The tiny coral is a creature that has taken quite a beating--from storms like El Nino, ocean acidification, and global warming. This matters because corals provide the backbone of coral reefs which, in turn, provide habitat for fish. If we want fish on our tables, we need to care about corals.
Unless something is done, however, many corals off the shores of Florida and Hawaii will go extinct by the end of this century. The Center for Biological Diversity lauched a lawsuit to get America's corals protected in 2009, and now a study by the National Marine Fisheries Service backs up the Center's findings: 56 of the 82 corals studied are likely to go extinct unless decisive action is taken to protect them.
Tell the National Marine Fisheries Service to put imperiled corals on the Endangered Species List!
More than fifty corals off the coasts of Florida, Hawaii, and the Caribbean were found to be in danger of extinction, according to your recent study. Because of their critical role in the future of the fishing industry and ecotourism, we the undersigned support the inclusion of these corals on the Endangered Species List. Corals and coral reefs need to be protected from the threats of ocean acidification, overfishing, and global warming.
