Deep-water red coral from the island of Sardinia (north-western Mediterranean): a local example of sustainable management
Maria Cristina Follesa A B , Rita Cannas A , Alessandro Cau A , Claudia Pedoni A , Paola Pesci A and Angelo Cau A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Life Science and Environment, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy.
B Corresponding author. Email: follesac@unica.it
Marine and Freshwater Research 64(8) 706-715 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12235
Submitted: 27 August 2012 Accepted: 18 March 2013 Published: 21 June 2013
Abstract
Since 1979, red coral harvesting in Sardinia has been regulated by regional laws. The regulations, including a minimum take size of 10-mm basal diameter, were imposed to limit and control harvesting. Our study indicated that >75% of the red coral colonies harvested in 2007–08 in the north-western coast were above the legal minimum size for exploitation. Moreover, extensive surveys with remotely operated vehicles allowed us to document the real structure of wild populations. Large colonies (>10 mm) represented a big portion of the population (~38% of the total), suggesting that harvesting effort did not affect yet the maximum size of colonies. All these results seem to be confirmed by the application of the model of Beverton and Holt. This model shows that the fishery of red coral in Sardinia reaches its maximum yield at an age at first capture of 20 years, an age significantly lower than the average age of 30 years calculated for the colonies actually harvested in the Sardinian coast. Our data confirmed that the measures enacted in the Sardinian regulations provide for an adequate management of this resource and, in addition, can represent a guideline for other countries that still lack a valid management plan.
References
Abbiati, M., Buffoni, G., Di Cola, G., and Santangelo, G. (1991). Red coral population dynamics: stability analysis and numerical simulation of the time evolution of perturbated states. In ‘Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem: Pertubation and Recovery’. (Ed. O. Ravera.) pp. 219–228. (Ellis Horwood: London, UK.)Abbiati, M., Buffoni, G., Caforio, G., Di Cola, G., and Santangelo, G. (1992). Harvesting, predation and competition effect on red coral population. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 30, 219–228.
| Harvesting, predation and competition effect on red coral population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Angiolillo, M., Canese, S., Salvati, E., Giusti, M., Cardinali, A., Bo, M., and Greco, S. (2009). Presence of Corallium rubrum on coralligenous assemblages below 50 m along Calabrian coast (south Italy). In ‘UNEP–MAP–RAC/SPA, 2009. Proceeding of the 1st Mediterranean Symposium of the Conservations of the Coralligenous and Other Calcareous Bio-concretions’, Tabarka, 15–16 January 2009. (Eds C. Pergent-Martini and M. Brichet.) pp. 150–152. (RAC/SPA Publications: Tunis.)
Babcock, R. C. (1984). Reproduction and distribution of two species of Goniastrea (Scleractinia) from the Great Barrier Reef Province. Coral Reefs 2, 187–195.
Babcock, R. (1991). Comparative demography of three species of scleractinian corals using age- and size-dependent classifications. Ecological Monographs 61, 225–244.
| Comparative demography of three species of scleractinian corals using age- and size-dependent classifications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beissinger, S. R., and McCullough. D. R. (2002). ‘Population Viability Analysis.’ (The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL.)
Bramanti, L., Magagnini, G., and Santangelo, G. (2003). Settlement and recruitment: the first stages in the life cycle of two epibenthic suspension feeders. The Italian Journal of Zoology 70, 175–178.
| Settlement and recruitment: the first stages in the life cycle of two epibenthic suspension feeders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bramanti, L., Magagnini, G., De Maio, L., and Santangelo, G. (2005). Recruitment, early survival and growth of the Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum (L 1758), a 4-year study. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 314, 69–78.
| Recruitment, early survival and growth of the Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum (L 1758), a 4-year study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bramanti, L., Rossi, S., Tsounis, G., Gili, J. M., and Santangelo, G. (2007). Settlement and early survival of red coral on artificial substrates in different geographic areas: some clues for demography and restoration. Hydrobiologia 580, 219–224.
| Settlement and early survival of red coral on artificial substrates in different geographic areas: some clues for demography and restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Caddy, J. F. (1993). Background concepts for a rotating harvesting strategy with particular reference to the Mediterranean red coral, Corallium rubrum. Marine Fisheries Review 55, 10–18.
Cannas, R., Caocci, F., Follesa, M. C., Grazioli, E., Pedoni, C., Pesci, P., Sacco, F., and Cau, A. (2010). Multidisciplinary data on the status of red coral (Corallium rubrum) resource in Sardinian seas (central western Mediterranean). In ‘Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean’. (Eds E. Bussoletti, E., D. Cottingham, A. Bruckner, G. Roberts and R. Sandulli.) pp. 40–57. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-13. (NOAA: Silver Spring, MD.)
Carpine, C., and Grasshoff, M. (1975). Les Gorgonaires de la Méditerranée. Bulletin of the Institute of Océanography and Fisheries 71, 1–140.
Chessa, L. A., and Cudoni, S. (1989). Red coral, Corallium rubrum (L.), fishing in the ‘Bocche di Bonifacio’ (northern Sardinia, Italy). FAO Fisheries Report 413, 113–123.
