[Coral-List] Critical Habitat for Threatened Corals Finalized

[Sarah Heberling]

Greetings, and apologies for any cross-postings --

NOAA's Fisheries Service announces the publication of the final critical 
habitat designations for elkhorn /(Acropora palmata)/ and staghorn /(A. 
cervicornis)/ corals in the /Federal Register/ today.  This rulemaking 
is mandatory under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.  The four areas 
designated as critical habitat for threatened corals are: (1) Florida 
area; (2) Puerto Rico area; (3) St. Thomas/St. John area; and (4) St. 
Croix area. The critical habitat for threatened corals includes water 
depths up to 98 feet. Within these areas, the feature essential to the 
conservation of threatened corals is natural consolidated hard substrate 
or dead coral skeleton that is free from fleshy and turf macroalgae 
cover and sediment cover to maximize the potential for successful 
recruitment and population growth.  The effective date for this 
rulemaking is December 26, 2008.

To download a copy of the FR notice, the economic analysis, or 
Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our website at: 
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/esa/acropora.htm.  If you would like a copy 
of any of these documents emailed, mailed, or faxed to you, please 
contact me with your request (see contact information below).  Please 
also contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Sarah

-- 
Sarah E. Heberling
NOAA Fisheries Service
Phone: (727) 824-5312
Fax: (727) 824-5309
Email: Sarah.Heberling at noaa.gov
Web: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/esa/acropora.htm

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