How were red coral populations in the Mediterranean Sea before overfishing?

Before the overfishing, the Mediterranean
had coral populations (Corallium rubrum) with relatively high-density in big –probably centenary- colonies, even at shallow depths, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, with the participation of the experts Cristina Linares, Ignasi Montero-Serra and Diego K. Kersting, from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona.

The new study, led by Joaquim Garrabou, from the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), has been made possible thanks to the 2010 findings of a virgin population of red coral in Corsica, in a submarine cave in the Scandola Nature Reserve. This population shows a conservation status which was unknown so far, near the shallows and considered to be a door to the past. The study also counts with the participation of the experts from CEAB-CSIC, University of Girona, the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, the Corsica Regional Nature Park in France, the University of Oporto (Portugal) and the University of Zagreb (Croatia).

Red coral is a fragile and vulnerable organism, from the Antozoan group (plant-shaped animals). It has a slow growth (1mm and 0,25 mm per year in height and diameter respectively) and its populations need long periods of time, probably centuries, to recover from exploitation.

Ecologically, red coral populations play an important role in the marine ecosystems: they structure habitats, allow the development of other species in coral-rich colonies and are shelter areas for other invertebrates and young fish.

It is worth mentioning that some of the signing authors of the article in Scientific Reports are also authors of a report for the Generalitat de Catalunya which shows the critical situation of red coral in Catalan coasts. After this report, in which experts from de University of Barcelona, ICM-CSIC and ICTA-UAB have participated, the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) has announced a moratorium of 10 years for which red coral extraction will be banned. This moratorium, to be operational from 2018 onwards, could also be extendable. The report about the critical situation of red coral in Catalan coasts counts with the participation of the UB experts Cristina Linares and Mikel Zabala (Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences) and Bernat Hereu, from the mentioned Department and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio). 

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