Essential Fish Habitat of the Gulf of Mexico GIS data

Essential fish habitat (EFH) for Gulf of Mexico waters and/or substrate areas in the Gulf of Mexico, which may include estuaries and open water from the US/Mexico border to the boundary between the areas covered by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) from estuarine waters out to depths of 100 fathoms. Essential fish habitat (EFH) consists of areas of higher species density, based on the NOAA Atlas (NOAA 1985) and the functional relationships analysis in the EIS (GMFMC 2004).

The purpose of these data is to visually represent the textual description of the overall extent of EFH for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Amendment to the following fishery management plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.

Loaded by FGDC Metadata Uploader, batch 5589, 03-12-2015 18:13

The following FGDC sections are not currently supported in InPort, but were preserved and will be included in the FGDC export:

- Spatial Reference Information (FGDC:spref),

- Spatial Data Organization Information (FGDC:spdoinfo)

- Lineage (FGDC:lineage)

Section 303(a)(7) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq) requires the National Marine Fisheries Service and regional fishery management councils to (1) describe and identify EFH for managed fisheries; (2) minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on such EFH; and (3) encourage the conservation and enhancement of such EFH.

None

Users are advised that the spatial representation of essential fish habitat is for informational purposes only and should not be solely relied on for regulatory purposes. Implementing regulations [50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(iv)(B)] specify if there are differences between the descriptions of EFH in text and maps the textual description is ultimately determinative of the limits of EFH. Specific habitat types identified and described as EFH for Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Plans are found in the Amendment (GMFMC 2005)

Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.2.1.3497

The purpose of these data is to visually represent the textual description of the overall extent of EFH for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Amendment to the following fishery management plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.

Not applicable