The news is particularly surprising because the National Marine Fisheries Service (the governing agency with jurisdiction) had stated earlier this month that no prohibitions are planned for the newly listed Threatened species.  We hope this is simply a miscommunication between government agencies.

Note: The vast majority of marine ornamental livestock land into the United States at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

We strongly encourage our readers to follow Ret Talbot’s “Good Catch” blog (dedicated to fishery information) for more information and updates on this breaking news.

IMPORTANT UPDATE (1:18 PM PDT): (via Ret Talbot) NMFS has just confirmed that USFWS’s actions this morning were in error!  Importation of the 20 species listed below is NOT prohibited.

The 20 species are:

Atlantic Waters

Mycetophyllia ferox
Dendrogyra cylindrus
Orbicella annularis
Orbicella faveolata
Orbicella franksi

Pacific Waters

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                  
Seriatopora aculeata