Blastomussa merleti (Branched Cup Coral)

Criteria met:  Sharp increase

Principal trade term to the EU:  live

Principal source:  wild

Top EU importer:  France

Top Trading Partner:  Australia

CITES Appendix:  II

IUCN Status:  Least Concern

EU-reported imports of live, wild-sourced coral of Blastomussa merleti, all purposes, 2006-2011 (no imports were reported 2002- 2005).

All EU imports in 2011 consisted of live, wild-sourced corals (4943 corals) imported directly from Australia for commercial purposes. No imports of live, wild-sourced corals were reported prior to 2006; imports have increased every year since 2006, and increased more than seven-fold between 2010 and 2011. Adequate management of coral resources generally appears to be in place in Australia (see for instance SRG 64/11). As per CITES Notification No. 2012/047, Blastomussa is one of the coral taxa where reporting trade at the genus level is acceptable; Blastomussa wellsi also occurs in Australia.