CAIRO: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) can do nothing as the international community votes not to protect the continued depletion of red and pink coral (Corallidae). The Swedish proposal to monitor the trade of coral was taken down as opposition nations last week in Qatar cited human livelihood issues as the main reason for rejecting the measure. The EU-US proposal, supported by both Croatia and the UAE, had called for an Appendix II for coral with an 18-month delay in putting the listing into effect in order to give those involved in technical and administrative issues to have ample time to deal with the measures. But, it doesn't matter now, as the member states voted it down. There are more than 30 species of Corallidae found worldwide, and 30 to 50 metric tons of red and pink corals are harvested annually to meet consumer demand for jewelery and decorative items. The United States alone imported 28 million pieces of red and pink coral between 2001 and 2008, CITES said in a press release concerning the matter. While red and pink populations are no longer commercially viable in some parts of the world, in the Western Pacific they have become depleted within the five years of their discovery. Colonies of coral, which were once some 50cm in height, including in the Mediterranean, have now diminished to only three to five centimeters as coral-mining continues to grow larger and larger. Coral grows less than one millimeter a year on average, said a report from the Discovery Channel. According to the same report, the organisms take 100 years to reach maturity, but newly discovered beds are often exploited beyond the capacity to reproduce within a couple of years. This means, the coral dies and cannot grow back. Unlike other coral species in trade, Coralliidae receives no international trade protection. An Appendix II listing would have ensured to introduce measures to implement regulations on international trade in these corals. The opposition to the proposal was led by Japan and Tunisia, who argued proper management “was in place and it would affect the livelihood of hundreds of poor fishermen.” They also threw aside over exploitation as “baseless.” Japan was also instrumental in rejecting the bluefin ban proposed at the same conference. Japan accounts for a large majority of the consumption of marine life and many activists have called on Japan being excluded and prosecuted for their farming of endangered species. “These corals do not meet the criteria for being listed in Appendix II. Also, the listing will have serious negative repercussions. Coral generates 5,000 jobs in our country, and 1.4 million dinar every year,” said a delegate from Tunisia, who called for a secret ballot. Joining the “no” votes were Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Iceland and Singapore. With 64 countries voting in favor of the proposal and 59 opposed, the measure fell short of two-thirds majority to pass and was rejected. “The majority support is significant and usually it takes more than one meeting to get international support for these issues,” said Thomas L. Strickland, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, US Department of the Interior and the Chief of US CITES delegation. “We will still continue our efforts to bring in these issues including the tuna to the forefront. Our activities to conserve the species will continue as the only winners and losers here are the species and the planet,” he told The Peninsula, Qatar's leading English language newspaper. BM
