Intensive harvesting (legal and illegal) is the oldest and most significant disturbance for red coral populations, driving significant shifts in the size structure of shallow red coral populations in the Mediterranean Sea (effects mentioned above) (Santangelo et al. 1993, Tsounis et al. 2007, Dounas et al. 2009, Linares et al. 2010, Tsounis et al. 2010). Other human-induced threats, acting at local and subregional scales, are habitat destruction (trawling, anchoring), sedimentation, pollution, over-frequent recreational diving, and more recently mass mortality events linked to the current warming trend reported for the Mediterranean. Some of the mass mortality events are unexplained, particularly in deep waters.
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Corallium rubrum
Common Name(s)
Mediterranean red coral
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Non-Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
recent ban on the dredging for red coral, SCUBA diving is the only form of coral fishing today. increasing frequency that poachers and even licensed fishermen are forced to harvest immature coral;
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
National / local private sector
International private sector
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is negatively affecting the status (e.g., population is declining; extraction effort is increasing)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out
The maximum sustainable yield (estimated using the Beverton-Holt model) is reached at an age of first capture of 98 years, although the current regulations allow harvesting of approximately 11-year-old colonies (corresponding to a basal diameter of 7 mm); The presented data reveal how this renewable resource is being exploited in a clearly non-sustainable and inefficient way, changing significantly the under- water landscape of the Mediterranean coast. The review of all available data suggests that the shallow water stocks are depleted. the age at first capture for gorgonians should be substantially older than the age at first reproduction, to provide sufficient time for reproduction before colonies are harvested;
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
the fact that today the industry is apparently forced to accept even the tiniest branches represents an undisputable indication that the stocks are overexploited.Most professional operations at Cap de Creus yield 0.5 kg of declared harvest per dive and diver and sometimes up to 2 kg. The recent increase of the price for thin coral branches of 1–2 mm in diameter from 60 to 240 e kg)1 requires a daily catch of only 2–4 kg to be economically feasible (S. Rossi, personal observation), so that making a living from harvesting immature colonies is possible. The remaining populations consist of extremely young colonies, forcing fishermen and poachers to harvest immature colonies to stay in business.
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Tsounis, G., Rossi, S., Gili, JM. et al. Red Coral Fishery at the Costa Brava (NW Mediterranean): Case Study of an Overharvested Precious Coral. Ecosystems 10, 975–986 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-007-9072-5
98% of all shallow water colonies show a juvenile size and branching pattern as a result of harvesting. data suggest that the red coral populations are harvested down to the limit of their recoverability;