NOAA Designates Critical Habitat for Five Indo-Pacific Coral Species

The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated vital marine areas for five threatened Indo-Pacific coral species, including Acropora globiceps, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora crateriformis. The designation encompasses approximately 237 square kilometers of marine habitat across American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Pacific Remote Island Areas, and Hawai'i. This move aims to protect the corals' occupied ranges, including areas with suitable substrate and water quality essential for their conservation.

Key Takeaways:

• The designation encompasses approximately 237 square kilometers of marine habitat across five U.S. island territories and Hawai'i.
• The critical habitat includes areas with suitable substrate and water quality essential for the conservation of the five threatened Indo-Pacific coral species.
• The National Marine Fisheries Service determined that global and local threats like ocean warming, ocean acidification, coral disease, land-based pollution, and fishing require special management or protection.
• The final rule incorporates information received from public comments, leading to the addition of Swains Island in American Samoa and Asuncion Island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the critical habitat units.
• Areas found to have unsuitable substrates (intertidal rock/boulder) or compromised water quality (near harbors on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan) were removed from the designation.
• The rule clarifies that critical habitat requirements primarily affect Federal agencies, obligating them to ensure their actions do not destroy or adversely modify the designated habitat.
• The National Marine Fisheries Service concluded that areas owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, subject to approved Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans, are ineligible for critical habitat designation.
• The analysis of economic impacts found that the designation is expected to result in very low costs, primarily administrative, and no project modifications beyond those already required due to the corals' listing as threatened species.

Statistics:

• 237 square kilometers of marine habitat designated as critical habitat across five U.S. island territories and Hawai'i.
• Five threatened Indo-Pacific coral species: Acropora globiceps, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora crateriformis.
• 2 areas added to the critical habitat units: Swains Island in American Samoa and Asuncion Island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
• 2 areas removed from the designation due to unsuitable substrates or compromised water quality: intertidal rock/boulder areas and areas near harbors on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
• 2 Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans eligible for critical habitat designation: Joint Region Marianas Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan on Guam, Tinian, and Farallon de Medinilla, and the Wake Island Air Field Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan for Wake Atoll.
• Very low costs (primarily administrative) expected from the designation, with no project modifications beyond those already required due to the corals' listing as threatened species.

Sources:

• Federal Register: 2025-13238, "Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical Habitat for Five Species of Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals"
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical Habitat for Five Species of Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals"