Taking a multi-tool approach to assess the legal and illegal trade of precious corals in Hong Kong

Precious corals (soft coral family: Coralliidae) have been used and traded by humans for ornamental and jewellery purposes for thousands of years due to the vibrant colors of their hard skeletons. Certain species within this group are regulated by law under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning that their international trade without the necessary documents is illegal. Additionally, the harvest and trade of unregulated species is likely unsustainable, especially for those with deficient data, threatening wild populations. Once corals are cut and polished for use in products, it is difficult to validate species identity and legality. Unregulated and unmonitored trade hampers the knowledge available to academic researchers and conservationists working to protect corals and understand their threats. It also negatively impacts the ability of law enforcement to efficiently monitor and regulate trade of precious corals nationally, and across the globe. 

Scientific methods, such molecular and elemental analyses, can be used to assess traded wildlife for species identification and geographic origin. This project, led by Dr. Chloe Hatten, aims to assess the trade in precious corals in a global wildlife trade hub: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Here, precious coral is traded in annual jewellery shows, retail outlets around the city, and online markets. However, data on precious coral trade is scarce, including data on market dynamics, proportion of species that are CITES-regulated, and their provenance. This project takes a multi-tool approach to address these questions in the physical and online markets of Hong Kong using DNA and morphological analyses for species identification and stable isotope analysis to determine geographic origin. Long term, we aim to build a database accessible to researchers, government bodies, and conservation practitioners. Ultimately, this project aims to expand academic knowledge of precious corals, inform conservationists and policy makers of threats to these corals, and aid government enforcement bodies regulating national and international trade.

This project is funded by Lingnan University Faculty Research Grant SISFRG2607.