Source: PR Newswire
March 11, 2010

Two Taiwanese nationals pleaded guilty today in federal court in the U.S. Virgin Islands for conspiracy to ship internationally protected black coral into the United States in violation of federal wildlife statutes, the Department of Justice announced.

Gloria Chu and Ivan Chu of Taipei, Taiwan, each pleaded guilty to nine counts including conspiracy, false statements, and violations of both the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act makes it a felony to falsely label wildlife that is intended for international commerce. The Endangered Species Act is the U.S. domestic law that implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Each of the species of black coral is listed in Appendix II of CITES and is subject to strict trade regulations.

Black coral is one of the several types of precious corals that can be polished to a high sheen, worked into artistic sculptures and used in inlaid jewelry. Use of black coral in artistry has existed for centuries in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean. Black coral is typically found in deep waters, and many species have long life spans and are slow-growing. One specimen was reported by scientists to be more than 4,200 years old with a growth rate of only 5 micrometers (one millionth of meter) per year. Additionally, using deep sea submersibles, scientists have observed that fish and invertebrates tend to accumulate around the black coral colonies. In the last few decades, pressures from overharvesting, due in part to the wider availability of scuba gear and invasive species, have threatened this group of coral.

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