The mystery of red coral – an ocean treasure hunted for thousands of years

This beautiful creature was once a symbol of prosperity and longevity, causing ancient kings to spare no expense in possessing it.

Red corals are actually animals, not plants. They belong to the group of coelenterates, live in colonies and create a hard structure from calcium carbonate. Photo: wikimedia.org.

Corals get their red color from natural carotenoid pigments. These pigments help protect them from UV rays and contribute to their vibrant beauty. Photo: Pinterest.

Red corals grow extremely slowly, only growing a few millimeters each year, making it very difficult to restore the population. Photo: Pinterest.

They live in deep, dark waters. Red corals usually appear at depths of 10–300 meters, where light is weak or almost invisible. Photo: Pinterest.

Red corals contribute to the balance of the marine ecosystem. They provide shelter for countless species of fish and small creatures on the seabed. Photo: wikimedia.org.

It has been exploited by humans since ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans used red coral as jewelry and amulets. Photo: nausicaa.fr.

Overfishing is threatening the species. High commercial demand has caused severe declines in red coral in many areas. Photo: wikimedia.org.

Today, red coral is strictly protected. Many Mediterranean countries have banned unregulated fishing to preserve this precious resource. Photo: researchgate.net.

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