Humpback Whale Critical Habitat Maps and GIS Data
Maps and GIS data representing critical habitat for the Western North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS), the Central America DPS, and the Mexico DPS of humpback whales.
Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, critical habitat may be designated by NOAA Fisheries for the conservation of threatened and endangered species under its jurisdiction.
These maps and corresponding Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefile data represent specific critical habitat areas for the endangered Western North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS), the endangered Central America DPS, and the threatened Mexico DPS of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The final rule (see link below) should be consulted for the precise legal definition of critical habitat and geographic coordinates. Esri's ArcGIS software or Google Earth can be used to open GIS shapefiles.