{"id":402681,"date":"2023-12-01T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=402681"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"NOAA-Fisheries-proposes-critical-habitat-for-5-Indo-Pacific-corals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/NOAA-Fisheries-proposes-critical-habitat-for-5-Indo-Pacific-corals\/","title":{"rendered":"NOAA Fisheries proposes critical habitat for 5 Indo-Pacific corals"},"content":{"rendered":"

NOAA Fisheries recently announced a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for five threatened reef-building coral species in the Pacific Islands region. This rule refines an earlier proposal in 2020 for Endangered Species Act-listed Indo-Pacific coral species following the inclusion of new data and information received from the community during the previous public comment period.<\/p>\n

\u201cPacific coral reefs play an important role in shoreline protection, while also supporting the local economy and serving as biodiverse ecosystems,\u201d said Dawn Golden, Assistant Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office. \u201cDespite facing threats\u2014including temperature rise and pollution \u2014 designating critical habitat aims to minimize the impacts of these threats and promote coral resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the ESA, NOAA Fisheries is proposing to designate areas containing habitat characteristics where Acropora globiceps, A. retusa, A. speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora crateriformis reproduce, disperse, settle and mature. These include select locations in the waters around 16 islands and atolls:<\/p>\n

American Samoa\u2014Ofu-Olosega; Tutuila and Ta\u2018u in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa; and Rose Atoll, in the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa<\/p>\n

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands\u2014Rota; Aguijan; Tinian; Saipan; Alamagan; Pagan; and Maug Islands and Uracas in the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument<\/p>\n

Guam<\/p>\n

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands\u2014Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) in Papah\u0192\u00c5naumoku\u0192\u00c5kea Marine National Monument<\/p>\n

Pacific Remote Islands Area\u2014Palmyra and Johnston Atolls in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument<\/p>\n

The depth range of the proposed critical habitat depends on the occurrence of specific coral species with a minimum range of 0-10 m (0-33 ft) and maximum range of 0-50 m (0-164 ft).<\/p>\n

If finalized, the designation would not create any new regulations or restrictions on fisheries. Only federal agencies are directly affected by a critical habitat designation; non-federal entities may be affected if their activities involve federal funding, permitting or authorization.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur team at the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island Regional Office is appreciative of the feedback from the territories and the local communities. Their involvement and input led to the refinement of the proposed rule,\u201d added Golden. \u201cThis new proposal is a reflection of their valuable data and input throughout this process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the feedback received during the public comment period for the proposed critical habitat made in 2020, the changes in this proposed rule include: the removal of two species and four islands for consideration, the addition of three islands and more specific mapping of critical habitat.<\/p>\n

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted Nov. 30, 2023, through Feb. 28, 2024. Submit comments online at www.regulations.gov<\/a>, under docket number NOAA-NMFS-2016-0131 for the proposed critical habitat. (NOAA)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Isopora crateriformis coral.<\/p>\n

-DOUG FENNER
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Acropora retusa.<\/p>\n

-DOUG FENNER
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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