CQUniversity reef researcher Dr Alison Jones advocates a shift away from wild harvest towards aquaculture of coral, to avoid the risk of local extinctions of relatively rare corals favoured by America's aquarium trade.

Dr Jones' Raiding the Coral Nurseries? article in the journal diversity has already sparked interest in the general media, as it reveals a recent shift in the pattern of commercial harvest in the Keppel Island region.   LINK HERE for Raiding the Coral Nurseries?

CQUni reef researcher Dr Alison Jones

Data from the annual status reports from the Queensland Coral Fishery were compared with export trade data to the US from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

LINK HERE for ‘The great barrier reef robbery' newspaper article

"Evidence was found of recent increases in the harvest of species from the Mussidae family ... which appears to be largely driven by demand from the US," Dr Jones writes.

"On present trends, the industry runs the risk of localized depletion of Blastomussa and Scolymia; evidenced by an increase in the harvest of small specimens and the trend of decreasing harvest despite a concurrent increase in demand.

"Considering their relatively high sediment tolerance compared to other reef-building species, and the current lack of information about their functional role in reef stability, the trend raises concerns about the impact of the harvest on local coral communities.

"The recent shift in harvest patterns could have impacts on slow-growing species by allowing harvest beyond the rate of population regeneration.

"In light of these factors, combined with the value of such species to local tourism, a commercial coral fishery based on uncommon but highly sought-after species may not be ecologically sustainable or economically viable in the Keppels."

Dr Jones acknowledges there is now an improved framework for assessing vulnerability, but notes: "the historical data had limited species-specific resolution, many corals are still not reported to species level and the current two-year timeframe between actual catch and management review of the reference points is too long for meaningful intervention to occur".

She says the area of reef targeted by collectors in the Keppels is small and isolated from the influence of other reef systems and there is a risk current monitoring will not identify localised depletions of low abundance species.

"Most enforcement agents are not trained in the taxonomic identification of stony corals and fisheries data is assessed on reef-wide rather than local or regional scales, which makes species-specific triggers for localized depletion meaningless."

Dr Jones says her study suggests the current management regime is no longer appropriate given the significant changes in market demand, now focused on vibrantly coloured stony corals with large polyps.

"Without an effective, locally relevant monitoring and management regime there is a risk that continued harvest levels may eventually cause local and even regional extinctions without triggering a management response."