This document discusses Mediterranean red coral and its cultural and economic importance in Croatia. It provides details on the biology and harvesting of red coral, as well as its historical use. It proposes the establishment of a red coral museum in Croatia to educate visitors, support scientific research, and promote the sustainable management and sale of authentic Croatian red coral. The museum could help preserve red coral populations while boosting ecotourism.

1. Mediterranean red coral as an
object of marine eco-tourism
and cultural heritage with
special emphasis on Croatia
by Linda Joyce Forristal
October 19, 2002
Dubrovnik, Croatia

2. What is Mediterranean red
coral?

3. A Short Biology
 Unlike reef-building corals, which can
often be seen from the surface, Med.
red coral occurs 10-250 meters deep--
divided between shallow-water and
deep-dwelling populations.
 Do not heavily depend on sunlight to
survive, rather catches food that passes
by with its polyps/tentacles.

4. A Short Biology
 Occurs in small colonies or single
polyps.
 Natural propagation and distribution is
limited to how far the larvae can swim—
which is 1-10,000 meters.
 Slow growth rate makes re-colonization
of over-exploited areas a slow process.

6. Coral Harvesting
 In Italy, coral fishermen used a rather
crude device called an ignegno to trawl
for coral.
 This was dragged across underwater
strata—including rock overhangs—in
the hopes of some falling into the net.
 This type of collection has been banned
in most countries—replaced with
sophisticated scuba diving procedures.

8. A Brief History
 Taxonomically known as Corallium
rubrum.
 Known and used by the Phoenicians,
Romans and other cultures that rim the
the Mediterranean basin.
 By the 14th
century, Barcelona drew
fame from worked coral.

9. Trade with India
 By the 18th
century, trade of Med. red
coral to India was at its zenith.
 India supplied Europe with diamonds,
and Europe supplied India with red
coral.
 At this time, the Italian cities of Livorno,
Genoa, and Naples were the center of
the coral fishing and industry.

10. Torre del Greco
 This small village seven miles south of
Naples was the home of the corallini.
 Back on land, Italian craftsmen made
coral jewelry and created religious
works depicting or incorporating coral.
 In 1989, an est. 4,000 inhabitants made
their livelihood from Corallium rubrum.

14. Torre del Greco
 Site of the Museum of Coral and Cameos—
brainchild of Basilio Liverino.
 In 1989, the city hosted one of only two
United Nations’ conferences on red coral.
 In 1989, there was a strong push to add
Corallium rubrum to CITES Appendix II.
 Since such a designation would have been
an economic death knell, representatives
opted to pursue ways to preserve the species
through rotating harvests and more research.

15. Coral in Croatia
 The harvesting of red coral is primarily
done in the waters of the Sibenik
archipelago.
 This includes the towns of Zlarin,
Obonjian, Kaprije, Zirje, and Krapanj.
 The town of Zlarin has been famed for
its coral hunters since the 15th
century.

18. Ecotourism and coral
 The biology of Mediterranean red coral
makes marine eco-tourism in relation to
the species almost impossible—if not
dangerous for the average tourist/diver.
 Perhaps best achieved by sailing
around Zlarin with an experienced
guide who knows the history of the area
and coral.

19. Changing conditions
 In 1992, Croatia reported to the FAO
the collection of 3,300 kg of Corallium
rubrum, as compared to 1,500 kg in
1999—harvest fell by about 50%.
 A recent article in the Croatian journal
Priroda (Nature), reported that most of
the red coral sold in Croatia is
harvested off the coast of Algeria.

20. A red coral museum
 Most visitors to Croatia know nothing of
harvesting methods, distribution, and
traditional cultural uses of red coral.
 Hence, an interpretative museum
devoted to Mediterranean red coral
could be designed to lead the
tourist/visitor on their own road of
discovery.

21. Liverino/Smithsonain model
 Croatia’s museum could focus on
Mediterranean red coral exclusively,
especially Croatian folk customs.
 The museum could include artful
displays of red coral, corallini gear,
demonstrations of jewelry making,
point-of-sale for coral objects, and
home base for scientific research.

32. Where is the best place?
 Zlarin—a small island—has limited modern
accommodations and major infrastructure
problems and many inhabitants live at the
poverty level.
 Government would have to adopt and help
create an integrated approach—including
promotion of artisanal cheeses, olive oil,
wine, and indigenous handicrafts from Zlarin
and the surrounding islands.

33. Where is the best place?
 Sibenik is more developed, but still a bit
off the beaten path.
 Split—the largest coastal city near
Sibenik/Zlarin and active cruise ship
port—is the site of Diocletian’s palace,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

36. Coral museum benefits
 An exciting tourist destination that tells
the story of Mediterranean red coral.
 A site for the authentication and sale of
red coral truly collected in Croatian
waters as opposed to coral collected in
sites around the Mediterranean basin—
letting the tourist go home with a real
Croatian souvenir.

37. Coral museum benefits
 A place to centralize Croatian scientific efforts
to preserve Corallium rubrum as a viable
commercial species, which would stave off
efforts to add the species to Appendix II of
CITES.
 A place to pursue better knowledge of
population dynamics, life-history traits, and
genetics—as regards cultivation efforts.

38. Issues to address
 Since populations show genetic
differentiation, there might be reason to call
for regional management of the species, such
as Croatia’s Sibenik archipelago.
 Work toward a common policy of red coral
conservation—define harvesting parameters
such as min. colony and polyp size, max.
yield per area & season that all Med.
countries can live with.