Saving NEMO Act of 2025

The Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms Act of 2025, or the Saving NEMO Act, aims to protect vulnerable marine reef species by regulating their take, import, and export. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate "covered coral reef species," which automatically includes species listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) unless a joint determination by the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce finds no substantial risk. Additionally, species posing a substantial risk to their sustainability or coral reef ecosystem, or those with high mortality rates during transport or captivity, can be designated. Once designated, it becomes unlawful for any person to take these species within U.S. waters, or to import, export, possess, sell, or transport them in interstate or foreign commerce. However, the bill provides specific exceptions for species taken under a qualified scientifically-based management plan , from a qualified cooperative breeding program , or a qualified aquaculture or mariculture facility . Further exceptions exist for scientific, museum, or zoological purposes, or under an incidental take permit. Crucially, none of these exceptions apply if the species were obtained through destructive collection practices , such as reef-dredging, explosives, or poison. Violations of these prohibitions can result in significant civil penalties, up to $25,000 per offense, and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment, especially for knowing violations by businesses or false certifications. The Act also authorizes federal enforcement actions, including searches, seizures, and forfeiture of illegally obtained species and equipment, and allows for citizen-led civil actions to enjoin violations.