Management Report for 82 Corals Status Review Under the Endangered Species Act
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Draft Management Report NOAA Fisheries’ ongoing assessment to determine whether to list 82 Caribbean and Indo‐Pacific coral species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) s the most complex listing process NOAA has ever undertaken. We are taking additional time to publicly review the information gathered in our two reports to ensure that our findings and future decisions are based on the best available science. During this time, NOAA Fisheries will develop and execute a robust engagement process – and then use this additional input to develop our 12‐month finding. All public submission of additional information or comments should be submitted by July 31, 2102. Information on how to submit information is available on the web at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/04/4_13_12corals_petition.html. Overview of the Draft Management Report The draft report was developed by staff within NOAA Fisheries Pacific Regional Office. The report evaluates (1) existing regulatory mechanisms to address the threats to the 82 coral species and (2) conservation efforts undertaken by both governmental and non‐governmental organizations that may eliminate or reduce threats or otherwise improve the status of the 82 coral species. Existing regulatory mechanisms evaluated in the draft Management Report include international treaties, laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and/or regulations enacted and being implemented by some governing body or official, whether they are international organizations, national governments, state and local authorities, heads‐of‐state, or other so empowered officials. Conservation efforts evaluated in the draft report include actions, activities, and programs undertaken by both governmental and non‐governmental organizations. Normally, a ‘Management Report’ would be part of the larger Status Review. In the instance of corals, however, the Biological Review Team did not feel it had the expertise to compile and review regulatory mechanisms. Therefore, others experts within NOAA Fisheries prepared this draft Management Report as a separate document. Collectively these two reports constitute the best available scientific and commercial information that we have compiled to date. Please note that releasing these documents is not a part of the normal rulemaking process – it is only an engagement process that allows us to be transparent and open in our decision making. Should NOAA Fisheries determine that a listing is warranted, it will publish a proposed rule in December 2012 for additional public comment. Management Report for 82 Corals Status Review under the Endangered Species Act: Existing Regulatory Mechanisms (per Endangered Species Act § 4(a)(1)(D), 16 U.S.C. § 1533(a)(1)(D)) and Conservation Efforts (per Endangered Species Act § 4(b)(1)(A), 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(1)(A)) March 2012 DRAFT Coral bleaching, Guam By David Burdick, NOAA Photo Library Pacific Islands Regional Office National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Current Ranges of the 82 Species: Caribbean vs. Indo-Pacific ................................3 1.2 Threats to the 82 Species ...............................................................................................6 1.2.1 Threats Affecting Coral Species Generally .......................................................... 7 1.2.1.1 Threats Related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................. 7 1.2.1.2 Local Threats Affecting Coral Species Generally ............................................. 7 1.2.2 Individual Threats to Each of the 82 Species ....................................................... 7 2. Existing Regulatory Mechanisms ..........................................................................................8 2.1 Regulatory Mechanisms Addressing GHG Emissions ...............................................8 2.1.1 International Regulatory Mechanisms Addressing GHG Emissions ................. 8 2.1.1.1 Background ...................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1.2 International Treaties and Conventions ........................................................ 9 2.1.1.2.1 Montreal Protocol, 1987 ................................................................................. 9 2.1.1.2.2 UNFCC, 1992 ................................................................................................. 9 2.1.1.2.3 Kyoto Protocol, 1997 .................................................................................... 10 2.1.1.2.4 Bali Roadmap, 2007 ..................................................................................... 11 2.1.1.2.5 Copenhagen Accord, 2009 ........................................................................... 11 2.1.1.2.6 Cancun Accords, 2010 .................................................................................. 11 2.1.1.2.7 Durban Agreement, 2011 ............................................................................. 12 2.1.2 National Regulatory Mechanisms Addressing GHG Emissions (top 25) ........ 13 2.1.2.1 UNFCCC Annex I Countries ........................................................................ 13 2.1.2.1.1 The United States (19.9%) ............................................................................ 13 2.1.2.1.2 Russian Federation (5.2%) ........................................................................... 15 2.1.2.1.3 Japan (4.3%) ................................................................................................. 16 2.1.2.1.4 Germany (2.7%) ........................................................................................... 17 i 2.1.2.1.5 Canada (1.9%) .............................................................................................. 18 2.1.2.1.6 United Kingdom (1.8%) ............................................................................... 19 2.1.2.1.7 Italy (1.6%) ................................................................................................... 20 2.1.2.1.8 Australia (1.3%)............................................................................................ 21 2.1.2.1.9 France (1.3%) ............................................................................................... 21 2.1.2.1.10 Spain (1.2%) ............................................................................................... 22 2.1.2.1.11 Ukraine (1.1%) ........................................................................................... 23 2.1.2.1.12 Poland (1.1%) ............................................................................................. 24 2.1.2.1.13 Turkey (1.0%) ............................................................................................. 25 2.1.2.2 UNFCCC Non-Annex I Countries ............................................................... 26 2.1.2.2.1 China (22.3%) ............................................................................................... 26 2.1.2.2.2 India (5.5%) .................................................................................................. 27 2.1.2.2.3 Iran (1.7%) .................................................................................................... 28 2.1.2.2.4 South Korea (1.7%) ...................................................................................... 29 2.1.2.2.5 Mexico (1.6%) .............................................................................................. 30 2.1.2.2.6 South Africa (1.5%) ...................................................................................... 31 2.1.2.2.7 Saudi Arabia (1.4%) ..................................................................................... 32 2.1.2.2.8 Indonesia (1.4%) ........................................................................................... 32 2.1.2.2.9 Brazil (1.3%) ................................................................................................ 34 2.1.2.2.10 Taiwan (1.0%) ............................................................................................ 35 2.1.2.2.11 Thailand (1.0%) .......................................................................................... 36 2.1.2.2.12 Kazakhstan (0.8%)...................................................................................... 37 2.1.3 Summary of Regulatory Mechanisms Addressing GHG Emissions ................ 38 2.2 Regulatory Mechanisms Addressing Local threats ..................................................43 2.2.1 National Regulatory Mechanisms - Caribbean (26 countries) ......................... 43 2.2.1.1 Antigua and Barbuda .................................................................................... 44 ii 2.2.1.2 Bahamas ......................................................................................................... 44 2.2.1.3 Barbados ......................................................................................................... 45 2.2.1.4 Belize ............................................................................................................... 45 2.2.1.5 Colombia......................................................................................................... 46 2.2.1.6 Costa Rica ....................................................................................................... 46 2.2.1.7 Cuba ...............................................................................................................