Chinese Authorities Seize Stolen Corals

[John_Brandt]

China prevents massive coral heist


BBC News
August 23, 2004


Authorities on the Chinese island of Hainan have seized 40 tonnes of stolen coral, according to state media.

Police set up an ambush in a car park in Haikou city, after getting a tip-off about two trucks containing the illegal harvest, Xinhua news agency said.

The truck drivers claimed they were carrying rocks, but the vehicles were found to contain live coral.

The coral was immediately returned to the sea so it could have a chance of surviving, Xinhua said.

Correspondents say the growing demand for coral has fuelled the destructive harvesting of reefs - in China and elsewhere.

About 95% of China's reefs are under significant threat, according to the French news agency AFP.

The coral is used as food, jewellery and ornaments for aquariums.

China's most extensive reefs are located near Hainan Island, and the marine authorities there enforce a strict ban on the removal of coral.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3590484.stm

 

[dizzy]

John,
This is a disturbing article. A growing demand for live corals in China assures there will be a thriving black market for illegal corals and fish after MAMTI and hr4928 remove the US market from the equation. West is West and East is East and never the trade shall cease. (Over there)
Mitch

 

[John_Brandt]

Responsible countries protect their own natural resources while also paying attention to their contribution to the exploitation of the resources of other countries. HR 4928 and MAMTI address this concern with respect to the marine ornamental trade. But it is incumbant upon the governments of nations with coral reefs to set up monitoring and enforcing the conservation of these ecosystems. Coral reefs are rich sources of renewable ornamental species with considerable economic value. A middle road must be reached between unmonitored exploitation and complete cessation of ornamental harvest. A managed trade is that middle ground.

The article shows that at least in some cases China is capable and willing to arrest violators of its reef conservation laws.

I found the citation to the coral being used as food curious.

 

[naesco]

John,
This is a disturbing article. A growing demand for live corals in China assures there will be a thriving black market for illegal corals and fish after MAMTI and hr4928 remove the US market from the equation. West is West and East is East and never the trade shall cease. (Over there)
Mitch

I don't think so.

In the US those who vilolate Farhenheit 4928 with get at best several months in gaol and nominal fines in the thousands.

Care to think about what is going to happen to the Chinese criminals who decide to break their own laws?

 

[Anonymous]

John,
This is a disturbing article. A growing demand for live corals in China assures there will be a thriving black market for illegal corals and fish after MAMTI and hr4928 remove the US market from the equation. West is West and East is East and never the trade shall cease. (Over there)
Mitch

I don't think so.

In the US those who vilolate Farhenheit 4928 with get at best several months in gaol and nominal fines in the thousands.

Care to think about what is going to happen to the Chinese criminals who decide to break their own laws?

:lol: :lol:

oh this is too funny

 

[MaryHM]

What is gaol?? Is it somplace I should be concerned about spending time at?

 

[John_Brandt]

A managed and monitored curio coral trade would possibly be feasible, though sentiments from most hobbyists and conservationists are against this trade.

From the UNEP-WCMC report Ocean to Aquarium page 57-8, "Australia,for example, has developed an effective management strategy whereby coral reef habitats have been divided into zones for different uses, which include no-take areas. Selected collection areas, representing less than 1 per cent of the reefs in a region, have been established for licensed collectors to harvest coral for the aquarium trade. Government statistics show that despite collectors harvesting 45-50 tonnes of coral per year for 20 years, no noticeable impact on the resource has been observed." *

* Bruckner Andrew (2000). New threat to coral reefs: trade in coral organisms. Issues in Science and Technology Online.

http://www.unep.org/PDF/From_Ocean_To_Aquarium_report.pdf

 

[Kalkbreath]

There is no market for live coral in China That I have ever heard of , whats to believe that these were packed in water destine for aquariums? ? Forty tonnes of live corals is more then even the USA imports a year ........ Did the author of the article mention that China routinely imports tones of coral for traditional medicine? Its seem thet the Chinese Government only becomes concerned when its there own national reefs. :wink:

 

[dizzy]

John,
Where is the 45-50 tons per year of Aussie corals going?
Mitch

 

[Kalkbreath]

Anyone on this board ever hear of Aussie coral landing in the USA? Also , China does not participate in CITES . Which means there is no record of what species and how many tonnes are imported a year . Kinda like the tractor trailer loads of dry seahorses that roll in each day ......... I guess because there is no record ...........there are no sea horses imported . :wink: China in the next ten years posses the biggest threat to animals listed on CITES . Only 1 percent of Americans consume CITES listed species. 80% of Chinas people consume reef products and or CITES listed animals ....like rhino horns and bear gallbladder and seahorses with the average China men gaining economic power each year , the Chinese will over take America as the worlds largest consumer power within the next few years ......And there are twenty times more of them then us . When that day comes , Good luck reefs world wide and good luck American manufacturers

 

[John_Brandt]

Also, China does not participate in CITES . Which means there is no record of what species and how many tonnes are imported a year.

List of Contracting Parties:

#63 China 08/04/1981

http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/parties/alphabet.shtml

 

[John_Brandt]

Where is the 45-50 tons per year of Aussie corals going?

I don't know. The source used is from 2000 and may have been of a time period prior to that. I don't have access to the original citation.

 

[Kalkbreath]

You forgot the importance of "participate " Signing on is one thing , actually filling out a CITES Permit for each Kilo of Seahorses is another. . Plus even under the CITES rules, China can import what ever protected species they wish from non CITES countries all around them. { Just like we do from Tonga .}

 

[Anonymous]

usually, where there's smuggling, the contraband caught/discovered is the MINORITY portion of the smuggling trade-far more gets through than is caught-it's why people smuggle in the 1st place-the odds favor the smugglers

just look at the amount of cocaine, heroin, and grass that gets to the u.s. compared to what's actually caught and prevented from getting to 'market'

food for thought

 

[Anonymous]

just look at the amount of cocaine, heroin, and grass that gets to the u.s. compared to what's actually caught and prevented from getting to 'market'

Finally...an expert opinion...



Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:

NOSOUPFORYOU!!!