Sad Environmental News on Coral Reef Mining

The Taipei Times reports on very bad news for Taiwan's marine ecosystems: the government has decided to license coral reef mining again...

The fight to protect dwindling and fragile coral reefs suffered a setback after the Council of Agriculture (COA) granted dozens of coral-mining licenses in April, reversing the gradual reduction of licensed coral boats.

The COA granted licenses to 96 boats that had been illegally collecting red coral at a meeting in early April, amending a 1989 regulation prohibiting new licenses.

The regulation stipulated that the government should not issue new licenses allowing companies to tear corals from reefs for the jewelry industry or as souvenirs for tourists.

Although the regulation allowed already licensed companies to renew their permits, the rule led to a steady drop in the number of licensed coral-mining boats. Earlier this year only three licensed boats remain.

A study conducted by local governments found, however, that 96 fishing boats were illegally collecting red coral.

The council amended the regulation in April, saying it was protecting the livelihood of the boat operators. The new regulation allowed all boats with coral-mining equipment identified by the end of last year to attain licenses.

Yes, check that out: the government licensed an illegal activity to protect the livelihoods of those carrying on that activity. Why stop there? I can think of lots of illegal livelihoods in need of protection.

What a crying shame that coral, which has no important economic use, isn't simply left alone. According to this report, Taiwan is a major exporter of worked coral jewelry. This trade is aimed entirely at the advanced world, either as exports of coral rock and live coral for aquariums(leading importer: the US) or else as souvenirs to tourists.

It's also important to remember that 96 boats is nothing -- coral mining not only destroys irreplaceable reefs, but there are large secondary economic losses to fish habitats and leisure activities that far outweigh the value of the dynamited coral. Taiwan is probably losing money on this short-sighted and destructive decision.

[Taiwan]