WildEarth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity and Miami Waterkeeper have launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration for failing to protect Nassau grouper habitat, which faces threats from nearshore pollution and climate change impacts like sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
The Nassau grouper used to be one of the most common groupers in the United States. Overfishing contributed to a 60% decline. In 2016 the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration listed the grouper as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in response to a scientific petition from WildEarth Guardians.
“Critical habitat designation is a key part of the strong protections of the Endangered Species Act,” said Taylor Jones, an endangered species advocate at WildEarth Guardians. “The agency has a responsibility to fully implement the law in order to protect this amazing fish.”
Read the press release.
