SAVING staghorn coral

Relatives of the sea anemone and every bit as splashy, corals display hues ranging from brilliant orange and deep salmon to pale pink and subtle violet. Often referred to as “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs are perhaps the greatest, most vibrant expressions of ocean life. Yet due to global warming, already-delicate coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and along the coast of Florida are vanishing at unprecedented rates.

Thanks to a scientific petition the Center submitted, elkhorn and staghorn corals gained federal legal protection in 2006, becoming the first species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act because of vulnerability to global warming. In October 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service passed a rule prohibiting all activities that might harm the corals or their habitat. Now, thanks to a lawsuit filed by the Center, elkhorn and staghorn corals also have almost 3,000 square miles of protected habitat. Unfortunately, the Fish and Wildlife Service included a giant loophole in its critical habitat rule disregarding the threats of global warming and ocean acidification — so we’re preparing to sue again.

Protection under the Endangered Species Act opens the door to greater opportunities for coral reef conservation. It also requires greenhouse-gas-emitting industries to grapple with their impacts on vulnerable coral species. If we can keep the polluters at bay, these colorful critters can and will make a comeback.