NOAA lists 20 coral species as threatened under the endangered species act.

[MitchM]

I would be interested to hear how they intend to identify the various acropora species that are listed.
Depending on the acro's environment, the coral skeleton may develop differently.
An acropora that develops in a lower light, lower water flow environment can have a different skeleton growth pattern than one that develops in a high light, high water flow environment.

[Scythanith]

Originally Posted by MitchM

I would be interested to hear how they intend to identify the various acropora species that are listed.
Depending on the acro's environment, the coral skeleton may develop differently.
An acropora that develops in a lower light, lower water flow environment can have a different skeleton growth pattern than one that develops in a high light, high water flow environment.

Unfortunately it won't matter. The customs/border agent see's a "stick like" coral and holds up the shipment for a CWS agent to come and look at it. By the time CWS gets there to look at it it's like been a couple days and the coral will be dead. The risk to store owners/importers will become too great.

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

Unfortunately it won't matter. The customs/border agent see's a "stick like" coral and holds up the shipment for a CWS agent to come and look at it. By the time CWS gets there to look at it it's like been a couple days and the coral will be dead. The risk to store owners/importers will become too great.

Dead is the only way you can accurately identify an acropora anyways.

....

....sounds like the inspection process itself will become a hazard to corals.

[Masonjames]

Did anyone who attended macna attend Julian Sprungs presentation? I understand it was on this exact subject? And why all the recent buzz. Apparently his presentation was also one of the least attended. Lol. Go figure.

Couldn't find anything from the presentation besides others writings and responses to it but I did find Sprungs public commentary he submitted to NOAA following the original proposal.

Interesting read anyways.

http://www.reef2rainforest.com/wp-co...AA_letter4.pdf

[Scythanith]

I donated $150.00 to the PIJAC Marine Ornamental Defence Fund. I encourage everyone to donate what they can.

PIJAC Link

[stellarfly]

I've been following these latest announcements with a heavy heart to say the least! Personally, I have only recently got into this hobby and now my biggest fears are coming true. The way these events are starting to play out really saddens me. The future of our hobby as a whole will surely be decided soon and with great repercussions you can bet on that!

Here are a few good links:
http://reefbuilders.com/2014/09/12/w...industry-risk/

http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/repla...d-species-act/

Really informative

[xenon]

Another good link:
http://rettalbot.wordpress.com/2014/...-under-attack/

This was taken from one of the comments bellow the article.

It likely will only aggravate the cause as now the collectors will be forced into other lines of work which typically in small 2nd and 3rd world island nations will be production of charcoal, lime and cement, farming, fishing, etc all of which will have no stake in preservation and accelerate the decline due to run off and waste as well as overuse and damage by drag nets, motors, etc.