The Illegal Trade in Live Corals to the United States

Coral reefs are the fundamental building blocks of tropical marine ecosystems. They are also one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet suffering from myriads of environmental, fishing, and trade threats. While the... [ view full abstract ]

Coral reefs are the fundamental building blocks of tropical marine ecosystems. They are also one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet suffering from myriads of environmental, fishing, and trade threats. While the trade in live corals for home aquariums has been growing, little research has been done to better understand the process and consequences of illegal coral collection, as well as trends in illegal imports of corals into the United States. Using crime script analysis, a strategy rooted in the theoretical foundation of environmental criminology, we detail the stages of illegal wild coral harvest and trade and suggest interventions that could be performed at different stages, with examples from Indonesia and Fiji. We examine the major patterns of illegal imports of live corals into the United States by analyzing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Management Information Systems database for 2003-2012. Results indicate that coral harvesting is a carefully planned activity, which involves specific decisions starting from the ‘planning’ and ending at the ‘aftermath’ stages. Import patterns of illegally harvested corals into the United States indicate that: (1) 10 times more corals were seized in 2012 than in 2003, (2) three genera (Euphyllia, Acropora, and Favites) accounted for 27% of all seizures; (3) imports from four countries (Indonesia, Tonga, Australia, and Fiji) accounted for 92% of all seizures; and (c) over 90% of the seizures occurred in five ports of entry.