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solonavi 24 January 2008 Coral Reefs, Endangered & Extinction 158 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

The Times online

An illegal trade in live coral is being investigated by Customs officers after a steep rise in protected species being smuggled into Britain to decorate aquariums.

Hundreds of rare corals covered by international conservation laws have been intercepted at airports en route to aquarium shops. Demand is being driven by the fashion for “reef aquariums” and owners eager to have the rarest and most colourful specimens, even if they are endangered species.

Details of the largest live coral consignment discovered in Britain have been revealed by Customs officers. The 350 corals and clams were discovered at Manchester airport in September but the seizure was kept secret while investigations were carried out.

The corals had been stolen from Indonesia’s protected reefs and taken to Malaysia before being flown to Britain. Customs discovered that the consignment was destined for a wholesaler and then for shops in Manchester, Cheshire, the West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Scotland.

The haul included specimens from the six species of coral protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, such as Catalaphyllia jardinei, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi and species in the genus Plerogyra.

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For each live specimen that reaches an aquarium, dozens more die during collecting and shipping.

Global warming is by far the greatest threat to reefs — experts say that many could be wiped out by changes to sea level and temperatures — but Ms Jones said that smuggling endangered species meant that “already stressed ecosystems are being put under further stress”.

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Keith Davenport, chief executive of the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, said that the industry was careful to keep up with additions to the list of endangered species. “People on the fringes of the trade undermine the good name of an industry where the vast majority are acting entirely legitimately,” he said.

Customs officers seized 159 live corals and 14 sea horses at Heathrow in September and the previous month intercepted a courier package at East Midlands airport containing six live protected corals.