Corals Proposed for Listing under the ESA
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More Information · Scientific Research Permit Information for Corals |
 Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) Photo: NOAA  Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) Photo: NOAA |
NOAA Proposes Listing 66 Reef-building Coral Species under the Endangered Species Act
The comment period closed on 04/06/2013. You can find comments received in the docket folder on regulations.gov.
NOAA Fisheries is proposing Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings for 66 coral species:
- 59 in the Pacific
- 7 would be listed as endangered
- 52 would be listed as threatened
- 7 in the Caribbean
- 5 would be listed as endangered
- 2 would be listed as threatened
In addition, we are proposing that 2 Caribbean species--elkhorn and staghorn corals--already listed under the ESA be reclassified from threatened to endangered.
Proposed Endangered
Atlantic/ Caribbean
- Boulder star coral (Montastraea annularis)
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) *
- Mountainous star coral (Montastraea faveolata)
- Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus)
- Rough Cactus Coral (Mycetophyllia ferox)
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) *
- Star coral (Montastraea franksi)
* proposed to be reclassified from threatened to endangered
Pacific
- Acropora jacquelineae
- Acropora lokani
- Acropora rudis
- Anacropora spinosa
- Euphyllia paradivisa
- Millepora foveolata
- Pocillopora elegans - E Pacific
Proposed Threatened Species
Atlantic
- Lamarck's Sheet Coral (Agaricia lamarcki)
- Elliptical Star Coral (Dichocoenia stokesii)
Pacific
- Acanthastrea brevis
- Acanthastrea hemprichii
- Acanthastrea ishigakiensis
- Acanthastrea regularis
- Acropora aculeus
- Acropora acuminate
- Acropora aspera
- Acropora dendrum
- Acropora donei
- Acropora globiceps
- Acropora horrida
- Acropora listeria
- Acropora microclados
- Acropora palmerae
- Acropora paniculata
- Acropora pharaonis
- Acropora polystoma
- Acropora retusa
- Acropora speciosa
- Acropora striata
- Acropora tenella
- Acropora vaughani
- Acropora verweyi
- Alveopora allingi
- Alveopora fenestrate
- Alveopora verrilliana
- Anacropora puertogalerae
- Astreopora cucullata
- Barabattoia laddi
- Caulastrea echinulata
- Euphyllia cristata
- Euphyllia paraancora
- Isopora crateriformis
- Isopora cuneata
- Millepora tuberosa
- Montipora angulate
- Montipora australiensis
- Montipora calcarea
- Montipora caliculata
- Montipora dilatata/ flabellata/ turgescens
- Montipora lobulata
- Montipora patula/ verrilli
- Pachyseris rugosa
- Pavona diffluens
- Pectinia alcicornis
- Physogyra lichtensteini
- Pocillopora danae
- Pocillopora elegans - Indo-Pacific
- Porites horizontalata
- Porites napopora
- Porites nigrescens
- Seriatopora aculeate
Background
In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity [pdf] to list under the ESA and designate critical habitat for these species, NMFS reviewed the status of 82 "candidate species" of corals (all petitioned species except for the Large Ivory Coral, Oculina varicosa). In April 2012, NMFS completed a status review report and draft Management Report of the candidate species of corals.
In November 2012, NMFS proposed to list 66 of those petitioned species of corals as threatened or endangered under the ESA.
Petition
The petition asserts that the following threats and other impacts are affecting these corals:
- ocean warming
- ocean acidification
- dredging
- coastal development
- coastal point source pollution
- agricultural and land use practices
- disease
- predation
- reef fishing
- aquarium trade
- physical damage from boats and anchors
- marine debris
- aquatic invasive species
Additional Protections
These corals are also listed in CITES Appendix II.
Updated: April 9, 2013