Chessa, L. A., Pais, A., and Cudoni, S. (1992). Indagine su Corallium rubrum (L.) nel promontorio di Punta Giglio (Sardegna Nord-occidentale). OEbalia (Taranto) , 485–493.
Chessa, L. A., Cudoni, S., and Pais, A. (1994). Evoluzione di un popolamento di Corallium rubrum sottoposto a pesca intensiva. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 1, 385–386.
Coma, R., Zabala, M., and Gili, J. (1995). Sexual reproductive effort in the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. Marine Ecology Progress Series 117, 185–192.
| Sexual reproductive effort in the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Costantini, F., Taviani, M., Remia, A., Pintus, E., and Schembri, P.J. (2009). Deep-water Corallium rubrum (L., 1758) from the Mediterranean Sea: preliminary genetic characterisation. Marine Ecology , .
Doneddu, G., and Fiori, A. (2003). ‘La Pesca in Italia Tra Età Moderna e Contemporanea. Produzione, Mercato, Consumo.’ (Editrice Democratica Sarda.)
FAO (1984). Technical consultation on red coral resources of the western Mediterranean and their rational exploitation. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report 306, 1–142.
FAO (1989). GFCM technical consultation on red coral of the Mediterranean. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report 413, 1–162.
FAO–GFCM (2010a). Report of the transversal workshop on red coral Alghero (Sardinia), Italy, 16–17 September 2010. GFCM: SAC13/2011/Inf.12.
FAO–GFCM (2010b). Report of the 11th session of the Sub-Committee on the Marine Environment and Ecosystems (SCMEE) Saint George’s Bay Malta, 29 November – 2 December 2010. GFCM:SAC13/2011/Inf.5.
FAO–GFCM (2011). Report of the Transversal Workshop on Red Coral Ajaccio (Corsica), France, 5–7 October 2011. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) – Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), Ajaccio(Corsica), France.
Gallmetzer, I., Haselmair, A., and Velimirov, B. (2010). Slow growth and early sexual maturity: bane and boon for the red coral Corallium rubrum. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 90, 1–10.
| Slow growth and early sexual maturity: bane and boon for the red coral Corallium rubrum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garcìa-Rodrìguez, M., and Massò, C. (1986). Estudio biomètrico de poblaciones del coral rojo (Corallium rubrum L.) del litoral de Gerona (NE de Espana). Boletín del Instituto Español de Oceanografía 3, 61–64.
Garrabou, J., and Harmelin, J. G. (2002). A 20-year study on life-history traits of a harvested long-lived temperate coral in the NW Mediterranean: insights into conservation and management needs. Journal of Animal Ecology 71, 966–978.
| A 20-year study on life-history traits of a harvested long-lived temperate coral in the NW Mediterranean: insights into conservation and management needs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garrabou, J., Perez, T., Sartoretto, S., and Harmelin, J. G. (2001). Mass mortality event in red coral Corallium rubrum populations in the Provence region (France, NW Mediterranean). Marine Ecology Progress Series 217, 263–272.
| Mass mortality event in red coral Corallium rubrum populations in the Provence region (France, NW Mediterranean).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gayanilo, F.C. Jr and Pauly, D. (1997). ‘FAO–ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools. Reference Manual.’ (International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, FAO: Rome.)
Genin, A., Paull, C. J., and Dillon, W. P. (1992). Anomalous abundances of deep-sea fauna on a rocky bottom exposed to strong currents. Deep-Sea Research 39, 293–302.
| Anomalous abundances of deep-sea fauna on a rocky bottom exposed to strong currents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Giannini, F., Gili, J. M., and Santangelo, G. (2003). Relationships between the spatial distribution of red coral Corallium rubrum and coexisting suspension feeders at Medas Islands Marine Protected Areas (Spain). The Italian Journal of Zoology 70, 233–239.
| Relationships between the spatial distribution of red coral Corallium rubrum and coexisting suspension feeders at Medas Islands Marine Protected Areas (Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grigg, R. W. (1976). Fisheries management of precious and stony corals in Hawaii. UNIHJ-SEAGRANT-TR-77-03
Grigg, R. W. (1977). Population dynamics of two gorgonians coral. Ecology 58, 278–290.
| Population dynamics of two gorgonians coral.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grigg, R. (1984). Resource management of precious corals: a review and application to shallow water reef building corals. Marine Ecology (Berlin) 5, 57–74.
| Resource management of precious corals: a review and application to shallow water reef building corals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hall, V. R., and Hughes, T. P. (1996). Reproductive strategies of modular organisms: comparative studies of reef-building corals. Ecology 77, 950–963.
| Reproductive strategies of modular organisms: comparative studies of reef-building corals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Linares, C., Diaz, D., Hereu, B., and Zabala, M. (2003). Avaluació de ala poblacio de corall Corallium rubrum de les illes Medes. Exercici 2003. Seguiment temporal de l’area marina protegida de les illes Medes. Infomre annual. Any 2003, pp. 56–66. Departament de Medi Ambient, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona.
