The global trade in marine ornamental species

Analysis of trade data
Soft corals and sea fans
Most of the soft corals in trade originate from the Indo-
Pacific Ocean. Although soft coral farming is considered
to be simple and straightforward 70 , very few specimens
are of cultured origin. American Samoa represents an
exception 52 . Despite high numbers of specimens being
traded for use in aquaria, soft corals are not, unlike
stony corals, covered under CITES 54 . No mechanisms
other than GMAD exist to monitor quantity, origin and
destination of species in trade. GMAD data indicate that
a total of 386,849 pieces of live soft coral (according to
importers’ data) were traded between 1988 and 2002.
Based on exporters’ data, the quantity of soft corals
traded between 1998 and 2003 accounted for 7 per cent of
all coral exports (soft and stony).
The United States is the world’s largest soft coral
importer, receiving 67 per cent (according to importers’
data for years 1988-2002 and equivalent to 259,472 live
pieces) of the total trade in soft corals. Indonesia appears
as the largest exporting country of soft corals.
Based on GMAD importers’ data (1988–2002),
the most commonly traded soft coral genera worldwide
are (ordered by genera most traded): Sarcophyton
(leather/mushroom/toadstool coral), Sinularia (finger
leather/soft finger/digitate leather coral), Xenia
(pulse coral), Cladiella (cauliflower/finger/colt/blushing
coral), Clavularia (clove polyp), Anthelia (waving hand
polyp), Lobophytum (finger leather coral), Nephthea
(broccoli coral), Dendronephthya (carnation/strawberry
coral) and Cespitularia (blue xenia).
The trade in leather coral, Sarcophyton spp.
The trade in carnation coral, Dendronephthya spp.
Sarcophyton spp. is the most commonly traded soft
coral. This mushroom-like zooxanthellate xiii species is
hardy, fast growing and easily propagated in aquarium
conditions. Under the Sarcophyton genus at least
five species are known to be traded as aquarium
specimens: S. ehrenbergi, S. glaucum, S. latum, S.
tenuispiculatum and S. trocheliophorum. As reported
by importers in GMAD these five species made up 17
per cent of the total amount of soft corals traded
(importers’ data 1988-2002).
Indonesia emerged as the world’s major
exporter of Sarcophyton spp., supplying 85 per cent of
the total global trade in this species (exporters’ data
1998-2003). The United States was the world’s largest
importer, accounting for 64 per cent (according to
importers’ data) of the total number of soft corals
traded.
Dendronephthya spp. is among the top ten traded soft
corals. Species under this genus are extremely
difficult to maintain in aquaria as they are
azooxanthellate and hence entirely dependent on
filtering particles and absorbing dissolved nutrients
from the water column. In captivity they usually die
within a few weeks. Aquarists are strongly
encouraged not to keep Dendronephthya spp. Two
species in particular are known to be traded as
ornamentals: D. klunzingeri and D. rubeola.
Between 1988 and 2002 a total of 12,618 live
pieces of Dendronephthya spp. were traded globally.
Worldwide, the United States emerged as the largest
importer, accounting for 51 per cent of the total trade
in Dendronephthya spp. Indonesia emerged as the
biggest exporter of Dendronephthya spp. (20 per cent
of all soft coral traded according to importers’ data).
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