Reef & Banks Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) Map & GIS Data

Map and GIS data representing EFH HAPC for reef and banks in the Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico).

Map |

Southeast

Map of reef and banks essential fish habitat, habitat area of particular concern in the Gulf. This map was created prior to Executive Order 14172 and shows the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico. The name is now Gulf of America. This change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations.

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

The following areas have been identified as reef and bank HAPCs within areas of EFH in the northwestern Gulf of America shelf: East and West Flower Garden Banks; Stetson Bank; 29 Fathom; MacNeil; Rezak Sidner Bank; Rankin Bright Bank; Geyer Bank; McGrail Bank; Bouma Bank; Sonnier Bank; Alderice Bank; and Jakkula Bank. The HAPCs within the Gulf of America, which have fishing restrictions include: the North and South Tortugas Marine Reserves; East and West Flower Garden Banks; Florida Middle Grounds; Madison-Swanson Marine Reserve; Pulley Ridge (area closed to fishing); Stetson Bank; and McGrail Bank. The GIS data and maps for the fishing restricted areas can be found at Gulf of America Fishery Management Maps.

These maps and corresponding Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefile data represent EFH in the Gulf of America. 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.

*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.

Last updated by Southeast Regional Office on 05/21/2025

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