The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
The 15th Conference of Parties:
A Seminal Meeting for Marine Species
G. Marola/Marine Photobank
International governments missed a golden opportunity to step up and protect imperiled red and pink coral at the United Nation's international conference that regulates trade in endangered species. Member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) failed to list 32 species of red and pink coral under CITES Appendix II as proposed by the United States and the European Union. Although the listing received a majority in favor, the 64-59 margin (with 10 countries abstaining) was not enough to secure the two-thirds quota needed. The failure to protect these species continued a string of disappointments for ocean species at the 15th CITES Conference of Parties.
"Corals are the building blocks of many ocean ecosystems, and the science is clear: They are at great risk," said Dawn Martin, president of SeaWeb. "And now, since action was not taken at CITES, red and pink coral populations will continue to decline at an alarming rate."
Red and pink coral (Coralliidae) are among the most valuable and widely traded of all precious corals. Coralliidae are long-lived, slow growing marine animals that have been intensively fished for centuries to meet global demand for jewelry and home décor. This past week in Doha was their best chance to receive international trade protection. The United States and the European Union proposed 32 species of red and pink coral be listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Scientists, conservationists, and jewelry and design industry leaders decried the failed opportunity as a clear instance of economic concerns winning out over environmental ones. Intense and misleading lobbying by countries with red and pink coral industries appeared to trump sound science and may have sealed the fate for these precious deep-sea animals.
"The irony is that the Italian artisans who work in coral and helped create this resistance to an Appendix II listing feel that it would threaten their livelihood," said jewelry designer Temple St. Clair, who has lived and worked in Italy for more than 25 years. "As we know, the real threat to their livelihood is not protecting these corals. If they stay on their current track, there will be no more coral for them to harvest. It's now up the jewelry and design industry to stop buying and using this coral so populations can recover. If consumer demand is lessened, perhaps governments and the coral industry will get serious about protecting these precious animals for future generations," St. Clair added.
As has been the theme at the CITES 15th Conference of Parties meeting, many endangered ocean species failed to receive the votes necessary to list them as protected. In addition to Coralliidae being denied protection, so were bluefin tuna, several species of shark, and polar bears.
For further information or for media inquiries, contact:
Jackie Marks, jmarks@seaweb.org, 301.495.9570
Media coverage of the coral vote:
Read the Washington Post article >>
Read the USA Today article >>
Read the AP story as printed in the UK's Guardian >>
Read the National Jeweler article >>
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