Red Coral Fishery at the Costa Brava NW Mediterra

Authors: Georgios Tsounis Sergio Rossi JosepMaria Gili Wolf E Arntz

Publish Date: 2007/08/04

Volume: 10, Issue: 6, Pages: 975-986

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Abstract

The Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum L 1758 is a slowgrowing longevous gorgonian that produces a red calcium carbonate skeleton which is in high demand by the jewellery industry Its long history of intensive commercial harvesting has resulted in a welldocumented decline of its stocks throughout the Mediterranean becoming especially apparent during the last two decades Based on the extensive ecological data from the Costa Brava NE Spain stocks this study reviews for the first time socioeconomic aspects and the impact of current fishing practices on the red coral population structure and reproductive biology A comparison of the intensively harvested populations in shallow water with that of the infrequently harvested ones in deep water along with a population in a marine reserve as well reveals that 98 of all shallow water colonies show a juvenile size and branching pattern as a result of harvesting Recent data on the reproductive biology of the species show that 91 of the colonies in shallow water populations 60 m depth are not 100 sexually mature These populations are clearly at the limit of their recoverability potential The maximum sustainable yield estimated using the BevertonHolt model is reached at an age of first capture of 98 years although the current regulations allow harvesting of approximately 11yearold colonies corresponding to a basal diameter of 7 mm The presented data reveal how this renewable resource is being exploited in a clearly nonsustainable and inefficient way changing significantly the underwater landscape of the Mediterranean coast The review of all available data suggests that the shallow water stocks are depleted Furthermore recent trends in poaching of juvenile colonies and mass mortality events threaten the survival of the shallow water populations A ban on reconstituted coral from the market appears to be the only option to control this form of poachingWe gratefully acknowledge valuable information contributed by A Plujà Many thanks to J Laudien and to G Santangelo and T Brey for helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript We would like to thank the Mörker family J Riera and M Vilà for their advice on local coastal bionomy Special thanks to J Bosch R Freixa J Gimbernat R Martí P Sánchez and J Quintana for contributing important information on red coral and its fishery Many thanks to JM Llenas for sharing information on the Medas Islands GT was supported by a PhD scholarship from the University of Bremen Germany This study was funded by the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia Spain PCC30103

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