[Coral-List] Caribbean Acropora spp. and Scientific Research

[Sarah Heberling]

Hello Coral-Listers:

Recently, I learned of a mis-perception floating around that /Acropora 
palmata/ and /A. cervicornis/, which are listed species under the U.S. 
Endangered Species Act (ESA), are now considered by some in the 
scientific research world to be "off-limits" because of new protections 
afforded under the ESA.  THIS IS FALSE!!  Now is a time when these 
imperiled Caribbean coral species need more attention than ever to 
increase our understanding of the mechanisms affecting these species' 
continued survival.

To clarify:
In general, any permits needed in the past to conduct scientific 
research on /A. palmata/ and /A. cervicornis/ are the same permits 
needed for today and into the future.  No additional ESA permits are 
necessary.

A guide to permits needed by scientific researchers for conducting 
research on either of these species is available on our website here: 
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdf/ResearchPermitKey.pdf.

A Spanish version of this guide is also available: 
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdf/ResearchPermitKeySpanish.pdf.

If either you (the scientific researcher) or the permitting agency with 
which you are dealing has questions, please contact either Jennifer 
Moore (jennifer.moore at noaa.gov) or me (see contact info below).

-- 
Sarah E. Heberling
NOAA Fisheries Service
Phone: (727) 824-5312
Fax: (727) 824-5309
Email: Sarah.Heberling at noaa.gov
Web: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/esa/acropora.htm

"What good is a used up world; and how could it be worth having?"