As long as there is a permit, it is legal to catch and sell corals. The coral used to make jewelry is a kind of coral called octagonal coral.
Due to environmental pollution, the quantity and quality of gem corals have been affected. However, it is illegal to mine, sell or smuggle without permission. In China, red coral belongs to the national first-class protected animals, and buying and selling red coral will violate the criminal law.
Red coral is called red gold. Because it grows very slowly and cannot be regenerated, it is extremely precious and belongs to the national first-class protected animals. Sales of red coral and its products need to obtain aquatic wildlife business license and other certificates.
Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Laws in the Trial of Criminal Cases of Destruction of Wildlife Resources Article 5 The illegal acquisition, transportation and sale of precious and endangered wildlife products shall be deemed as "serious" under any of the following circumstances:
(a) the value of more than one hundred thousand yuan;
(two) illegal profits of more than fifty thousand yuan;
(3) There are other serious circumstances.
Article 341 of the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) Crime of Illegal Hunting and Killing Precious and Endangered Wild Animals Whoever illegally buys, transports and sells precious and endangered wild animals and their products illegally hunts and kills precious and endangered wild animals under special state protection or illegally buys, transports and sells precious and endangered wild animals and their products under special state protection shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention and fined. If the circumstances are serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than ten years and shall also be fined; If the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 years and shall also be fined or confiscated.
The crime of illegal hunting, which violates hunting laws and regulations, hunts in a game reserve or during a game ban, or hunts with prohibited tools and methods, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance or a fine.
Whoever, in violation of the laws and regulations on wildlife protection and management, illegally hunts, buys, transports or sells terrestrial wild animals that naturally grow and breed in the wild environment for the purpose of eating, if the circumstances are serious, shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
Legal basis: Article 16 of People's Republic of China (PRC) Island Protection Law. People's governments at all levels in the State Council and coastal areas shall take measures to protect the natural resources, natural landscapes and historical and cultural relics of the island.
It is forbidden to change the coastline of islands in nature reserves. It is forbidden to dig and destroy corals and coral reefs. It is forbidden to cut down mangroves in the waters around the island.