NMFS Seeks Public Comments For Status Review Of Percula Clownfish For ESA Listing

By Leonard Ho

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Background

In 2012, the environmental activist group The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned NMFS to list seven pomacentrids (damselfish and anemonefish) under protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These species are:

• Amphiprion percula
• Chromis atripectoralis
• Chromis viridis
• Dascyllus albisella
• Dascyllus reticulatus
• Microspathodon chrysurus
• Plectroglyphidodon dickii

This month, the NMFS determined that of the seven petitioned species, none of the damselfish warranted protection. However, “for A. percula, we find the petition presents substantial information to indicate this species may be warranted for listing.”

As a consequence of its preliminarily findings, the NMFS is now seeking public comments on percula clownfish in its status review process to determine whether A.percula should be listed as either Threatened or Endangered.

From the NMFS:

To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to A. percula from any interested party. Specifically, we are soliciting information, including unpublished information, in the following areas: (1) historical and current distribution and abundance of A. percula throughoutits range; (2) historical and current population trends for A. percula; (3) life history and habitat requirements of A. percula; (4) genetics and population structure information (including morphology, ecology, behavior, etc) for populations of A. percula; …read more

Read more here: Advanced Aquarist