Shapely Coral Sparks Summer Decor

Do not buy real coral and if it is being stocked in a shop, tell the manager you refuse to shop there until they stop selling it. There is a serious problem already because of many environmental issues (pollution, disease, global warming, etc) which affect coral without it being further depleted because someone wants a lump of it on their coffee table.

From an article in the New York Times in December 2012: "In the international trade in live coral, most of which ships to the United States for ornamental marine aquariums, the source is quickly shifting from wild harvesting to farming, researchers report in a new study.

This shift suggests that, contrary to the conventional view that the live coral trade is a threat to coral reef ecosystems, the buying and selling of corals could help create a powerful incentive for protecting reefs in many small island communities, these scientists say."

The issue is not so straightforward as "Don't buy any live coral from a shop." There can be benefits and detriments to buying live coral which are largely dependent upon where it was harvested and how it was grown (wild or farmed). The primary benefit of zoos, for example, to the species they imprison is not to the specific animals they capture, but to the preservation of the species in general. The more people learn about, and grow to appreciate, the animals, the more they care about their survival in the wild. The article suggests the potential for a similar effect in permitting the sale of ornamental coral - be it farmed or wild - assuming the species is not endangered.

Link to article: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/finding-a-place-for-coral-farms-in-a-changing-ocean/

Just a bit more information to consider before we morally equate buying a piece of coral at our local shop to buying a piece of ivory carved out of the tusk of a murdered elephant. Given that climate change and water pollution are the primary destroyers of coral reefs, we're all guilty by virtue of our collective contribution to water pollution and increased carbon dioxide emissions (eating beef and supporting the cattle industry, e.g.). Not picking a side here. It's great that we care about saving coral, but it's even better when we strive to continually inform ourselves about the true impact of our choices and lifestyles.

I made my coral home to a couple air plants. Husband made the base to hold it secure.