Public Meeting Notice on Protecting 82 Species of Coral

In 2009, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) petitioned the federal government to protect 82 of the world’s most endangered coral species (seven of which are found in Florida). In response, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) began a review process and issued a study concluding that two-thirds of these corals are at risk of becoming extinct before the end of the century.

As part of this review process, NOAA is hosting two regional public listening sessions and two scientific workshops evaluating whether to classify the 82 corals under the Endangered Species Act. One in Florida and one in Hawaii.

Learn About, Speak Up for Corals:

The public has a chance to give the federal government input on protecting these corals and NOAA wants you to be as informed as possible. In Dania Beach, Florida, this June, learn all you can about the coral extinction crisis at one of the agency’s “listening sessions,” and get the science behind their decline at a special science workshop.

Dania Beach Science Workshop
When: June 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Nova Southeastern University, Oceanographic Center, Center of Excellence in Coral Reef Ecosystems Science, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL; telephone: (954) 262–3600

Dania Beach Listening Session
When: June 28, 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: Nova Southeastern University, Oceanographic Center, Center of Excellence in Coral Reef Ecosystems Science, 8000 North Ocean Drive; Dania Beach, FL; telephone: (954) 262–3600

If you can’t make it, you have until July 31, 2012, to speak out in favor of protecting corals through the CBD action alert link: http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/o/2167/t/5243/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10619

Also, visit the NOAA, National Marine Fisheries’ webpage (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/04/4_13_12corals_petition.html) for links to studies and notices about the 82 corals.

Florida’s seven candidate corals (click photo for larger image)