Some of the World's Oldest Gems Are Corals

The health of the ocean is directly linked to the health of its corals. I tend to think of corals as the multipurpose depots or rest stops of the sea: Countless species of marine life rely on them to find food, to hide from predators, and to reproduce. But, because of their beauty, some corals are also traded commodities and consequently in danger of being removed from their habitats faster than they can replenish themselves. For red and pink coral, or Corallium, in particular, their beauty has been their curse.

Corallium has been considered a precious gem for over five thousand years. The coral skeleton, consisting of hardened calcium carbonate in hues ranging from red to pink, is what harvesters and traders find so valuable; it can be polished to a glass-like luster. Italy is the world capital of the red coral trade, but coral jewelry dates all the way back to ancient Egypt. Through the ages many cultures, including Indians, the Gauls, Greeks and Romans, believed red coral to hold magical powers, such as protecting one from danger or evil. They were also believed to be to be an antidote for poison and for treating diseases.

Red coral is still highly valued in the making of jewelry and art objects. Consequently, it is being overharvested and sold on the international market. Because the species grows very slowly and lives quite a long life, they cannot reproduce quickly enough to replace their colonies to healthy levels.

While there is no international law in place to protect Corallium, there are some protections in place. For example, in 1994 the European Union banned the use of precious coral dredging equipment in the Mediterranean. And, since 1983, the US has regulated the harvest of Corallium species in the Pacific.

Some non-governmental groups, such as Sea Web's Too Precious to Wear campaign, are seeking European Union support to get Corallium more protection by getting it listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) - a move the United States supports. There is opposition by some countries, however, such as Italy. And despite United States support of the proposal, it has played a role in the international trade of the gem. The US imported over 26 million pieces of Corallium between 2001 and 2006.

It is important to note that trading of Corallium is not its only threat. Climate change, loss of habitat due to oil and gas exploration, and ocean pollution, for example, are contributing to depletion of the species. Take Action Help red coral be harvested more sustainably.