The Center for Biological Diversity is suing a US government agency alleging a lack of action to protect Hawaii's cauliflower coral. The shallow-water species around Hawaii declined in coverage by 36% from 1999 to 2012, while a human-triggered marine heatwave on the islands' shores is expected to devastate reefs further. An Endangered Species Act listing could help minimize and mitigate those threats. The lawsuit accuses the National Marine Fisheries Service of failing to act on a petition to protect the coral by listing it in the Endangered Species Act. A new study published today shows that climate change will likely cause more than half of all U.S. counties and cities to experience at least one heat event this century.
The Center for Biological Diversity is suing a US government agency alleging a lack of action to protect Hawaii's cauliflower coral. The shallow-water species around Hawaii declined in coverage by 36% from 1999 to 2012, while a human-triggered marine heatwave on the islands' shores is expected to devastate reefs further. The lawsuit accuses the National Marine Fisheries Service of failing to act on a petition to protect the coral by listing it in the Endangered Species Act. A new study published today shows that climate change will likely cause more than half of all U.S. counties and cities to experience at least one heat event this century.