Mining methods may devastate sea coral

The China Post 17 Jul 08;

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- As the Council of Agriculture (COA) prepares to issue licenses to 89 coral-mining boats, scholars and environmentalists urged the government yesterday to help coral miners adopt more sustainable methods to limit damage to the marine ecology.

Currently, there are only three coral-mining boats in Taiwan operating with licenses, but a study conducted by local governments showed that a total of 96 fishing boats have been exploiting red corals without authorization.

The COA last May gave the green light for coral-mining boats to apply for licenses, up to maximum of 96, citing consideration for the livelihood of fishermen and a desire to better manage mining activities.

To date, the Fisheries Agency has received 89 applications, according to an official of the agency.

However, environmentalists and scholars urged coral-mining business operators to adopt more sustainable mining methods, stressing that biodiversity on deep-sea coral reefs is as rich as on coral reefs in shallow waters,

Under current regulations, only deep-sea coral mining is allowed.

Red corals, which grow at a rate of 0.5 to 2 centimeters per year, are not a "renewable marine resource, " said Allen C. Chen, an associate research fellow at Academia Sinicia's Research Center for Biodiversity, at a hearing on the conservation of deep-water coral reefs.

He added that indiscriminate mining methods, such as tangle net dredging, have been banned in western countries, and suggested instead the use of selective methods such as remote-controlled arms or submarines.

But he admitted that these methods are very expensive and suggested that the Fisheries Agency provide aid to coral-mining operators. "If the government makes an effort to help coral-mining business operators adopt more sustainable methods, coral-mining will not become a sunset industry, but rather can contribute to research on deep-sea coral reefs, " said Chen, adding that Taiwan lacks data and research in this area.

The environmentalists also questioned why the relevant COA regulations specify only that each boat is limited to 120 kilos of coral per year, saying that this means excessive quantities of red corals could be taken and those of better quality exported.

In response, Huang promised that the Fisheries Agency will amend the relevant articles in the regulations.

Red corals, found at depths of more than 100 meters, are crimson or pink in color and are often used to make jewelry.

Located in a subtropical zone, Taiwan has rich coral reef resources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Taiwan ranked first among countries that exploited red corals during 1980 to 2005, ahead of Italy, Spain, Japan and Tunisia.

Taiwan's coral reefs are also under threat from human behavior and natural changes, such as artificial fish reefs that push against coral reefs, industrial pollution and global warming.

This year has been designated as the international year of the reef by the Reef Check Foundation, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of reefs worldwide.