Trade in stony corals – risk to species survival

Background

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) shall ensure that such trade does not threaten the survival of the species. With 185 parties, CITES is one of the world’s largest conservation agreements.

In Norway, the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA) serves as the national CITES Management Authority, while VKM serves as the national CITES Scientific Authority. NEA is thus responsible for enforcing the Convention in Norway while VKM is responsible for preparing the scientific assessments required to enforce the Convention.

NEA has commissioned VKM to assess the risk posed by international trade in stony corals (order Scleractinia). NEA will use this assessment when processing applications for permits to import and export stony corals and coral-derived products.

Stony corals are threatened because climate change and human activities are destroying the slow-growing coral reefs they build. Internationally, these corals are traded both as live specimens for the aquarium trade and as dead coral skeletons used for decoration, souvenirs, and jewelr

Almost all stony corals imported to Norway are live specimens that are traded commercially for use in aquariums. The number of stony corals exported is significantly smaller and mainly for use in research.

Assignment

The risk assessment (a so-called non-detriment finding – NDF) shall be based on the Norwegian CITES Regulation, relevant articles in the convention text and resolutions.

To assess if international trade poses a risk to the species being traded, VKM shall review information on species biology, population trends, conservation status, levels of legal and illegal harvest, captive breeding and trade, as well as relevant regulations, legislation, and management frameworks in the range states

The assignment primarily concerns genera of stony corals that have been imported to or exported from Norway since 2015, and species listed in the Norwegian Red List for Species.

Project group

• Eli K. Rueness, Panel on CITES (Chair of the project group)

• Johanna Järnegren, Member, Panel on Biodiversity
• Matthew Grainger, Member, Panel on CITES

• Jo Skeie Hermansen, VKM Secretariat (Project Manager)

• Daniel Flø, VKM Secretariat

The risk assessment is subject to approval by the Panel on CITES. It is scheduled for publication on 15 September 2026.