[Coral-List] Selling coral

Carole White carolewhy at gmail.com
Thu Feb 14 19:19:23 EST 2008


Dear Coral listers,

Just to clarify an earlier message concerning CITES and the international
trade in corals:

All stony corals (Scleractinia) species are listed under Appendix II (NOT
Appendix I). This means that: they are considered to 'not necessarily
threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order
to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.'
http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml

An export permit is required each time a specimen is exported from a country
which is Party to the Convention which enables the trade in coral to be
regulated. Therefore, it is NOT illegal to export corals (live or otherwise)
listed on Appendix II as long as certain conditions are met (for example
permits are filled in etc..) and no exemptions are in place at the time (for
example specific regulations in place by the European Union).

Fossils are exempt from CITES just means that no permits are required for
these specimens at all.

Carole

2008/2/14, coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov <
coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Selling coral (Drew Weiner)
>   2. Re: Selling coral (Eric J Hochberg)
>   3. CPCe V3.5 now available (Kevin Kohler)
>   4. reply to "selling coral" post (Sarah.Friastorres at noaa.gov)
>   5. Re: Selling coral (Ed Blume)
>   6. Re: Selling coral (Adrienne Carter)
>   7. Josemite Sam (Jean-Jacques Eckert)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:06:01 -0800
> From: Drew Weiner <dweiner at reefprotect.org>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Selling coral
> To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <40927.1202925961 at reefprotect.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hello Ed - great spot!  This is, indeed, very disturbing.
> I was unable to locate any contact info for Mr. Thorne nor
> information on how this coral is procured.   Did anyone else succeed
> in this endeavor?  If so, I suggest we craft a letter (I volunteer to
> write it), send it around the group for signatures and fire it off to
> this gentlemen informing him of his ill-crafted idea.
> Has anyone ever heard of any vendor being a "licensed distributer of
> Coral from the Great Australian Barrier Reef?"  That seems a rather
> dubious claim to me.  Additionally, this is clearly not coral that has
> washed up on shore.  There are public education campaigns ongoing here
> in the US that address coral jewelry and the like.  I'm sure they
> would be interested in taking this matter up as well.
> Again, good spot Ed.  I look forward to seeing how this group will
> help resolve this matter.
> Thank you,
> drew
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Drew Weiner
> Director - Reef Protection International
> 300 Broadway, Suite 28
> San Francisco, CA 94133
> o 415-788-3666 x223
> c 415-699-2091
> f 415-788-7324
> dweiner at reefprotect.org
> http://www.reefprotect.org
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:52:36 -0600
> From: "Ed Blume"
> Subject: [Coral-List] Selling coral
> To:
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
> This site that is selling coral looks disturbing:
> http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/catalog/coral
> What types of coral are pictured?  And how bad is it that it's being
> sold?
> Ed Blume
> Volunteer, Centro Ecol?gico Akumal (www.ceakumal.org)
> Madison, WI
> *****************************************
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1]
>
> http://webmail.grassroots.org/javascript:top.opencompose(\'edblume@mailbag.com\',\'\',\'\',\'1\')
> [2]
>
> http://webmail.grassroots.org/javascript:top.opencompose(\'Coral-List@coral.aoml.noaa.gov\',\'\',\'\',\'1\')
> [3]
>
> http://webmail.grassroots.org/javascript:top.opencompose(\'0202a8c0@HOMECOMPUTER\',\'\',\'\',\'1\')
> [4] http://www.ceakumal.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:59:29 -1000
> From: Eric J Hochberg <hochberg at hawaii.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Selling coral
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <f63750a617214.47b2b171 at hawaii.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> >From the same website (http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/our/coral
> ):
>
> "This unique natural Coral has been harvested under precise, government
> approved, world class management arrangements. As a healthy resilient
> ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef accumulates and extra five million tonnes
> of new Coral growth every year. Of this growth, a small quota of abundant
> fast growing Coral of premium quality and limited size is hand harvested
> from specific reef zones. Just as reefs recover after natural events such as
> cyclones, they also quckly replenish after harvesting. Corals either
> regenerate from the base or larval settlement and growth of a new colony
> occurs. Coral harvesting is based on the highest marine science standards. A
> portion of sales is donated to independant scientific research to ensure
> that harvesting remains responsive to climate change and causes no detriment
