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

Unknown/Not Recorded

Management

Unknown/Not Recorded

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

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

Contribution to GDP

Unknown/not recorded

Food

Energy

Medicine/healthcare

Education

Training/Skills

Land/Resource Rights

Decision Making

Conflict- people

Conflict- wildlife

Climate Change

Details of assessment

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?

Unknown/not recorded

Biological characteristics of target species

Absent

Is this use legal or illegal?

Some use is legal and some is illegal

Source Reference(s)

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;

Who is involved in the use?

Unknown/Not Recorded

Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles

Unknown/not recorded

How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?

How many people outside the local area are employed

Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs

Unknown/Not recorded

Scale of Assessment

Sub-national

IUCN National Red List Category

Not Evaluated (NE)