Manila: The presidential palace is urging an international boycott on black coral products in a bid to preserve the country's biodiversity as well as those of other tropical nations.

In an official statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda underscored the need for a greater inspection of products passing through the seaports in a bid to put a stop to the trading of black coral products.

Black coral is priced in the international as well as the local market for its natural beauty. Jewellers polish it into a shine and fashion it into earrings, rings, pendants, bracelets and other accoutrements. The marine items, which are among those listed in the roster of banned products under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species, are also made as medium for sculptures.

"We need greater scrutiny of the trade in black corals as it is in all our interest to stamp out this destructive trade," Lacierda said.

Recently, customs officials seized P15 million (Dh1.25 million) worth if black corals in Central Philippine's Cebu.

An earlier shipment of the rare sea item had been apprehended by authorities in Cotabato City.

Lacierda that there are instances where black coral from the Philippines is exported to other countries and passed off as sourced in those countries. For this reason, the government is asking for the cooperation of Filipinos abroad to look into black corals that may have been smuggled from the Philippines.

"We call on all consumers the world over to make a similar commitment to saving the biodiversity of our seas, by refusing to buy black coral items," he added.

Senator Loren Legarda said aside from stopping the illicit trade on black corals further coordinated action is necessary to stop the continued ravaging of the country's marine resources and seabed.

She urged law enforcement authorities to take action on poaching that ravaged approximately 7,000 hectares of sea bed within the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea.

Legarda today called the attention of government agencies mandated to enforce Republic Act 8550 or the Fisheries Code of the Philippines.

According to reports, the seabed ravaged by poachers have already reached about twice the land area of Manila. She said illicit traders have harvested more than 21,000 pieces of black coral and killed hundreds of marine species, including 161 endangered turtles, with a market value of about P35 million pesos.

"This is indeed very alarming, considering that this kind of environmental exploitation has been banned for thirteen years, when Congress passed the Fisheries Code of the Philippines. A damage of this magnitude could have been prevented with the strict implementation of the law," Legarda said.

Citing studies by experts, the Senator explained that there are estimates that one square kilometre of healthy coral reef can support as much as 35 metric tons of live fish. She lamented that of the 27,000 square kilometers of the country's existing corals, only five percent are in excellent condition.

"These corals do not just grow overnight. They take years to form. Destroying coral reefs is stealing the homes of marine life organisms," Legarda stressed.