> to the Great Barrier Reef."
>
> If they have permission from the Australian government, one would presume
> (or hope) that the harvesting has been carefully considered and deemed
> sustainable.
>
> If they don't have permission, one would expect them to get in trouble.
>
> ---- Original Message -----
> >From   "Ed Blume" <edblume at mailbag.com>
> Date    Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:52:36 -0600
> To      <Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Subject         [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
> This site that is selling coral looks disturbing:
> http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/catalog/coral
>
> What types of coral are pictured?  And how bad is it that it's being sold?
>
> Ed Blume
> Volunteer, Centro Ecol?gico Akumal (www.ceakumal.org)
> Madison, WI
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:34:43 -0500
> From: Kevin Kohler <kevin at nova.edu>
> Subject: [Coral-List] CPCe V3.5 now available
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20080213143135.02546b40 at pop.nova.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>   The  National  Coral  Reef Institute (NCRI) is pleased to announce the
>   availability  of  Version  3.5  of  CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel
>   extensions).  CPCe is a Windows-based program that provides a tool for
>   the   determination  of  coral  cover  and  diversity  using  transect
>   photographs  and  the  random point count method. There are also tools
>   for image calibration and area analysis.
>   New  features  in  V3.5  include  an  enhanced code file checker which
>   allows  the  quick  detection of formatting errors in the customizable
>   coral/substrate  code  file. Also, there is a new mini-zoom feature in
>   the area analysis portion of the program that enlarges the pixels near
>   the  tracing  cursor,  giving  the  user  a  better view of the region
>   boundaries,  thereby  providing  a  more accurate trace. Plus assorted
>   minor improvements and fixes.
>   More information is available at [1]http://www.nova.edu/ocean/cpce .
>   - Kevin
>
>   ----------------------------------------------------
>   Kevin E. Kohler <kevin at nova.edu>
>   Director of Computing Services
>   National Coral Reef Institute ([2]www.nova.edu/ncri)
>   Nova       Southeastern      University      Oceanographic      Center
>   ([3]www.nova.edu/ocean)
>   8000 North Ocean Drive  Dania Beach, Florida  33004
>   Ph:  954.262.3641    Fax: 954.262.4158
>
> References
>
>   1. http://www.nova.edu/ocean/cpce
>   2. http://www.nova.edu/ncri
>   3. http://www.nova.edu/ocean
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:52:39 -0500
> From: Sarah.Friastorres at noaa.gov
> Subject: [Coral-List] reply to "selling coral" post
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <f7e02f4fd2.f4fd2f7e02 at noaa.gov>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Dear coral-listers,
> in the web site provided by Ed Blume on "selling coral"
> http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/front
> Steven Thorne claims to be the "only licensed UK and European
> distributor of coral from the Great Australian Barrier Reef". The site
> clearly has a commercial purpose (=wants to sell the corals).
>
> Let's review CITES, the Convention of International Trade in
> Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. I think it's appropriate
> since Australia and all the countries in the European Union (including
> UK) are members of and have ratified CITES.
>
> All stony corals (Scleractinia) are listed under Appendix I CITES,
> with the exception of coral fossils listed under app. II. For the look
> of the photographs at the site, it seems they are live (non-fossil
> corals) that have been killed and cleaned.
> Appendix I CITES PROHIBITS INTERNATIONAL TRADE in specimens of the
> species listed because they are in danger of extinction. The only
> exception are imports of such species for non commercial purposes
> (i.e. scientific research). Further exceptions apply (Under Article
> VII) if the corals have been propagated in captivity (which is not the
> case here).
>
> So, what do you suggest should be the next step now?
>
> Sarah Frias-Torres, PhD
> CIMAS-RSMAS University of Miami & MRAG Americas
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:00:49 -0600
> From: "Ed Blume" <edblume at mailbag.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Selling coral
> To: "'Adrienne Carter'" <Acarter at coastalplanning.net>,
>        <Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <010701c86e83$8355f980$6801a8c0 at EdBlume>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> That?s one of things I?m asking.  What are the legal issues?  What are the
> environmental issues?  I?m not a coral expert, so maybe it?s no big deal
> that these species are being sold.
>
>
>
> Ed Blume
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adrienne Carter [mailto:Acarter at coastalplanning.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:41 PM
> To: Ed Blume
> Subject: RE: [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
>
>
>
>
