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Lawsuit Filed to Protect Habitat for 12 Threatened Coral Species

www.fisheries.noaa.gov
Pillar coral

Back in 2014, 12 coral species received protection under the Endangered Species Act, but they still have not received the critical habitat protection the law requires to be designated within one year. Now, the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service, seeking to force it to establish such critical habitat for these coral species. We're joined by Emily Jeffers, she is a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The five listed species in the Caribbean are Dendrogyra cylindrus (pillar coral), Orbicella annularis (lobed star coral), Orbicella faveolata (mountainous star coral), Orbicella franksi (boulder star coral) and Mycetophyllia ferox (rough cactus coral)The seven species in the Pacific are Acropora globicepsAcropora jacquelineaeAcropora retusaAcropora speciosaEuphyllia paradivisaIsopora crateriformisand Seriatopora aculeate.