Critical Habitat Designations for Threatened Corals in U.S. Waters in the Pacific Islands

We, NOAA Fisheries, issue this final rule to designate critical habitat for five threatened coral species in U.S. waters in the Pacific Islands region, pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act.

The five species are:

• Acropora globiceps
• Acropora retusa
• Acropora speciosa
• Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa (previously Euphyllia paradivisa)
• Isopora crateriformis

The designated critical habitat encompasses approximately 92 square miles (237 square kilometers) and includes the following 18 specific island units:

• American Samoa – Ofu-Olosega; Swains Island, Tutuila, and Ta`u 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
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – Rota; Aguijan; Tinian; Saipan; Alamagan; Pagan; and Maug Islands, Asuncion, and Uracas in the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument
• Guam
• Northwestern Hawaiian Islands – Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Sanctuary
• Pacific Remote Islands Area – Palmyra and Johnston atolls in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to designate critical habitat to the maximum extent prudent and determinable to support recovery of species listed under the Act. The final designations support the recovery of these reef-building coral by protecting the areas containing the habitat characteristics the corals need to reproduce, spread, settle, and mature.

Critical habitat designations apply to federal agencies. Federal agencies must ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. The designations do not create new restrictions such as closed areas, marine protected areas, or refuges.

Read the Federal Register notice and supporting documents