Reef Fish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Map & GIS Data

Map of reef fish 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 reef fish consists of Gulf of Mexico waters and substrates extending from the US/Mexico border to the boundary between the areas covered by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management council from estuarine waters out to depths of 100 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.