The science of the sustainability of precious coral

 

CIBJO released ninth pre-CIBJO Congress 2024 special report 

With fewer than three weeks to go to the opening of the 2024 CIBJO Congress in Shanghai, China, on November 2, 2024, the ninth of the pre-congress Special Reports has been released. Prepared by the CIBJO Coral Commission, headed by Vincenzo Liverino, the report look at how the industry has relied on science both to ensure the sustainability of its own precious coral resources, as well as to help save non-precious reef corals that are under threat from global warming and ocean acidification. 

“While we have underlined the fact that deep-water precious corals should not be regarded in the same way as the shallow reef-corals, as a community that is a fully conscious of the necessity of conservation we share same global environmental concerns, and are committed to using the knowledge we have gained to conserve what remains in the shallow-water reefs and maybe revive what has been damaged in recent years,” writes Liverino. 

Established 10 years ago by CIBJO, in its first decade of operation the Coral Commission has gathered together a group of scientists and industry experts dedicated to preserving the viability and tradition of the biogenic gem material, while establishing professional standards and responsible operating principles. During this period it has produced guides for the classification and identification of coral gem materials, which are today being used by educators and customs authorities in a number of countries.  

The 2024 Coral Commission Special Report includes a study conducted Prof. Roberto Vona and Prof. Mauro Sciarelli, both of the Federico Il University in Naples, Italy, with the assistance of Dr. Lorenzo Turrizziani, which describes how the coral fishing and processing sector can positively  impact the three dimensions of ESG – environmental, social and governance.  

“In summary, the coral sector represents a clear example of integrated sustainability, in which the protection of the marine environment is accompanied by economic development and the preservation of cultural traditions,” they write. “Through responsible resource management and the adoption of innovative technologies, this sector not only contributes to the conservation of marine ecosystems, but also enhances the cultural and intangible heritage of local communities, demonstrating how sustainability can be pursued holistically, while fostering economic growth and community resilience.”  

Another contribution to the report was made by Dr. Laurent Cartier of the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF, who described how a study to identify coral types using minute quantities of DNA revealed the existence of a previously unidentified precious coral species. Also contributing was the Precious Coral Protection and Development Association of Japan, which focused on the reproduction rate of transplanted corals, which are part of study into the reforestation of local seabeds.