Save Nemo! List the Orange Clownfish as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

As a consequence of our excessive use of fossil fuels like coal and oil, approximately 79 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere everyday. One of the results of this man-made pollution is the acidification of the ocean, causing the destruction of the coral reef habitat of clownfish. Increased levels of CO2 in the ocean also damages clownfish's hearing, sight, and smell, interfering with their abilities to avoid predators and find their coral reef homes. As a result, the fish suffer rates of predation five to nine times higher than normal.

Another impending threat to the clownfish's survival is the gradual collapse of the world's coral reefs – where they spend most of their entire lives. Ocean warming is rapidly degrading and destroying coral reef habitat and ocean acidification is slowing the rate at which coral can re-grow.

Finally, the orange clownfish also faces threats from the global marine aquarium trade – they are one of the United States' most commonly traded species and new studies show that over-harvesting of the orange clownfish for the aquarium trade is causing population declines in the wild.

Join the fight to protect these vulnerable fish before it's too late!

Learn more about the clownfish at the Center for Biological Diversity's website.