Essential Fish Habitat 5-year Review

Book excerpt: "The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes provisions concerning the identification and conservation of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Magnuson-Stevens Act defines EFH as 'those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.' The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and regional fishery management councils must describe and identify EFH in fishery management plans (FMPs), minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on EFH, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of EFH. Federal agencies that authorize, fund, or undertake actions that may adversely affect EFH must consult with NMFS, and NMFS must provide conservation recommendations to federal and state agencies regarding actions that would adversely affect EFH. Fishery management councils also have the authority to comment on federal or state agency actions that would adversely affect the habitat, including EFH, of managed species...The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes provisions concerning the identification and conservation of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Magnuson-Stevens Act defines EFH as 'those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.' The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and regional fishery management councils must describe and identify EFH in fishery management plans (FMPs), minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on EFH, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of EFH. Federal agencies that authorize, fund, or undertake actions that may adversely affect EFH must consult with NMFS, and NMFS must provide conservation recommendations to federal and state agencies regarding actions that would adversely affect EFH. Fishery management councils also have the authority to comment on federal or state agency actions that would adversely affect the habitat, including EFH, of managed species"--Executive Summary. doi:10.7289/V5/TM-F/AKR-15 (http://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-F/AKR-15)]