Seven corals found in Florida Keys waters could be added to the list of oceanic species federally protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The decision announced Friday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will bring federal officials to the Keys for public comment hearings Jan. 15 and 16.
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"We've watched the changes on our reef over the years and the loss of coral has been significant," said Judy Halas of Key Largo, who has been diving Keys reefs for more than four decades as an author and activist.
NOAA proposes to list seven Caribbean and Florida coral species as endangered and two more as threatened.
Staghorn coral and elkhorn coral, currently the only local corals listed as threatened, would be moved to endangered status under the plan. Read More.....
The decision announced Friday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will bring federal officials to the Keys for public comment hearings Jan. 15 and 16.
.jpg)
"We've watched the changes on our reef over the years and the loss of coral has been significant," said Judy Halas of Key Largo, who has been diving Keys reefs for more than four decades as an author and activist.
NOAA proposes to list seven Caribbean and Florida coral species as endangered and two more as threatened.
Staghorn coral and elkhorn coral, currently the only local corals listed as threatened, would be moved to endangered status under the plan. Read More.....
