Wildlife trade body leaves rare corals unprotected

DOHA (AFP) — A UN body on Sunday rejected the monitoring of trade in dwindling stocks of precious corals days after nixing a ban on bluefin tuna, raising doubts about its capacity to oversee high-value species.

The Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meeting in Doha until Thursday, shot down the proposal despite an 85 percent drop since 1980 in global harvests of red and pink coral, among the most valuable of wildlife commodities.

A single necklace can sell for 25,000 dollars (18,000 euros), with a kilo of polished coral costing up to twice that.

Environmental groups slammed the decision, warning that the consequences could be severe, perhaps irreversible.

As with Atlantic bluefin, Japan led opposition to the measure, which targeted seven species of the deep-water, reef-building organism, one in the Mediterranean and six in waters off Japan and Taiwan.

Another 24 "lookalike" species, also in the Coralliidae family, would have been covered to prevent accidental harvesting.

"Management is already under strict control," a Japanese delegate said during plenary debate.

North African countries with coral cottage industries joined in the "no" vote, arguing that a CITES Appendix II listing -- which mandates export and scientific monitoring -- would Continue reading the remaining 70% ...