Petition to List Coral Species and Designate Critical Habitat

Alaska Coral Species

Petition to List Coral Species and Designate Critical Habitat

Paragorgia coral in the Aleutians gardens. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned NMFS on August 20, 2012, to list 43 Alaska coral species and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The petition asserts that several threats are impeding the survival and recovery of these species and warrant their protection under the ESA, including ocean warming, ocean acidification, commercial fishing, and oil spills. Under ESA Section 4(b)(3) and 50 CFR 424.14, to the maximum extent practicable, NMFS must issue an initial finding within 90 days as to whether the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. In response to the petition for Alaska corals, NMFS completed the required 90-day finding and determined that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing under the ESA may be warranted.