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Fire coral gets its name from the way it feels if your skin comes into contact with a living specimen. These corals are always uniquely shaped and are an unusual yellowish green in color. Cat Paw coral is a very sturdy coral with extremities that resemble a cat's paw. Brown stem corals are comprised of tightly clustered stems which are brown at the base as the name suggest. Blue corals have a gorgeous natural blue color only mother nature can provide. The branches of Octopus coral look like the arms of an octopus complete with suction cups. Finger corals take the shape of a crowd of fingers. Table corals have a small solitary base which grows upward then outward wide and flat like a table. Red Pipe Organ coral is extremely light weight and consists of several tubes tightly packed together similar to a pipe organ. It's natural red color makes this a rare and unusual coral. Bird nest corals are attractive white clusters that look like a bird nest made of sticks. Brain coral is aptly named for its curious resemblance to the brain. Branch Corals are white corals with branches that stick out in various ways like a tree. As with all coral, no two branch corals are the same. Coral pieces and broken coral are great for a variety of crafts and decorating ideas.
The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s
surface. The waters are plentiful with incredible biodiversity and beauty.
Sea shells and coral are a renewable resource. Naturally they reproduce over
and over again which provides us with a re-harvestable natural resource.
The harvesting of coral is in fact good for the reefs. The stony corals that
we carry are a fast growing coral reaching up to nearly 12 inches per year.
Many of these corals compete for space by attacking one another. Collectors
are assigned to a specific area and are aloud to take only a certain amount.
The following years new grids are assigned.
Certainly there are many areas of ecological concern that threaten the
world’s coral reefs. What might be termed local threats are human induced
disturbances that negatively impact specific or localized reef areas. Local
threats include sedimentation resulting from poorly managed coastal
development, deforestation and other disturbance of watershed areas,
unprocessed sewage discharge, nutrient loading and eutrification from
agrochemicals, coral mining for local building materials and over-fishing.
Mass Bleaching and the ominous shadow of increasing Ocean Acidification are
more clearly becoming the recognized results of higher ocean temperatures.
Global Warming.
Understanding the importance and having a strict sense of obligation
regarding coral reef ecosystems and their ecology, we have confirmed our
source suppliers have complied with the strict regulations placed on
harvesting coral. All documentation from the country of origin and CITES
permits are submitted to USF&W and US Customs.
All stony corals are CITES Appendix II listed.
All stony corals are legal to import into the U.S.
The CITES Appendix II listing does not indicate that stony corals are
threatened or endangered.
The CITES Appendix II listing requires that the source populations of target
species collected for commercial export be monitored under guidelines
mandated by CITES.
The CITES Appendix II listing mandates that target species are collected on
a sustainable yield basis.
The CITES Appendix II listing mandates that all species and quantities
thereof are reviewed, quantified and permitted for export by the source
countries CITES authorized Wildlife Agency.
A CITES Appendix II Export Permit from the country of origin is required by
US Fish & Wildlife for import and export of all species of stony corals.
Coral cannot be shipped out of the USA.
