Protected Resources

Species of Concern

Photos (left to right): Humphead wrasse. John Naughton; Inarticulated brachiopod. Cory Pittman; Bumphead parrotfish. John E. Randall; Hawaiian reef coral. J.E.Maragos

A "Species of Concern" (SOC) is a species or vertebrate population for which there is concern or great uncertainty about its status. SOC are not listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and are not protected by the ESA. As resources permit, NOAA Fisheries conducts a review of the status of each SOC to determine if it warrants listing as an endangered or threatened species under the ESA. NOAA Fisheries believes it is important to highlight species for which listing may be warranted so that Federal and state agencies, Native American tribes, and the private sector are aware of which species could benefit from proactive conservation efforts.

NOAA Fisheries Service, Species of Concern Program brochure (June 2008, pdf 752 kB)

"Species of Concern" in the Pacific Islands Region FACT SHEETS

What is a "Species of Concern"? (Sept 2009, pdf 324kB)
Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
- Highlights (May 2007, pdf 109kB)
- Detailed (May 2007, pdf 202kB)
Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)
- Highlights (Feb 2010, pdf 97kB)
- Detailed (Feb 2010, pdf 204kB)
Hawaiian reef coral (Montipora dilatata)
- Highlights (Apr 2007, pdf 207kB)
- Detailed (Apr 2007, pdf 283kB)
Inarticulated brachiopod (Lingula reevii)
- Highlights (Mar 2007, pdf 241kB)
- Detailed (Mar 2007, pdf 255kB)

Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) Focus

Establishment of an initial program that will benefit these species either by supporting research, proactive conservation, or through outreach.
Consideration of other species for the SOC Program that are in need of help or attention once initial program is fully established.

Examples of Supported Projects

Inarticulated brachiopod (Lingula reevii) husbandry:

In 2006, NMFS PIRO funded the Waikiki Aquarium to construct a tank built exclusively for Lingula reevii husbandry. Once basic husbandry aspects for the long-term maintenance of the L. reevii specimens was established over the course of a few years (i.e., keeping the species alive in captivity), NMFS PIRO funded the Waikiki Aquarium in 2010 to begin to develop husbandry techniques capable of producing sufficient numbers of larval or juvenile L. reevii for possible enhancement of the wild population.
Photos courtesy of the Waikiki Aquarium

Close up of full grown Lingula reevii.

Measuring Lingula reevii.

Lingula reevii holding tank. One specimen resides within each of the mesh circles

Hawaiian reef coral (Montipora dilatata) propagation:

In 2000, four fragments of Montipora dilatata coral were collected from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, and sent to the Waikiki Aquarium where a rare corals holding tank was established to attempt to propagate the species in captivity. In 2006, NMFS PIRO funded the Waikiki Aquarium to expand the tank in order to accommodate additional propagation of M. dilatata, as well as other rare corals.
Photos courtesy of the Waikiki Aquarium

Montipora dilatata colony photographed in August 2006.

Montipora dilatata colony photographed four months later in January 2007, with visible growth of the main and satellite colonies.

Montipora propagation system, with some fragments mounted in live rock for grow out, photographed in January 2007.

Supported Projects (sorted by year of initial funding)

2011

Montipora dilatata Environmental Influences on Morphological Patterns (August 2011, pdf 1.47 MB)
GIS and Spatial Distribution of Lingula reevii and Montipora dilatata in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (August 2011, pdf 1.93 MB)
Habitat Characteristics of Lingula reevii in Kāneohe bay, Oahu, Hawaii (August 2011, pdf 644.91 KB)

2012

Effects of Salinity, pH, Opheodesoma spectabilis and Gracilaria salicornia on L. reevii Abundance in Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawai’i (2012) (June 2012, pdf 769.56 kB)
Effects of Temperature, Salinity, pH, Reef Size, and Tripneustes gratilla on the distribution of Montipora dilatata in Kaneohe Bay (June 2012, 626.48 kB)
Environmental Effects on Spatial Distribution of Montipora dilatata in Kaneohe Bay (June 2012, pdf 975.16 kB)

Species of Concern Documents and Annual Reports

2006

NOAA Fisheries PIR SOC Workshop 2006: Excecutive Summary (Nov 2007, pdf 264kB)
NOAA Fisheries PIR SOC Workshop 2006: Workshop Proceedings (Nov 2007, pdf 404kB)

2007

2007 National SOC Program Annual Report (Jan 2008, pdf 1.25 MB)
2007 PIR SOC Year-End Report (Jan 2008, pdf 181kB)

2008

2008 National SOC Program Annual Report (Dec 2008, pdf 559 kB)
2008 PIR SOC Year-End Report (Oct 2008, pdf 63 kB)

2009

2009 National SOC Program Annual Report (Dec 2009, 1.6 MB)
2009 PIR SOC Year-End Report (Dec 2009, pdf 317 kB)

2010

2010 PIR SOC Year-End Report (Jan 2011, pdf 261 kB)
2010 National SOC Program Annual Report (Dec 2010, 1.9 MB)

2011

2011 PIR SOC Year-End Report (May 2012, pdf 60.14 kB)

Species of Concern Events

On September 3-5, 2008, the NOAA Fisheries Species of Concern National Coordinator hosted a "Cooperative Conservation of Marine and Anadromous Species Workshop" in Silver Spring, MD. The main focus of the workshop was our partnership through the Endangered Species Act Section 6 Cooperation with States Program and through the proactive Species of Concern Program. Representatives from the NOAA Fisheries Regional Office and Science Centers were present, as were representatives from each of the coastal states, territories, and tribal groups, including representatives from non-governmental organizations.

In addition to presentations, multiple regional breakout sessions were held. Topics included identifying priorities, needs, and program capacity development. Outcomes of the workshop included:

Improved national conservation programs and strategies to increase the capacity of state, territory, tribal, and federal programs to cooperatively and proactively conserve marine and anadromous species;
Shared understanding of resources, priorities, needs, and conservation goals;
Stronger partnerships among states, tribes, territories, NOAA, and NGOs; and
Initiated development of a national strategic plan to increase capacity for marine and anadromous species conservation.

On August 21-22, 2006, in Honolulu, Hawaii, NOAA Fisheries, Protected Resources Division (PRD), hosted the first Pacific Islands Region (PIR) SOC Workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to gather information and ideas to be used in the development of the regional SOC Program. A select group of scientists knowledgeable about the four species of concern (Humphead wrasse, Bumphead parrotfish, Hawaiian reef coral, and Inarticulated brachiopod) were invited to share share their knowledge and expertise about these species' habitat, threats, as well as research, and conservation ideas. The current species status and threats were evaluated in order to develop initial conservation plans that PRD will use to guide funding, research and conservation actions in the coming years.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:
NOAA Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office
(808) 944-2200

Species of Concern Events

NOAA Fisheries - Office of Protected Resources - Species of Concern