Coral’s allure is more than just a color. Avenue du Corail whispers tales of Marseille’s rich maritime past. This avenue may seem like any other street today. It was once a vital artery linked to the city’s prominence in the coral trade.
Marseille held a special place in the coral trade. Mythologically, culturally, and commercially, coral was very important to Marseille. During the Middle Ages, Marseille was one of the coral capitals for a long time. Marseille was intensely courted. The coral trade caused rivalries with Naples. The coral trade made the Lenche family rich. In the 15th century, the family created the Compagnie du Corail in Marseille. The Place de Lenche is named after the family. The square is near our avenue and the Marseille city hall. It’s in the historic Le Panier district.
For centuries, Marseille was essential for transforming coral into jewelry. But Marseille lost its place to Torre del Greco in Naples.
However, L’atelier du Corail has resurfaced. The atelier gives Marseille its marine splendor. It is like the old days.
Jonas is one of the last coral fishers in Marseille. Summer or winter, he returns from fishing in the late morning. He heads to the workshop in Le Panier with a basket of coral. Coral fishers used to take this route.
Marseille was once the capital of coral and coral fishers. Those years are long gone. There are not many coral fishers left. Now, there is one again. Those old coral fishers in their graves must have turned over. But not in fear. A coral fisher and his partner have taken up the torch. They illuminate a craft that was not expected to be seen again in Marseille so soon.
The mythological origin of coral is rooted in Greece and Rome. The poet Ovid wrote Metamorphoses. The poem tells the adventures of Perseus. During a battle, the Greek hero cut off the head of Medusa. Medusa was a sea monster. Her hair was made of snakes. She was terrible. Anyone who looked at her turned to stone. Perseus put Medusa’s head on a bed of seaweed by the water. Medusa’s blood turned the seaweed into red stone. Coral was born.
But what is coral scientifically and biologically? Is it a mineral, vegetable, or animal?
Jean-André Peyssonnel, a doctor from Marseille, determined the nature of coral in 1725. In 1816, Georges Cuvier gave the aquatic specimen its Latin name. It was called Corrallium rubrum. This is Mediterranean red coral. Mediterranean red coral is a marine vertebrate. Red coral is an animal-flower. It grows in colonies on rocky seabeds. They are usually found between 30 and 400 meters deep.
Red coral eats tiny organic elements. These elements are suspended in the water. It reproduces sexually. Sperm is released into the water. The sperm floats with the ocean currents. It can also reproduce asexually through budding. Its growth is very slow. It is important to be precise when harvesting it. Branches that still need to grow should be left alone. Only branches that have commercial value should be harvested. Unfortunately, some countries do not follow these rules. Preserving the natural habitat of red coral is essential. The red coral habitat is important for marine biodiversity.
Coral fishing is regulated to preserve the ecosystem. Coral is fertile when it grows to 3 cm. But it has no commercial value. The ideal size to start harvesting coral is 10 cm. But the base diameter must be greater than 7mm. At first, divers collected coral by hand. Various techniques emerged. Some were harmful to the marine ecosystem. The Saint Andrew’s Cross was archaic and illegal since 1983. It was dragged along the bottom. It pulled up corals and other species without distinction. It did not matter if the corals were mature or juvenile. Fortunately, fishing techniques have evolved. Today, coral fishers dive with autonomous equipment.
Rules are now in place. Coral becomes fertile when it grows to 3 cm. It is important to let them prosper. Corals have no commercial value before they reach 10 cm. The base diameter must be greater than 7mm. In France, the number of coral fishers is limited. A license is issued after long training. The harvest of Mediterranean red coral is limited in weight for each coral fisher. Fishing selectively and respecting regulations protects the seabed. It highlights counterfeit coral. Unfortunately, there is a large amount of fake coral.
So, as you walk along Avenue du Corail, remember Marseille’s glorious history.