Feds move to protect ocean-dwelling coral

Ocean-dwelling coral will be protected under new rules from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency announced Wednesday.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is joining with the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) in adding 20 species of corals to a list of endangered and threatened species.

The NMFS announced its own set of protections for these corals in September.

The species that will be protected include the boulder star coral, lobed star coral, mountainous star coral, pillar coral, rough cactus coral, Acropora globiceps, Acropora jacquelineae, Acropora lokani, Acropora pharaonis, Acropora retusa, Acropora rudis, Acropora speciosa, Acropora tenella, Anacropora spinosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora crateriformis, Montipora australiensis, Pavona diffluens, Porites napopora, and Seriatopora aculeata, according to the FWS. 

The protections go into effect immediately.