Kilili wants CNMI, territories involved in corals ESA listing

With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration postponing a decision whether to list 29 corals found in the CNMI as threatened or endangered, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) is asking NOAA to “give careful consideration” when including U.S. territories in the listing of coral species.

“We recognize that climate change and the related effects of ocean acidification and higher water temperature pose the greatest threat to coral reefs, and we do not dispute that the species proposed for Endangered Species Act listing are potentially vulnerable,” Sablan said in a letter to NOAA’s administrator Kathryn Sullivan and U.S. Department of Commerce Acting Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Management Eric Schwaab.

Sablan noted that the CNMI and the other U.S. territories have laws protecting corals but due to global climate change “our only choice is to find ways to adapt.”

NOAA is considering the listing of 54 species of corals as threatened, 12 as endangered, and reclassifies two as endangered under the ESA. Out of the list, 29 are found in the CNMI.

Sablan’s request to NOAA is to take a more practical approach. He wants NOAA to work with local, state, and territorial governments to develop voluntary Candidate Conservation Agreements with states and territories as an alternative approach to protecting and restoring corals and their habitat.

Another request by Sablan is to consider a “Species of Concern designation” rather than being listed under ESA for corals that are limited in distribution, abundance, or life history information that is available.

Sablan also requested NOAA to take into account the past and ongoing efforts of the states, territories, and localities to protect corals, including through partnership in the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and stewardship of National Marine Sanctuaries and Monuments and consider potential negative impacts of ESA listing on ongoing coral research and restoration activities.

Sablan also asked NOAA to honor previous request that detailed maps of the distribution of the corals to be provided to Congress and the public before any listing decisions are made.

“This information is critical to understanding where the species proposed for listing live, and what conservation alternatives to ESA listing may be appropriate,” Sablan stated.

Despite a letter on Feb. 22, 2013, stating that “such maps do not exist,” Sablan said the development of better maps is critical to making an informed listing decision.

“While we are all strong supporters of the ESA and coral reef protection, we also know that the ESA is powerless to resist climate change and we ask that you give serious consideration to alternative conservation measures,” Sablan stated.