Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum is considered the most precious coral worldwide. Harvesting activities are performed by licensed scuba divers and managed through the recent pan-Mediterranean management plan issued by General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) along with measures locally enacted, imposing limits on licenses, harvesting season, minimum depth of dive, and size. The use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) is prohibited, with the only exception being for scientific purposes. Despite measures already in force, the implementation of additional management tools has been recently recommended. This article reports results from the first monitoring campaign on C. rubrum harvesting based on ROVs for seabed exploration and Onboard Scientific Observers (OSOs), carried out from 2012 to 2015 along the coast of Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea—Western basin). More than 450 dives were monitored, confirming how ROV’s support eases the scouting of exploitable banks, leading to increases in catches. OSOs reported the collection of colonies below the minimum reference size and catches/dive above limits. Onboard observers collected data also on colony diameter, which is crucial for the estimation of population size structure and exploitation status. OSOs proved to be valid tools in providing additional and reliable information on red coral harvesting, thus deserving to be included among mandatory measures for the sustainable exploitation of red coral in the Mediterranean Sea.

中文翻译：

---

船上科学观察员提供了珍贵红珊瑚 (Corallium rubrum L.) 收获和管理优先事项的真实图景

地中海红珊瑚 Corallium rubrum 被认为是世界上最珍贵的珊瑚。捕捞活动由有执照的水肺潜水员进行，并通过地中海总渔业委员会 (GFCM) 最近发布的泛地中海管理计划以及当地制定的措施进行管理，对许可证、捕捞季节、最低潜水深度和大小施加限制. 禁止使用遥控车辆 (ROV)，唯一的例外是用于科学目的。尽管措施已经生效，但最近还是建议实施额外的管理工具。本文报告了基于用于海底勘探的 ROV 和船上科学观察员 (OSO) 对红色念珠菌收获的第一次监测活动的结果，2012 年至 2015 年在撒丁岛沿岸（地中海-西部盆地）进行。监测了超过 450 次潜水，证实了 ROV 的支持如何简化对可利用银行的侦察，从而导致渔获量增加。OSOs 报告了低于最小参考尺寸的菌落收集和超过限制的捕获/潜水。船上观察员还收集了有关菌落直径的数据，这对于估计种群规模结构和开发状况至关重要。OSOs 被证明是提供关于红珊瑚收获的额外和可靠信息的有效工具，因此应该被纳入地中海红珊瑚可持续开发的强制性措施。导致渔获量增加。OSOs 报告了低于最小参考尺寸的菌落收集和超过限制的捕获/潜水。船上观察员还收集了有关菌落直径的数据，这对于估计种群规模结构和开发状况至关重要。OSOs 被证明是提供关于红珊瑚收获的额外和可靠信息的有效工具，因此应该被纳入地中海红珊瑚可持续开发的强制性措施。导致渔获量增加。OSOs 报告了低于最小参考尺寸的菌落收集和超过限制的捕获/潜水。船上观察员还收集了有关菌落直径的数据，这对于估计种群规模结构和开发状况至关重要。OSOs 被证明是提供关于红珊瑚收获的额外和可靠信息的有效工具，因此应该被纳入地中海红珊瑚可持续开发的强制性措施。