There is something about black. Black dresses, black and white balls, Johnny Cash, black pearl jewelry and a black pearl necklace. Black is classic. Black is hip. Unless it is black coral. Black coral has been collected to an alarming degree. Black Coral can be found off the coasts of Mexico and Belize. Mexico and Belize are starting to protect the coral, but it is still being poached and decimated.
Ambergris Caye is is part of a string of barrier islands protecting main land Belize. It is a resort destination off the beaten path and shielded by a reef. Flying into the little airport in San Pedro, crossing the tarmac and walking into town with the smell of the sea and the billowing white clouds above, it is easy to relax and feel like a piece of paradise has been found. But out in the ocean, by the reef, a war is raging. The coral reef is a fragile ecosystem. Belize has the second largest reef system in the world behind the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. This invitesvisitors, especially divers. A lot of visitorssnorkel and dive to see the reef. Not everyone can appreciate the fragile habitat they are entering. Even cautious divers can cause damage. Moving beneath a ledge can leave air bubbles that are abrasive to the habitat. Clueless or thoughtless visitors can easily kick out or brush up against the reef causing damage.
A greater danger to some corals, black coral being one of them, is commerce. This ebony coral creates stunningjewelry. It is sleek and beautiful. It is also threatened. In Belize there are regulatory agencies that permit coral to be harvested by some commercial merchants. These merchants are supposed to only pick up the dead coral that has fallen and lying on the bottom. While many of the merchants are vigilante and protective of the coral, there are still abuses occurring. Most merchants agree that preserving the reef is in their best interest. A rare commodity is a more valuable product and claims a better price.
In Mexico, many of the commercial divers justify their harvest by saying that there are vast beds deeper down. The current surveys don't back this up. The studies have found few beds with marginal health. Not to mention, different depths provide different ecosystems. Harvesting shallow coral overwhelmingly affects a specific habitat. While black coral tends to be a deeper living coral, it is still an essential component of the reef eco-system.
One of the best ways to preserve black coral is to decrease the demand for it. Buying black coral is like buying poached ivory- it comes at a devastating price to the environment. Knowing the origins of any thing may take some effort, but the effort could be saving a valuable natural wonder. Jewelry is a wonderful gift, a lovely thing to wear, but it can be more meaningful if it doesn't harm the coral reefs. - 29959
Ambergris Caye is is part of a string of barrier islands protecting main land Belize. It is a resort destination off the beaten path and shielded by a reef. Flying into the little airport in San Pedro, crossing the tarmac and walking into town with the smell of the sea and the billowing white clouds above, it is easy to relax and feel like a piece of paradise has been found. But out in the ocean, by the reef, a war is raging. The coral reef is a fragile ecosystem. Belize has the second largest reef system in the world behind the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. This invitesvisitors, especially divers. A lot of visitorssnorkel and dive to see the reef. Not everyone can appreciate the fragile habitat they are entering. Even cautious divers can cause damage. Moving beneath a ledge can leave air bubbles that are abrasive to the habitat. Clueless or thoughtless visitors can easily kick out or brush up against the reef causing damage.
A greater danger to some corals, black coral being one of them, is commerce. This ebony coral creates stunningjewelry. It is sleek and beautiful. It is also threatened. In Belize there are regulatory agencies that permit coral to be harvested by some commercial merchants. These merchants are supposed to only pick up the dead coral that has fallen and lying on the bottom. While many of the merchants are vigilante and protective of the coral, there are still abuses occurring. Most merchants agree that preserving the reef is in their best interest. A rare commodity is a more valuable product and claims a better price.
In Mexico, many of the commercial divers justify their harvest by saying that there are vast beds deeper down. The current surveys don't back this up. The studies have found few beds with marginal health. Not to mention, different depths provide different ecosystems. Harvesting shallow coral overwhelmingly affects a specific habitat. While black coral tends to be a deeper living coral, it is still an essential component of the reef eco-system.
One of the best ways to preserve black coral is to decrease the demand for it. Buying black coral is like buying poached ivory- it comes at a devastating price to the environment. Knowing the origins of any thing may take some effort, but the effort could be saving a valuable natural wonder. Jewelry is a wonderful gift, a lovely thing to wear, but it can be more meaningful if it doesn't harm the coral reefs. - 29959
About the Author:
Connor R. Sullivan recently purchased some black pearl jewelry for his wife on a cruise. He gave her a black pearl necklace which was stunning.
