Residents asked for concerns on coral
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration wants local input on a petition to list 82 species of coral species under the Endangered Species Act.
By KUAM NewsGuam - The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration wants local input on a petition to list 82 species of coral species under the Endangered Species Act. According to NOAA, corals are threatened by climate change, increase in greenhouse gas emissions, coral disease, acidifcation, and change in ocean chemistry.
NOAA assistant regional administrator for the Pacific Islands Region Lisa Vanatta told KUAM News, "We're just at a petition phase which means NOAA fisheries, our agency, received a petition to list these corals, but no decisions have been made. There are no proposals on the table; we haven't taken the next step. which is to possibly propose some of these for listing."
NOAA met with our neighbors in the CNMI last week, as well as 50 Guam residents last night. Another meeting is set for Wednesday from 6-9pm at the Santa Rita Community Center. Public comment period is open until July 31. Submit your comment at [email protected].