ESA Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits for Pillar Corals
A scientific research and/or enhancement permit is required for any person planning to conduct any activity resulting in the "take" of an endangered or threatened species under NOAA Fisheries' jurisdiction.
About
These permits are for research or enhancement activities conducted on coral species protected under the Endangered Species Act. This permit is often referred to as an ESA 10(a)(1)(A) permit.
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Species Covered
The information on this page is for obtaining an ESA 10(a)(1)(A) permit for:
- Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus), reclassified as endangered on March 21, 2025.
ESA permits are not currently required for other ESA-listed coral species. Please visit our coral webpage for information on other coral species.
Information for scientific research and enhancement permits for sawfish (largetooth and smalltooth), sea turtles (in water), and sturgeon (Atlantic and shortnose) can be found on this ESA permit page.
Permits for research on or enhancement of Pacific marine and anadromous fish (e.g., salmon, green sturgeon, eulachon) and abalone are processed by NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Region.
Activities Covered
Examples of research and enhancement activities include:
- Collecting pillar coral colonies, fragments, tissue samples, and gametes, from the wild
- Harming captive pillar coral through potentially injurious research outside the bounds of normal husbandry practices
- Removing, relocating, or reattaching pillar coral in the wild
- Conducting research activities on wild pillar coral involving manipulation such as novel treatments or tissue sampling
- Releasing captive pillar coral into the wild such as outplantings for restoration
- Importing and exporting pillar coral, unless the corals were already held in captivity prior to its reclassification on March 21, 2025, and such holding is not in the course of commercial activity after reclassification
Please refer to this guidance for example scenarios and definitions.
This permit is not needed for:
- Continuing to possess pillar coral parts or live pillar corals that were in captivity (in a controlled environment or under human care in ocean-based nurseries) as of its reclassification on March 21, 2025, including progeny produced after this date, provided the holding is not in the course of commercial activity
- Providing normal husbandry care to captive coral including:
- Handling
- Cleaning
- Maintaining water quality
- Extracting tissue for diagnostics or genetics
- Treating maladies using established methods
- Propagating (via sexual or asexual reproduction, including fragmenting)
- Attaching to artificial surfaces
- Removing dead skeleton
- Transporting (interstate and intrastate) legally-obtained captive pillar coral and pillar coral parts provided it is not in the course of a commercial activity
- Conducting studies intended to improve husbandry practices and that would not cause harm to pillar coral (e.g., trialing new food supplements, comparing different lighting systems, testing different attachment substrates)
- Conducting research, such as observational studies, on pillar coral in the wild that do not involve collections or manipulation of pillar corals or of their environment
- Treating wild pillar coral for disease by experienced individuals using non-experimental methods proven to be effective and as authorized by state and territorial permits
If you are uncertain whether your pillar coral activities may require an ESA permit, please contact us at nmfs.pr1.apps@noaa.gov.
Your application must include a permit duration. Pillar coral permits may be issued for up to 10 years in accordance with the programmatic ESA section 7 consultation.
Species Covered By This Permit
What You Will Need
- A detailed description of your objectives and methods.
- A table of coral and all the threatened and endangered species you may take, either directly or indirectly, and how many animals may be exposed to each activity.
- A description and map of your study area.
- A current Qualifications Form (DOCX, 7 pages) to demonstrate the qualifications and experience of the Principal Investigator and each Co-Investigator. An example for a coral researcher or restoration practitioner can be found at the end of the form.
How to Apply
To expedite processing of your request, apply via APPS, our online application system, following the instructions for applying for an ESA scientific research or enhancement permit for pillar coral (PDF, 22 pages). You may draft your permit application using the Word version of the instructions(DOCX, 36 pages) and transfer the text into the fields in APPS. We also have developed a guidance document with example scenarios and definitions to assist you with completing the take table in APPS. Please note, applications that do not follow the instructions will be returned.
If you choose not to use APPS (preferred), you may send your completed application by:
- Email: nmfs.pr1.apps@noaa.gov
- Mail:
Division Chief - Permits and Conservation Division
Office of Protected Resources
SSMC#3-F/PR1
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3282
What Happens After You Submit
You can expect your application to be processed within 6-12 months.
Once Your Permit is Issued
Permit Processing
- After you submit your application in APPS, two permit analysts will be assigned to review the application.
- Following the initial review, you may be asked for additional information. You should address any questions on the application within 60 days or your application will be considered abandoned and withdrawn.
- Once the application is determined to be complete, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register, which starts a mandatory 30-day public comment period. We will also send your application to subject matter experts (e.g., partner institutions, federal agencies, and state organizations) for review.
- You may be asked to address any questions received during the comment period.
- We will determine if the proposed activities fall within the scope of the ESA Section 7 programmatic biological opinion for pillar coral or if a separate consultation will be required.
- A final decision on your application will be made by the Office Director.
You can check on the status of your application online in APPS, or by contacting your permit analyst.
If your permit is issued:
You will need to sign your permit and return a copy of the signature page to us.
Regional Notification: You will be required to notify the applicable NOAA Fisheries Regional Office(s) 2 weeks prior to starting your field work each year or season.
Reporting: Each year that your permit is valid, you will be required to submit an annual report. Reports can be submitted via APPS, our online application system. Learn more about reporting requirements.
Changes to your permit: You can request changes to your permit once it has been issued. Minor changes like adding or deleting personnel are simple and can be done quickly. Changes such as adding species, increasing numbers, or expanding your study area, are more involved and will likely require a 30-day comment period and take 6-12 months to process. Changes can be requested via APPS.
Need Help?
Permits and Conservation Division
Office of Protected Resources