The red coral resource in Sardinian seas: a multidisciplinary survey on Corallium rubrum populations

The red coral resource in Sardinian seas: a multidisciplinary survey on Corallium rubrum populations - A multidisciplinary study is presented in order to give an historical and actual picture of the status of Corallium rubrum in Sardinian seas. The review of historical data (1978-2005) shows that no variation occurred in mean yields/boat and suggests that yield of red coral in Sardinian seas has not decreased with time. A picture of the spatial distribution of red coral in deep waters of Sardinian seas (below 80 meters) is given, for the first time, through analyses of ROV surveys and samplings of commercial colonies. These findings suggest that the populations have dimensions able to ensure the reproductive output needed for their survival. Furthermore, genetic analyses show strong heterogeneity between Sardinian samples and corals from other western Mediterranean localities and even high differentiation among Sardinian samples, distant from hundreds to less than 1 km. In conclusion, the strong genetic structuring confirms the need for management plans and conservation programs to be locally defined. Moreover, population structure data suggest that the harvesting effort should not be increased.