Where Does Coral Calcium Come From?
Bob Barefoot Speaks Out – Where does Coral Calcium come from?
Environmental Standards
Environmental Safety Above and Beyond Governmental Regulations
The Okinawa prefectural government maintains strict guidelines for protecting the coral of Okinawa. But our standards are even higher. Our practices respect, protect, and actually improve the living reef ecosystem. How do we do this?
Ideal Ocean Depth
Coral thrives in shallow waters, where the sun reaches the ocean floor. In Okinawa, coral lives in depths of up to 30 meters. We only collect coral grains in depths greater than 60 meters – where no living coral grows.
Safe Distance from the Reef
The reefs of Okinawa extend to about 500 meters from the shore, where depths remain constant at around 30 meters. After 500 meters, the ocean floor slopes suddenly downward to a depth of 50 meters. The government allows coral collection in this area. But to be safe, we go out beyond 1000 meters from the shore.
Gentle Stirring of Coral Grains
The collection pumps, touching the ocean floor, obtain coral grains with minimum agitation. This agitation stirs the coral deposits on the ocean floor, and actually releases some nutrients back into the ecosystem. Ocean currents carry these nutrients to marine life, and potentially back to the living reef.
How Do We Obtain Coral Calcium?
The area where Marine Coral can be taken is authorized by the Okinawa prefectural government . Our collection method ensures that the living reef is protected and safe—we leave no more than a footprint in the sand. In ocean depths no less than 60 meters, we pump coral grains directly from the ocean floor. The collection tubes actually touch the floor, and create less turbulence in the water than a passing rainshower.
Other Effects on the Living Reef
Collecting coral grains has a negligible effect on the reef. And, the grains that are collected are naturally replenished by the living reef! Every year, more than 2,000,000 tons of coral grain deposits—remains and debris of coral—are created by the living coral in Okinawa. Of the 2 million tons produced naturally every year, roughly 1200 tons per year is collected or harvested out of the waters from Okinawa, or a total of just .006% of this renewable material.
Coral Calcium is an amazing natural and pure, renewable mineral resource.