Commercial fishermen got some breathing room Thursday after the federal government decided to delay its decision on how to protect 66 species of coral.

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s final rule, now due June 7, is expected to establish ways to minimize harm from water and air pollution, commercial fishing and coastal construction, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

The nonprofit threatened to sue last year if the feds ignored its petition to have the corals listed as endangered and threatened species, many of which live in Hawaii waters.

The corals are slowly dying from ocean warming, acidification and other reasons. Hawaii corals are also quickly being killed by a massive molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor due to a leak in a damaged Matson pipeline.

Some commercial fishermen say any new restrictions would hurt their ability to earn a living. 

“Unfortunately, the plain truth is that coral reefs are on a rapid path toward extinction and we need to move powerfully and fast to save them,” Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the center, said in a release Thursday. “These corals desperately need the safety net that only the Endangered Species Act can provide.”

Read past Civil Beat coverage of the effort to list the corals here.

— Nathan Eagle

A school of raccoon butterflyfish swims near corals off of the coast of the Big Island. (Nathan Eagle/Honolulu Civil Beat)