July 18, 2025 — Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, together with select areas of American Samoa, Hawaii and remote parts of the Pacific, have been designated as critical habitats for five threatened coral species.
The final rule, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, states that 18 specific marine habitats in American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, the Pacific Remote Island Areas, and Hawaii — encompassing a total of about 237 sq km — are named critical habitats pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
NOAA denied the U.S Navy’s request to exclude the Ritidian Point Surface Danger Zone complex in Guam from critical habitat designation.
The final rule takes effect on August 14.
Critical habitats are areas occupied by endangered species and possess the physical or biological features essential to their conservation.
Areas designated “critical habitats” may require special management considerations or protection to support the recovery of endangered corals.
The designation does not create new restrictions that close off these areas.