Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean September 23 - 26, 2009 Naples, Italy Edited by Ezio Bussoletti, David Cottingham, Andrew Bruckner, Glynnis Roberts, and Roberto Sandulli U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-13 February 2010 This publication should be cited as: Bussoletti, E., D. Cottingham, A. Bruckner, G. Roberts, and R. Sandulli (editors). 2010. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-13, Silver Spring, MD 233 pp. Significant support for the development of this document was provided by NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation, and NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and the participants of the workshop, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the U.S. Government, NOAA or DOC. Additional copies of this publication may be requested from: Nerie Canasa National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 [email protected] Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean Edited by Ezio Bussoletti, David Cottingham, Andrew Bruckner, Glynnis Roberts, and Roberto Sandulli Office of Habitat Conservation Habitat Protection NOAA Fisheries Coral Reef Conservation Program and I.M. Systems Group, Inc. at NOAA 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-13 U.S. Department of Commerce Gary Locke, Secretary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere National Marine Fisheries Service Jim Balsiger, Ph.D Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (acting) Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean Workshop Coordinators: Ezio Bussoletti, Italy David Cottingham, U.S.A. Sponsors: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) Italian Ministry of Environment, Land, and Sea Università degli Studi di Napoli (MATTM) “Parthenope” University of Naples “Parthenope” U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Coral Reef Conservation Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Ocean Foundation Acknowledgements The Workshop Coordinators wish to thank: • The Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea (MATTM) for the initial incentive to organize this Workshop and for its economic, professional and technical support; • The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) for its institutional support; • Prof. Gennaro Ferrara, Rector of the University of Naples “Parthenope,” who has provided the access to the University structures, and for his introductory speech; • Dr. Aldo Cosentino, Director General for Nature Protection at MATTM, for his strategic coordination, his continuous stimulus to operate, and for his introductory speech; • Dr. Raffaele Celentano, on behalf of the Italian Under-Secretary of State at MAE Hon. Vincenzo Scotti, for the introductory speech; • Prof. Raffaele Santamaria, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology - University of Naples “Parthenope,” for having made the University facilities available during the Workshop, and for his introductory speech; • The Local Organizing Committee, for its continuous effort in the organization of the event which made it a success; • The complete logistic structure of the Centro Direzionale building of University of Naples “Parthenope,” for the technical support; • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its institutional support and subject matter expertise; • U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Conservation Program for providing financial support for supporting many of the international travelers. Particular thanks go to Dr. Antonio Maturani, Head of Division in the Nature Protection Directorate at MATTM, who, with enthusiasm and competence, supported the preparatory work of the whole event. Very appreciative thanks are due to ASSOCORAL, the National Association of Coral and Cameo producers, for hosting an informative visit to Torre del Greco - Naples, and to its President, Dr. Ciro Condito, to its past President, Dr. Mauro Ascione, and to Dr. Antonino De Simone, President of the Banca di Credito Popolare of Torre del Greco. Workshop participants observed red coral processing and had a very pleasant evening party. Last but not least, a particular thanks is due to all the scientific contributors and managers who assured the Workshop full success in the respect of competing different positions. The Workshop Coordinators David Cottingham Ezio Bussoletti v Preface vi STATEMENT OF ALDO COSENTINO General Director, Protezione della Natura MATTM Following the commitment taken in occasion of the last COP, the Italian Government has organized this International Workshop on the Mediterranean Red Coral (Corallium rubrum) jointly with U.S. Government. Aim of this event, which followed that held in Hong Kong in March 16th-20th 2009, was to define a management strategy for the Mediterranean Red Coral analyzing the various problems of conservation and the most suitable methods of sustainable harvest. Despite different positions on the subject, we believe that everybody shares the wish to implement a process able to improve the relationships between “science” and “political decisions” in order to use them for a better support, in a qualified and not a prioristic approach. This is one of the major rendez-vous that the international community concerned in biodiversity protection will face in 2010; in this sense UNEP is operating helping States to better define the mechanisms allowing the scientific results to be promptly available and fully understood by “political stakeholders” so that they could be able to identify strategies and initiatives responding to the actual needs for a correct survival and development of our planet. When we talk of “conservation” and “sustainable use” of biodiversity, it is important to be aware that we operate in a peculiar situation in which science, integrated with international legislation, can make the difference between an efficient and a not efficient choice. On purpose I state “efficient” and not right or wrong. In fact, when we talk about the genus Corallium, as well as other marine organisms, once the biologists have correctly identified the species distribution, they have to be able to understand all the parameters necessary to guarantee their sustainable utilization. The question arising at this stage is then: which is the best international instrument capable to regulate and control that any use is performed following the due rules? In the case of Corallium rubrum, as well as other marine species, international trade represents an important element of its management; however, we should evaluate how reasonable and justified is to consider the control of trade as the best choice rather than the control of more critical parameters. We believe that we need to understand the difference between the various available instruments in order to use those which appear the most suitable, case by case, to get the maximum efficiency. Instruments of “knowledge” are the IUCN “red lists” which, however, pertain to a global level. If a species is globally threatened, this does not mean necessarily that it is so in every area where it is present. Then, red lists are an important instrument which however needs to be re-applied and tested in the field to get the best and more realistic results. The Washington Convention is another fundamental instrument of safeguard; we all know, however, that it became really operational and useful only when countries felt committed to it, deciding its application in the due form. vii This Workshop represents in my view an important step ahead in the knowledge of the Mediterranean Red Coral as it has been possible to compare the experience of different and very qualified scientists representing the leading front on the subject. We have also compared this knowledge with that of experts operating in areas other than the Mediterranean Sea. This has allowed filling knowledge gaps of scientists who did not worked in this region and, then, did not share the day by day history of care and harvest of the Mediterranean precious coral in the last 150 years as it occurred in Italy. We had hoped, taking advantage of the Workshop, to arrive to a shared, agreed position on a strategy concerning the care, safeguard and harvesting of this species on the ground of the positive Italian experience on the subject as a result of an activity existing for one and a half century and which sustains the economy of a sector of our country where about 15,000 persons are involved. Concerning the scientific results and the further needs of knowledge, the Workshop was a clear success as all the attendants arrived to a shared position agreed unanimously and is reported in the Appendix of the present publication. Important statements are done on future actions devoted to deepen the research filling the present gaps. Indications on sustainable management measures and enforcement in the Mediterranean are also given. Unfortunately, attendants were not able to arrive