Finding Nemo may be getting harder to do, but the same can’t be said for two Hawaiian cousins of the orange clownfish, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

In a response to a petition from the San Francisco-based Center for Biological Diversity, the federal agency announced plans to further investigate whether the fish species popularized by the movie "Finding Nemo" warrants protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act because of threats from global warming and ocean acidification.

However, in the same response, it rejected a similar request for the Hawaiian dascyllus and the blue-eyed damselfish, two fish that dwell in Hawaii’s reefs and are in the same Pomacentridae family as the orange clownfish, which is not found in Hawaii.

The agency also rejected special protection for four other damselfish species found in U.S. waters — but not in Hawaii — and has yet to decide on another one: the yellowtail damselfish, which inhabits waters in Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

According to the agency’s response, current scientific data indicate the damselfish species are not threatened, and the petition fails to prove otherwise.

The decision is a response to a 2012 petition arguing that climate change and rising ocean acidity, both resulting from carbon-dioxide pollution, threaten the anemone and coral reef habitat of the eight reef fish species.

"Finding Nemo’s getting harder as global warming and acidifying oceans destroy the coral reefs the clownfish calls home," Shaye Wolf, the center’s climate science director, said in a statement. "Endangered Species Act protection and meaningful action to put the brakes on greenhouse gas pollution will help make sure these beautiful fish survive in the wild and not just in the movies."

Endangered Species Act protection, the center said, would help minimize the impacts of any federal actions that could harm these eight fish and their coral reef habitat and may help spur reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from federal projects.

Two longtime Hawaii reef watchers Wednesday questioned whether the Hawaiian damselfish needs special protection.

"I see these fish all the time," said veteran marine biologist Ann Fielding, who operates snorkel tours on Maui. "They’re around. Maybe they aren’t on all the reefs but not every fish is on every reef."

Bill Walsh, state Division of Aquatic Resources biologist in Kona, said he found the petition perplexing. These particular Hawaiian fish aren’t exactly under human pressure, he said, as they are not a target for food and they are low priority for the aquarium trade.

"If you go to the habitat that they prefer, they are abundant," Walsh said.

Clownfish, also known as anemonefish, are found in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. In Hawaii, the closest relatives to the clownfish are the black-an- white Hawaiian dascyllus, which are known to take refuge in sand anemones when young.

The Hawaiian dascyllus is also known as the Hawaiian domino damselfish, or alo iloi, which means "bright and sparkling," referring to the bright white spot on each side of the fish, prominent in juveniles.

According to information from the Maui Ocean Center, the Hawaiian dascyllus grows up to 5 inches in length and feeds on zooplankton such as crab and shrimp larvae and copepods. The female lays eggs on the seafloor during mating, which is generally between May and October, and the male trails behind to fertilize them. The male protects the eggs until they hatch.

There is no parental attentiveness after hatching like there is in the movie "Finding Nemo."

The blue-eyed damselfish has bright blue eyes, is yellowish-green and grows to 4 inches long. This fish feeds directly on coral polyps.

Information and comments on the decision must be received by Nov. 3. For more information, contact the National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office on Oahu at 7255151.