November 30, 2023 — The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a proposed rule Wednesday to designate 16 islands as critical habitat for five Indo-Pacific coral species listed under the Endangered Species Act, a move mostly linked to climate change.
A designation of critical habitat requires federal agencies to ensure their actions don’t destroy or negatively impact those areas, or pose any risk to species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The designation potentially could focus preservation efforts among others, including state and local governments, individuals and private organizations.
Many coral species have experienced population loss and continue to face threats like ocean warming, diseases, the effects of fishing and land-based pollution.
“We determined that these species are likely to become endangered throughout their ranges within the foreseeable future as a result of a combination of threats, the most severe of which are related to climate change,” the fisheries service stated in a report.