Spain

Harvesting_Mediterranean red coral_Spain

Emma_Hemmerle — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:44:16 +0000

Harvesting_Mediterranean red coral_Spain Emma_Hemmerle Tue, 01/25/2022 - 10:44

Affiliation

IIED

Date Of Record Entry

Tue, 01/25/2022 - 12:00

Type of wild species covered by the record

Wild species used in its natural habitat

Stage of the value chain covered by the record

Primary Producer/harvester (e.g., NTFP collectors, egg collectors)

Record Source

Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)

Red Coral Fishery at the Costa Brava (NW Mediterranean): Case Study of an Overharvested Precious Coral

Decreasing

Is the species endemic HIDE

Unknown

Population Status

Unknown/not recorded

No formal international protection in place

National Level

Formal national protection in place

its exploitation is a matter of national regulations.

Threats/Pressures impacting the conservation of the species

Habitat Loss and Enviromental Degredation

Climate Change

Pollution

Illegal/Unregulated Fishing

Population Trend

Decreasing

Sub-national Level

Unknown/not recorded

Additional Details (if available)

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)

How is the primary use carried out?

Targeted fishing harvesting/exploiting or collecting wild aquatic resources

Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?

Unknown/not recorded

Purpose of Use

Largescale commercial exploitation for trade

Additional Details (if available)

this coral is in high demand by the jewellery industry

What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?

Ornamentation, decoration and apparel

Amount

1200.00

Units Of Measurement

kg of coral harvested from the Costa Brava annually

Time period over which this has been recorded

2000-2002

What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?

Stable

Is there a regulatory or customary regime in place to govern this use?

Yes, formal but regular non compliance

Additional Details (if available)

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;

Geographic Location

Mediterranean and Black Sea

Country

Spain

Sub region/state

Costa Brava

Site Description

the main red coral harvesting area is Cap de Creus, and therefore, the productivity and yield estimates for this study focus on this area;

Is the site legally/formally protected?

Unknown/not recorded

Ownership

Spain

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