asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much coral imported into the United Kingdom each year is transported by air freight; and how much by shipping. [HL3931]
The Government do not hold the information requested.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the health and size of coral reefs in United Kingdom waters and around the world and of the effect that the trade in coral is having on those reefs. [HL3933]
Periodic global assessments of the state of the world's coral reefs are carried out by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and others, such as the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. The effects of climate change are considered in the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. UK non-governmental organisations and scientists are very active in coral reef conservation work. The Government are, therefore, aware of the particular pressures on the world’s coral reefs.
Several surveys of cold-water coral reefs in UK “home” waters have been carried out over the past decade. Large-scale reefs have been found on, for instance, Rockall and Hatton Banks. Unusual coral reef structures, known as the Darwin Mounds, have been found to the north and west of Scotland. Evidence of damage from trawlers at this site led to the Government seeking fishery management measures through the common fisheries policy. These measures are now in place, and there is evidence that fishing activity has decreased greatly as a result. Similar management measures are in place to protect coral reefs on the Rockall and Hatton Banks.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What studies they have undertaken of the extent to which the transport of live coral over long distances can cause stress to the specimens involved. [HL3934]
The Government have not undertaken any such studies.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate they have made of (a) the number of people who keep live coral in the United Kingdom; (b) the number of coral farms in the United Kingdom; (c) the number of suppliers of live coral in the United Kingdom; and (d) the proportion of those that keep stock from sustainable sources or stock propagated in the United Kingdom. [HL3962]
The Government do not hold the information requested.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the average prices of (a) imported coral, and (b) coral propagated in the United Kingdom; and whether they have taken any steps to promote the propagation of sustainable stocks domestically. [HL3963]
The Government do not hold the information requested.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have proposals to introduce a fiscal instrument to encourage the nascent coral farming industry in the United Kingdom on the grounds of improving sustainability. [HL3965]
There are currently no such proposals.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What guidance they have issued to the public to improve understanding of the methods of propagation of coral and the breeding of marine fish and the benefits of these methods as alternatives to the import of wild-caught specimens. [HL3966]
The Government have issued no such guidance.