Australia is home to the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, but conservationists say it's also the country's largest coral fishery. The sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef has been the subject of discussion among environmentalists for quite some time. Now, a group of conservationists have resorted to an unconventional method of putting the spotlight on the situation.
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TRANSCRIPT:
"We are not for saaaaale. We are coral pulled from the reef, and our voices must be heaaard."
What you just heard was part of a satirical auction taking place in the heart of Sydney's CBD.
Featuring coral costumes with price tags, the event organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society is highlighting Australia's live coral export trade, which takes place through licensed fisheries in the Great Barrier Reef.
"Step right up for this once in a lifetime opportunity. These are some of the rarest, most distinctive corals in the world."
Comedian Kirsty Webeck is among those present.
"Come on corals, do a twirl, show them what they're buying ... You can do better than that, give them the old razzle dazzle."
But despite the spectacle, the Conservation Society's Simon Miller says it's no laughing matter.
He says coral harvesting is a needless practice adding to climate and water quality challenges already threatening the world's biggest tropical reef.
"Each year up to 190 tons of corals can be chipped away from the Great Barrier Reef and sold into the global aquarium trade. And we think Australians will be really shocked and appalled to hear that that's happening."
He says there are currently 59 license holders in Australia.
"This is why we want to see a transition away from a coral fishery, away from the fishes chipping these corals off the reef, to agriculture. Corals can be grown in tanks. So why are we taking them from our own Great Barrier Reef, a world heritage area."
Coral harvesting industry proponents say limited entry permits, gear restrictions, catch quotas and other regulations keep the practice sustainable while imposing negligible ecological harm.
But advocates say live wild coral exports have been banned in several countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Fiji and Belize - and they also want to see this happen in Australia.
"We're really urging the Australian government, the environment Minister Murray Watt, to support the coral fishery to transition away from wild harvest of corals on our precious Great Barrier Reef to tank-grown agriculture. Now that solution already exists, the fishers already have agriculture facilities and so they can grow these corals in tanks and this trade and those regional jobs can continue to exist. But we need the government to support to end the wild coral harvest."
The conservation group argue growing coral could spawn regional jobs, but that the government would need to support the transition away from wild coral harvesting.
Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt says he is aware of the threats to coral reefs.
"This is something that is affecting not just the Great Barrier Reef but every single coral reef around the world. And that's why we do need to invest in those new technologies that allow for new forms of coral development and coral spawning. That's the way we want to make sure that the reef remains healthy."
The Minister has also announced a $91.8 million additional cash injection into protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
A draft decision on the reef's conservation status is expected within a matter of weeks.
He says the Great Barrier Reef's problems have been in focus as Australia vies to keep it off UNESCO's "in danger" list, with the committee due to meet in July.
"We will continue to strongly argue to UNESCO that it would be a big mistake to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger. I had the opportunity only yesterday to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef and I can assure you that the coral, clams, fish, turtles that I saw yesterday are flourishing."
