Wednesday July 30, 2025
WCS Newsroom —
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) New York Aquarium has received confiscated live stony corals from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The corals were imported into the U.S. in violation of the Convention on International Treaty in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Endangered Species Act.
The confiscated corals are protected under CITES, a multilateral treaty to protect at-risk species. The species, which include Goniopora, Acropora, Lobophyllia, Alveopora, and Euphyllia, among others, are listed on CITES Appendix II, which requires the 185 member government Parties of the Convention to ensure they are traded legally, and the trade will not harm the species in the wild.
The seized corals are being housed behind the scenes at the aquarium, but most will eventually be in the aquarium’s public reef exhibits, helping visitors better understand coral ecosystems and the threats they face—from climate change and ocean acidification to overharvesting and illegal trade. The USFWS had previously sent confiscated coral to the aquarium in 2019.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facilities, experts in animal wellbeing and care, are often called upon to provide immediate care, housing, and rehabilitation for confiscated wildlife by the USFWS. Illegally imported live wild animals may be seized at US ports by law enforcement. These agencies work to ensure the health, wellbeing, and proper care of all trafficked wildlife by finding facilities experienced in caring for the animals.
“Corals are animals, and they’re vital to the health of our oceans,” said Aaron Brett, coral expert at the New York Aquarium. “Unfortunately, these corals confiscated by the USFWS spent five days in transit before arriving here, which is a major stressor. But remarkably, the majority of the shipment is recovering well.”
Once at the aquarium, staff administered prophylactic treatments, carefully removed the corals from transport bags, and initiated reconditioning protocols. Of the more than 200 pieces documented in the Chain of Custody Record, the vast majority arrived viable. About 30 arrived dead.
The living specimens are now part of the aquarium’s advanced coral propagation program which uses asexual reproduction methods—like fragmentation. The New York Aquarium is a leader in this work, which contributes valuable techniques to reef conservation efforts around the world.
“This is delicate, hands-on work,” said aquarist Camilla Piechocki. “We monitor water chemistry, slowly reintroduce lighting, and mimic reef conditions to help them thrive. These animals are resilient, but the transition from illegal shipment to thriving exhibit is a complex process.”
“Exhibiting these animals builds awareness,” added Brett. “We hope that when people see how beautiful and diverse corals are, they’ll be inspired to help protect them.”
Coral reefs support roughly a billion people worldwide and provide habitat for about 25 percent of all marine life. With warming oceans causing more frequent bleaching events, the work done at accredited facilities like the New York Aquarium is more urgent than ever.
The New York Aquarium is proud to support federal enforcement efforts by housing and rehabilitating confiscated specimens. WCS and the aquarium support the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act currently pending in the US Congress, which would establish a cooperative and coordinated confiscation response that can help address immediate triage needs through a network of qualified facilities.
Listen to WCS Wild Audio: WCS’s New York Aquarium Helps Rescue Confiscated Corals.