NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that comments are being sought by Friday, Feb. 25 on the agency’s finding that substantial scientific or commercial information exists indicating that it may be warranted to (1) list the sunflower sea star as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act and (2) designate critical habitat. The finding, made in response to a 2021 Center for Biological Diversity petition, triggers a status review to determine whether an ESA listing is warranted.
NMFS is specifically seeking information on historical and current abundance and population trends, distribution and population structure, and condition of habitat, as well as historical and current data on bycatch and retention in commercial, artisanal, and recreational fisheries worldwide, data on trade of sunflower sea star, the effects of other known or potential short-term or long-term threats, and relevant management, regulatory, or conservation programs.
The sunflower sea star occurs throughout intertidal and subtidal coastal waters of the Northeast Pacific Ocean from the Aleutian Islands, AK to at least the Southern California Bight, and is present on a wide variety of substrate types. Individuals may also occupy waters off the west coast of the Baja Peninsula southward to the San Ignacio Lagoon.
