Greek authorities have dismantled a smuggling operation on the Aegean island of Skopelos, arresting Italian nationals suspected of illegally harvesting red coral from the seabed. The seized cargo, destined for Italy, is estimated to be worth around €800,000. The investigation is ongoing, with officials tracing the exact route the coral would have taken after leaving Greece.
The operation by Greece's General Directorate of Financial Transactions Control Forces (DEOS) is just one glimpse into a much larger problem. Red coral, often called the 'red gold' of the Mediterranean, has been harvested for centuries and remains a highly prized commodity. Italy has historically been the epicentre of this trade, with the town of Torre del Greco near Naples serving as Europe's main hub for coral processing and jewellery making.
Legal coral harvesting is permitted when it follows each country's regulations. The trouble begins when illegally collected coral enters the same commercial chain, making it difficult to distinguish from legally sourced material. The high value of red coral—top-quality specimens can fetch up to €5,000 per kilo according to a FAO report—fuels a parallel black market.
Luxury demand drives illegal trade
In recent years, red coral has made a comeback in high-end fashion, appearing in collections by houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Dolce & Gabbana. This resurgence has intensified pressure on wild populations, which grow extremely slowly; a mature colony can take up to a century to form. The combination of high demand and slow growth creates a lucrative opportunity for smugglers.
Smuggling routes stretch from southern Europe and North Africa into Italy and other European markets. Research by the Earth Journalism Network suggests that up to three tonnes of coral are trafficked illegally from Algeria to Europe each year, with Italy as a primary destination. Once raw coral is processed into jewellery, traceability becomes nearly impossible, complicating enforcement efforts.
The UN's General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) has launched a dedicated research programme on red coral, running from 2020 to 2023 with participation from seven Mediterranean countries, including Greece through the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). The goal is to improve knowledge of coral populations and strengthen management and traceability mechanisms.
However, significant gaps remain. "The seabeds of Greece have not been mapped," explains Maria Salomidi, HCMR researcher and lead investigator. While researchers have identified areas with coral formations, the full extent of populations is unknown. The seabed also faces pressures from fishing activities, both professional and recreational, which can damage coral ecosystems even when coral is not the target.
The GFCM has warned that red coral populations may be overexploited. The Skopelos case, according to Salomidi, is unlikely to be an isolated incident: "The only thing I could safely say is that if one incident has been detected, many more have certainly occurred."
Red coral (Corallium rubrum) is not a plant but a marine animal that forms colonies in deep waters. Its hard calcareous skeleton has been valued since antiquity for its beauty and purported protective and healing properties. The myth of its origin, as told in Ovid's Metamorphoses, describes how Perseus, after beheading Medusa, laid her head on seaweed, and the Gorgon's blood turned the plants to stone, creating coral.
This ancient story underscores the deep cultural and historical significance of red coral in the Mediterranean. Yet today, the same allure drives a destructive trade that threatens its survival. As authorities crack down on smuggling, the need for better monitoring and international cooperation becomes ever more urgent.
