black coral

[cmac]

has anyone ever heard of or does anyone have any black coral??? someone told me that it is very very very valuable and it is very illegal to collect,, especially in the gulf of mexico... ANYONE?



thanks chad

 

[Dentoid]

Don't really know what you are talking about "black coral" I believe what is termed black coral comes from deep waters around the Phillipines etc. I don't think it is illegal to collect there. However, it is illegal to collect any coral from the Gulf of Mexico waters associated with Florida.

 

[AQTCJAK]

The only black coral I have seen is a black tubeastrea which is a common & non-illegal coral

 

[boozeman]

I've never seen them in a reef aquarium. Most are deep water species requiring specialized care.

 

[BigAl07]

The only black coral I have seen is a black tubeastrea which is a common & non-illegal coral

Ditto on that one

 

[Techno-Vicki]

You are correct, there is a black coral and it is found in Hawaii. It is legal to collect (I believe), but it has to be a certain size and dead. I have a piece of it in a pendent.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News
Black Coral

 

[cmac]

thanks everyone for your feedback... the info that i read said that the coral is found from 6 meters to 120 meters,, and it is found almost worldwide and there are many kinds... looking at the pics of it, it looks like more of a gorgonian than a hard coral.. and also it isnt even really black, its more like a brown color or a kinda tanish to dark brown... Thanks again everyone for your input...




Chad

 

[ScubaRW4]

There is a lot of black coral in the Cayman Islands. The shops there have a huge amount of jewelry made from polishing it into a beautiful glassy shine. I never understood how they could have so much of it when it is HIGHLY illegal there to take any of it from the ocean. The piece I found broken off was brown and looked more like a stick, so I guess it polishes up black. The Customs agent wasn't very happy with me....

Bob

 

[flricordia]

I am probably wrong, but I don't believe it is illegal to collect corals in the Gulf unless they are in a protected State or Federal reserve park. You can not take the rock they are attatched to though.

 

[Melanie]

I am probably wrong, but I don't believe it is illegal to collect corals in the Gulf unless they are in a protected State or Federal reserve park. You can not take the rock they are attatched to though.

That's pretty close to true. Just not hard corals. RECREATIONAL HARVESTING INFORMATION FOR MARINE LIFE SPECIES