Good news for some threatened coral: A total of
 22 species are now protected under the Endangered Species Act, including elkhorn and staghorn, which were listed as threatened in 2006.

Among those being protected, 20 new corals have been listed as threatened by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to a release, 
15 of the newly added species
are found in the Indo-Pacific, and five can be found in the Caribbean.

The decision to protect these
 20 corals is a result of the “most extensive rule making ever undertaken by NOAA,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA Fisheries.

The announcement marks a significant change from the rule proposed back in November 2012.

Since then, multiple scientific papers on climate change, coral habitat, distribution, and abundance have been published, giving NOAA the chance to incorporate new information into the final decision. Going forward,

NOAA will work with federal agencies to ensure their future actions do not adversely affect the existence of the listed corals. In addition, specific regulations may be outlined to encourage preservation.

Until now, there were no prohibitions regarding individual conduct to protect coral species, except those concerning elkhorn and staghorn corals.