US Shields 237 Sq Km of Precious Indo-Pacific Corals
Published Date: 7/15/2025
Rule
Summary
The government is protecting five types of threatened corals in the Indo-Pacific by officially marking 18 important underwater areas as critical habitats. These spots cover about 92 square miles around places like American Samoa, Guam, and Hawaii. This move helps keep these corals safe without cutting out any areas, even after thinking about costs and security.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Critical Habitat Designated for Five Corals
The National Marine Fisheries Service designated critical habitat for five threatened Indo-Pacific coral species: Acropora globiceps, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa (formerly Euphyllia paradivisa), and Isopora crateriformis. This is an official protection under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act.
18 Marine Areas Covering 237 km² Protected
The final rule marks 18 specific marine areas as critical habitat, totaling about 237 square kilometers (92 square miles). Those areas are located in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Pacific Remote Island Areas, and Hawaiʻi.
No Areas Excluded Despite Economic, Security Review
The agency says it considered economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of these designations, but it did not exclude any areas from the critical habitat designations because of anticipated impacts.
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