and resting.
>Red and pink corals have been fished from the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea for more than 5,000 years. Traditionally they were destructively extracted by bottom trawls and dredges, which not only extracted coral species but also degraded the remaining habitat; now, as many of the shallow reefs have been depleted, they are harvested by divers primarily with the use of submersibles that descend to great depths to collect these precious corals. The commercial demand for red and pink coral has permanently changed these coral populations reducing average colony size and replacing large colonies with small, immature ones unable to reach sexual maturity. In order to allow these populations to continue to be productive indefinitely, the optimal extraction age for Corallium has been estimated at 98 years; the current practice is to take colonies from the ocean that are less than 14 years old. Serious signs of their decline have appeared in just the past two decades, with landings (total catch brought ashore) decreasing as much as 80 percent since the 1980s. According to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Information and Statistics Service, 43 metric tons of red and pink corals were extracted globally in 2009.
>These highly valuable and most widely traded species possess skeletons that fetch prices of up to $25,000 when polished and worked into a necklace. The United States alone imported more than 28 million pieces of Coralliidae between 2001 and 2008. Its economic value is significant, which continues to lead to its decline. Red coral is typically worked into beads for necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, or used in their more organic form for the same purposes.
>Ensuring strong local management and long-term sustainable extraction is in the best interest of not only these species but also the businesses and traditions associated with them. In addition, if the pressures of consumer demand, pollution and overfishing can be reduced, many scientists believe that all corals, not just the precious corals, will have a better chance of overcoming or adapting to the other challenges they face, such as climate change and ocean acidification.
>Conscientious business leaders are key to helping ensure corals remain in the ocean where they belong. Leading designers in the jewelry industry are rallying around this cause and striving to make consumers aware that many beautiful, coral-inspired alternatives exist. Through education, consumers can alleviate at least one pressure on these precious resources and support coral conservation by refusing to purchase items made from real coral and spreading the word to others.
>On the policy front, attempts to attain international trade monitoring for Coralliidae have failed under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) despite support from both the United States and the European Union who jointly submitted the proposal in 2009. In the United States, domestic policy monitoring trade of this species is being considered under the Coral Reef Conservation Act and other outlets.
- Support jewelers who have taken a pledge not to use coral in their designs or sell coral in their jewelry stores. Click here for a full list.
- Buy jewelry and products that are coral-inspired to support this practice.
- Share this information with your friends.
- Support legislation to protect corals.