Red Drum Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Map & GIS Data

Map of red drum essential fish habitat in the Gulf of Mexico.

EFH are designated by NOAA Fisheries and the regional fishery managment councils for species managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 

EFH for red drum consists of all Gulf of Mexico estuaries; waters and substrates extending from Vermilion Bay, Louisiana to the eastern edge of Mobile Bay, Alabama out to depths of 25 fathoms; waters and substrates extending from Crystal River, Florida to Naples, Florida between depths of 5 and 10 fathoms; waters and substrates extending from Cape Sable, Florida to the boundary between the areas covered by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council between depths of 5 and 10 fathoms.

These maps and corresponding Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefile data represent EFH in the Gulf of Mexico. The 2005 Generic EFH Fishery Management Plan Amendment (see link below) should be consulted for specific information on habitats identified as EFH. Esri's ArcGIS software or Google Earth can be used to open GIS shapefiles. Google Earth can also be used to open zipped KML (KMZ) files to view the designated management areas. Click here to download Google Earth. Metadata (information about the GIS shapefile data) is available in XML or an easy-to-read HTML format.

2005 Generic EFH Fishery Management Plan Amendment

For more information or questions about this data please contact the GIS Coordinator at nmfs.ser.gis.coordinator@noaa.gov.