Marschal, C., Garrabou, J., Harmelin, J. G., and Pichon, M. (2004). A new method for measuring growth and age in the precious red coral Corallium rubrum (L.). Coral Reefs 23, 423–432.
| A new method for measuring growth and age in the precious red coral Corallium rubrum (L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morel, J. P., Rondi-Costanzo, C., and Ugolini, D. (2000). ‘Corallo di Ieri – Corallo di Oggi. Atti Del Convegno, Ravello, Villa Rufolo, 13–15 Dicembre 1996, Centro Universitario Europeo Per I Beni Culturali, Ravello.’ Marine Ecology: an Evolutionary Perspective. (Edipuglia, Bari.)
Picciano, M., and Ferrier-Pagès, C. (2007). Ingestion of pico- and nano-plankton in the Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum. Marine Biology 150, 773–782.
| Ingestion of pico- and nano-plankton in the Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rholf, F. J. (2005). ‘TpsDig, Digitize Landmarks and Outlines, Version 2.04.’ (Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York: Stony Brook, NY.)
Riedl, R. (Ed.) (1983). ‘Flora und Fauna des Mittelmeeres.’ (P. Parey: Hamburg.)
Rossi, S., and Tsounis, G. (2007). Temporal and spatial variation in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid levels in Corallium rubrum (Anthozoa, Octocorallia). Marine Biology 152, 429–439.
| Temporal and spatial variation in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid levels in Corallium rubrum (Anthozoa, Octocorallia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXotVOgu74%3D&md5=8b72984410fffc5370ee9a579f864cc4CAS |
Rossi, S., Tsounis, G., Orejas, C., Padrón, T., Gili, J. M., Bramanti, L., Teixidó, N., and Gutt, J. (2008). Survey of deep-dwelling red coral (Corallium rubrum) populations at Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean). Marine Biology 154, 533–545.
| Survey of deep-dwelling red coral (Corallium rubrum) populations at Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Santangelo, G., and Abbiati, M. (2001). Red coral: conservation and management of an over-exploited Mediterranean species. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 1, 253–259.
Santangelo, G., Abbiati, M., and Cafori, G. (1993). Red coral fishing trends in the western Mediterranean Sea during the period 1981–1991. Scientia Marina 57, 139–143.
Santangelo, G., Carletti, E., Maggi, E., and Bramanti, L. (2003). Reproduction and population sexual structure of the overexploited Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum. Marine Ecology Progress Series 248, 99–108.
| Reproduction and population sexual structure of the overexploited Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Santangelo, G., Bramanti, L., and Iannelli, M. (2007). Population dynamics and conservation biology of the overexploited Mediterranean red coral. Journal of Theoretical Biology 244, 416–423.
| Population dynamics and conservation biology of the overexploited Mediterranean red coral.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17064734PubMed |
Taviani, M., Freiwald, A., Beuck, L., Angeletti, L., Remia, A., Vertino, A., Dimech, M., and Schembri, P. (2010). The deepest known occurrence of the precious red coral Corallium rubrum (L. 1758) in the Mediterranean Sea In ‘Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean’. (Eds E. Bussoletti, D. Cottingham, A. Bruckner, G. Roberts and R. Sandulli.) pp. 87–93. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-13. (NOAA: Silver Spring, MD.)
Tescione, G. (1973). ‘The Italians and Their Coral Fishing.’ (Fausto Fiorentino: Naples, Italy.)
Torrents, O., Garrabou, J., Marschal, C., and Harmelin, J. G. (2005). Age and size at first reproduction in the commercially exploited red coral Corallium rubrum (L.) in the Marseilles area (France, NW Mediterranean). Biological Conservation 121, 391–397.
| Age and size at first reproduction in the commercially exploited red coral Corallium rubrum (L.) in the Marseilles area (France, NW Mediterranean).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tsounis, G., Ross, S., Arangure, M., Gil, J., and Arnt, W. E. (2006a). Effects of spatial variability and colony size on the reproductive output and gonadal development cycle of the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum L.). Marine Biology 148, 513–527.
| Effects of spatial variability and colony size on the reproductive output and gonadal development cycle of the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tsounis, G., Rossi, S., Gili, J., and Arntz, W. E. (2006b). Population structure of an exploited benthic cnidarian: the case study of red coral (Corallium rubrum L.). Marine Biology 149, 1059–1070.
| Population structure of an exploited benthic cnidarian: the case study of red coral (Corallium rubrum L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tsounis, G., Rossi, S., Laudien, J., Bramanti, L., Fernández, N., Gili, J., and Arntz, W. E. (2006c). Diet and seasonal prey capture rates in the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum L.). Marine Biology 149, 313–325.
| Diet and seasonal prey capture rates in the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tsounis, G., Rossi, S., Gili, J. M., and Arntz, W. E. (2007). Red coral fishery at the Costa Brava (NW Mediterranean): case study of an over harvested precious coral. Ecosystems 10, 975–986.
| Red coral fishery at the Costa Brava (NW Mediterranean): case study of an over harvested precious coral.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vighi, M. (1972). Etude de la reproduction du Corallium rubrum (L.). Vie et Milieu 23, 21–32.
Zar, J. H. (1999). ‘Biostatistical Analysis.’ (Prentice Hall International: Upper Saddle River, NJ.)
