By: Serena Li

Coral reefs are under threat not just from climate change, disease outbreaks, bleaching events, ocean acidification and pollution but also from the smugglers!

Corals, which look vibrant and rocky, are marine invertebrates formed by multiple small, soft organisms known as polyps. To keep them protected, they produce an exoskeleton around themselves. Among the benefits of corals include guarding coastlines from storms and erosion, creating employment for local communities through tourism, and presenting recreational opportunities. More than half a billion people rely on reefs for food, income, and protection.

Smugglers are hiding corals in boxes to ship to legal ports. They put the corals inside legal species so the box inspectors can’t see the corals. If they get past the inspection, they sell them to aquariums or as souvenirs or jewelry. Many drugs are being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible medicine or cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, and viruses. In order to keep making the medicine, there’s an increased amount of coral smuggling. Within 4 years, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife saw 834 cases of smuggled wildlife with refused entry. Coral was in the top 3 smuggled items.

“The unfortunate thing is that wildlife trafficking is a low risk, high reward crime. If you get caught, you won’t be punished…,” stated NBC News correspondent Melissa Parra. The Georgia Aquarium has put a significant amount of effort into stopping this issue. They’ve taken about 1,000 confiscated animals since 2010, and around half of these animals were corals. After taking the corals, they put them in a tropical exhibit that recreates a Pacific coral reef. Many animal care facilities also want to expand the network that addresses the trafficked animals in the region.

Overall, the smuggling of coral has become a huge problem. Everyone should be aware of endangered species and try to protect them.