Legal protection for endangered corals in Florida

Elkhorncoral_adamlaverty_fpwc_2An Oct. 28 press release from the Center for Biological Diversity reports that the US government is now protecting two species of coral, elkhorn and staghorn.Found in Florida and the Caribbean, these corals were once the most numerous and important reef builders in this area. They have now declined by more than 90 percent in many areas, because of disease and increased water temperature. Ocean acidification is a new threat. Elkhorn_bleached_chiapponemuncwil_e

The federal ruling prohibits activities that kill or harm staghorn or elkhorn coral, which are  recognized as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

(Photos courtesy Center for Biological Diversity.)

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