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 globiceps, Acropora jacquelineae, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora crateriformisand Seriatopora aculeate.
