Species Information
Photo Credits (clockwise from top left)
North Atlantic right whale: NOAA
Green turtle: Peter Bennett & Ursula Keuper-Bennett 
Staghorn coral: NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Chum salmon: NOAA
How You Can Help
Report a Stranded Marine Mammal
Report a Stranded Sea Turtle
View Wildlife Responsibly
Report Wildlife Harassment
Learn More about Protecting Wildlife
Call NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement 24-hour hotline: 1-800-853-1964
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· Sea Turtles, Dolphins, and Whales and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill |
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 2,300 species are listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. Of these species, about 675 are foreign species, found only in areas outside of the U.S. and our waters.
We have jurisdiction over 159 endangered and threatened marine species, including 65 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 119 marine mammal species worldwide are protected under the MMPA under our jurisdiction. An additional eight 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:
- 159 ESA-listed species (33 mammals)
- 94 domestic species (found in part or entirely in U.S. waters)
- 65 foreign species
- 246 stocks of marine mammals in U.S. waters (with stock assessment reports written as of June 14, 2016)
Additional species are currently under review or of concern:
- 2 petitioned species awaiting 90-day findings
- 11 candidates for ESA listing
- 5 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: October 25, 2017
