Is red coral on the brink

Abstract

Many today are familiar with the plight of bluefin tuna and marine turtle but few know about the diminishing population of the Mediterranean Red Coral species (Corallium rubrum). A recent international workshop on red coral held in Naples heard the concern of coral biologists, managers and traders over the long-term viability of red coral in the Mediterranean, especially those in shallow waters. Mediterranean red coral is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and to eastern swathes of the Atlantic Ocean. The species is normally encountered on rocky bottoms in overhangs, caves and at the base of submarine vertical walls, at depths ranging from 10 to 500 metres. However, red coral populations were recently discovered in waters off Malta and Linosa at a staggering depth of 600-800m, as part of the EU's Hermes and Hermione projects.