HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0333.016 2010-2012Murashige, Laura COikml. "3 _� RE,s. j O - -( I
From: Paula Cano [armalapeluca @gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 11:25 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: coral reefs
?O11 SEP 16 RET111 32
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for the aquarium trade, you should too.
Page 1 of 1
P/GRC
• Coral reefs - -only a small part of the marine environment -- are home to > 25% of the world's ocean
fish and are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth.
• Collection of corals for the aquarium and jewelry industries typically targets rare, slow - growing,
long -lived animals.
• Overharvest can cause localized destruction of reefs, increased erosion, and loss of habitat.
• 1.5 million live stony corals, 4 million pounds of dead coral, hundreds of thousands of other
invertebrates, and 65 -110 thousand pounds of red and black coral are imported into the U.S. alone
every year.
• The global trade volume is unknown.
• According to a 2011 World Resources Institute analysis, human activities have put some 75
percent of the world's coral reefs at risk. Many have been damaged beyond recovery.
• 90% of reefs have been found to be missing species of high value to international trade.
• Corals are collected by dragging iron bars along the ocean floor, wiping out entire eco-
communities. The pattern of exploitation is clear: new, untouched coral beds are found and wiped
out by collectors who leave a trail of destruction in their path.
Paula Cano
Comm t4o.333.1,�
Ref. To: °re. P
4ef. Date SE
9/16/2011