[Coral-List] Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals

[Alison Moulding]

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the availability for public review of the Draft Recovery Plan (Plan) for Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis).  The Plan is available on the NMFS website at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm and the Southeast Regional Office website at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/coral/elkhorn_coral/document/Key_Docs/Draft Acropora Recovery Plan.pdf<http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/coral/elkhorn_coral/document/Key_Docs/Draft%20Acropora%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf>.

Recovery plans describe actions beneficial for the conservation and recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable: (1) Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the Plan’s goals; and (3) estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions.

NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the draft Plan, and NMFS will consider all relevant, substantive comments received during the review period before finalizing the Plan. Public comments will be accepted on the draft Plan until close of business on October 20, 2014.

For more information, please visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/coral/index.html<http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/coral/index.html> or contact Alison Moulding (Alison.Moulding at noaa.gov<mailto:Alison.Moulding at noaa.gov>).