Fisheries Home

About Us

Programs

Regions

Science Centers

Partners

News & Multimedia

Fisheries Resources

Congress

Educators and Students

Get Involved

Forms

FOLLOW US:

Stay connected with us

around the nation »

Species Information

We conserve, protect, and recover species, in partnership with our Regional Offices and Science

Centers, environmental organizations, industry groups, other Federal and state agencies, and the

academic community, under the:

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

Species in the Spotlight 

“Species in the Spotlight: Survive to Thrive” initiative, is an agency-wide effort to spotlight and

save eight species that are highly at the risk of extinction. These species are:

Atlantic Salmon Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS)

Central California Coast Coho Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU)

Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (DPS)

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle

Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook (ESU) 

Southern Resident Killer Whale (DPS)

White Abalone

How many species are protected?

Approximately 2,245 species are listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. Of these

species, about 650 are foreign species, found only in areas outside of the U.S. and our waters.

We have jurisdiction over 139 endangered and threatened marine species, including 49 foreign

species. We work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to manage ESA-listed species.

Generally, we manage marine species, while USFWS manages land and freshwater species.

Approximately 125 marine mammals worldwide are protected under the MMPA. Most are under

our jurisdiction, but 8 species are under the jurisdiction of USFWS: walrus, polar bear, sea otter,

marine otter, West African manatee, Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and dugong.

We manage:

~220 total species:*

139 ESA-listed species (26 mammals)

90 domestic species (found in part or entirely in U.S. waters)

49 foreign species

117 marine mammal species under the MMPA, worldwide

84 cetaceans worldwide

33 pinnipeds worldwide

61 marine mammals in U.S. waters

Fisheries Home » Protected Resources » Species

NOAA HOME WEATHER OCEANS FISHERIES CHARTING SATELLITES CLIMATE RESEARCH COASTS CARE

Sign up for FishNews

OPR Home Species Health & Stranding Permits Laws & Policies Conservation & Rec

Species Information :: Office of Protected Resources http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/

1 of 2 4/20/2016 4:47 PM
young Kemp's ridley turtle

Photo: NOAA/FWCC

· Sea Turtles, Dolphins, and Wha

the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

· Natural Resource Damage Asse

(NRDA)

~190 stocks of marine mammals in U.S. waters

* Note: The total number of OPR species does not double count ESA-listed marine mammals. For

example, the sperm whale is protected under both the ESA and the MMPA, but is only counted

once.

Additional species are currently under review or of concern:

2 petitioned species awaiting 90-day findings (1 marine mammal)

15 candidates for ESA listing

16 proposed for ESA listing

37 species of concern

Delisted species and species under review or proposed for delisting can also be found on our

website.

Other Species

Species and populations that were petitioned for listing, but were not listed are also available on our website:

Negative 90-day findings, for which we denied the petitioned action

"Not Warranted" 12-month findings, for which we completed a status review but determined that listing is not warranted

Threats

Key threats to marine species are largely due to human impacts, including:

accidental capture in fishing gear

habitat destruction

pollution

overfishing

ship strikes

More Information

Critical Habitat Maps

Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

Recovery Planning

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program

Updated: April 5, 2016

Fisheries Service

Home

Information Quality

Exit Disclaimer

Linking Policy

Privacy Policy

Copyright Policy

USA.gov

FOIA

Search

Inside NOAA Fisheries

Our Mission

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Work for NOAA Fisheries

EEO & Diversity

Feedback

Species Information :: Office of Protected Resources http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/

2 of 2 4/20/2016 4:47 PM