U.S. officials are seizing larger amounts of coral—not a plant, but a colony of tiny invertebrates that make up the base of tropical reefs globally—as marine life traffickers chip off pieces from locations like the Caribbean or Australia and ship them in baggies of saltwater across the world. The U.S. is the No. 1 market for marine corals.
Most coral is shipped into America legally; however, an increasing number of coral species or quantities that are banned from trade or restricted are been tucked into shipments of legal species. Between 1999 and 2018, coral made up 14.6% of all wildlife seizures, making it the third-most confiscated group. The coral is often sold to buyers who may or may not know that the marine life was acquired illegally.
More than 25 coral species are considered endangered or threatened and are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora prohibits the trade of approximately 1,900 coral species worldwide. When the coral reaches its destination, it’s often sick or has already died.
Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched the Wildlife Confiscations Network in Southern California that triages and nurtures the illegal coral. It has 26 facilities and has processed around 2,800 animals, including coral, as part of more than 70 legal cases.
