The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has begun a 5-year review of the island grouper, a species listed as threatened. This review is required by the Endangered Species Act to decide if the island grouper should remain on the list, be downgraded to a less critical status, or be upgraded to a more critical status. NMFS is seeking information from the public and various organizations on topics such as the biology, threats, and conservation efforts related to the species. The deadline for submitting information is March 3, 2025.
Simple Explanation
The government is checking to see if a special kind of fish, called the island grouper, still needs help to stay safe, and they want people to share what they know to help decide if the fish should still be protected as much or less.