> It says on the website -" The Only Licensed UK and European distributer of
> Coral from the Great Australian Barrier Reef"
>
> Is that even legal?
>
>
>
> Adrienne Carter
>
> Marine Scientist
>
> _____
>
> From: Ed Blume [mailto:edblume at mailbag.com]
> Sent: Tue 2/12/2008 11:52 PM
> To: Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
> This site that is selling coral looks disturbing:
> http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/catalog/coral
>
> What types of coral are pictured?  And how bad is it that it's being sold?
>
> Ed Blume
> Volunteer, Centro Ecol?gico Akumal (www.ceakumal.org)
> Madison, WI
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:34:11 -0500
> From: "Adrienne Carter" <Acarter at coastalplanning.net>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Selling coral
> To: "Ed Blume" <edblume at mailbag.com>,   <Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID:
>        <
> EAA33B2CA43A7245ADC059A15C3C67009159EE at cpe-exchange.coastalplanning.fla>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>   This  website is even more some surprising! Below is directly from the
>   website, typos and all:
>
>   "CORAL  -  This  product  for the first time, has been given a license
>   from  the  Australian  Government to be exported for sale under strict
>   license,  due  to  the  fact  that certain areas of the reef have been
>   allowed  to  bring  to  the surface and sell as ornaments. This unique
>   natural  Coral  has been harvested under precise, government approved,
>   world class management arrangements. As a healthy resilient ecosystem,
>   the  Great  Barrier  Reef accumulates and extra five million tonnes of
>   new Coral growth every year. Of this growth, a small quota of abundant
>   fast  growing  Coral  of  premium  quality  and  limited  size is hand
>   harvested  from  specific  reef  zones.  Just  as  reefs recover after
>   natural  events  such  as  cyclones,  they also quckly replenish after
>   harvesting.   Corals   either  regenerate  from  the  base  or  larval
>   settlement  and  growth  of  a  new colony occurs. Coral harvesting is
>   based  on  the highest marine science standards. A portion of sales is
>   donated  to  independant scientific research to ensure that harvesting
>   remains  responsive  to  climate change and causes no detriment to the
>   Great Barrier Reef."
>     _________________________________________________________________
>
>   From: Ed Blume [mailto:edblume at mailbag.com]
>   Sent: Wed 2/13/2008 4:00 PM
>   To: Adrienne Carter; Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>   Subject: RE: [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
>   That's one of things I'm asking.  What are the legal issues?  What are
>   the  environmental  issues?   I'm not a coral expert, so maybe it's no
>   big deal that these species are being sold.
>
>
>   Ed Blume
>
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: Adrienne Carter [mailto:Acarter at coastalplanning.net]
>   Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:41 PM
>   To: Ed Blume
>   Subject: RE: [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
>
>
>   It  says  on  the  website  -"  The  Only  Licensed  UK  and  European
>   distributer of Coral from the Great Australian Barrier Reef"
>
>   Is that even legal?
>
>
>   Adrienne Carter
>
>   Marine Scientist
>   ______________________________________________________________________
>
>   From: Ed Blume [mailto:edblume at mailbag.com]
>   Sent: Tue 2/12/2008 11:52 PM
>   To: Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>   Subject: [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
>   This    site    that    is    selling    coral    looks    disturbing:
>   [1]http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/catalog/coral
>   What  types  of coral are pictured?  And how bad is it that it's being
>   sold?
>   Ed Blume
>   Volunteer, Centro Ecol?gico Akumal (www.ceakumal.org)
>   Madison, WI
>
> References
>
>   1. http://www.steventhornedesign.com/store/catalog/coral
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:19:10 +0100
> From: "Jean-Jacques Eckert" <jjeckert at evc.net>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Josemite Sam
> To: <Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <003501c86eea$a8553c20$de75f13e at JOSEMITE>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Dear listers,
>
> In response to
> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:52:36 -0600
> From: "Ed Blume" <edblume at mailbag.com>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Selling coral
>
>
> If there are true dead corals as it seems normally they need a CITES in
> order to be allowed to be sold. If not, it is totally illegal and they
> should be removed.
>
>
> Regards  JJE
>
> --
> J'utilise la version gratu?te de SPAMfighter pour utilisateurs priv?s.
> Ce programme a supprim?14649 d'e-mails spam ? ce jour.
> Les utilisateurs qui paient n'ont pas ce message dans leurse-mails.
> Obtenez la version gratuite de SPAMfighter ici:
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> ------------------------------
>
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