Essential Fish Habitat

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), defines essential fish habitat (EFH) as “…those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.”

The 2006 reauthorized MSA, Section 303, Contents of Fishery Management Plans, states that “Any fishery management plan which is prepared by any Council, or by the Secretary, with respect to any fishery, shall … describe and identify essential fish habitat for the fishery based on the guidelines established by the Secretary under section 305(b)(1)(A), minimize to the extent practicable adverse effects on such habitat caused by fishing.”

Click here for – Essential Fish Habitat Descriptions for Western Pacific Archipelagic and Remote Island Areas Fishery Ecosystem Plan Management Unit Species.

Click here for – Essential Fish Habitat Descriptions for Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan Management Unit Species

MSA Section 305(b) 3 states that the Council—

  • (A) may comment on and make recommendations to the Secretary and any Federal or State agency concerning any activity authorized, funded, or undertaken, or proposed to be authorized, funded, or undertaken, by any Federal or State agency that, in the view of the Council, may affect the habitat, including essential fish habitat, of a fishery resource under its authority; and
  • (B) shall comment on and make recommendations to the Secretary and any Federal or State agency concerning any such activity that, in the view of the Council, is likely to substantially affect the habitat, including essential fish habitat, of an anadromous fishery resource under its authority.

MSA Section 305 (b) 4 provides the process for recommendations made by the Council:

  • (A) If the Secretary receives information from a Council or Federal or State agency or determines from other sources that an action authorized, funded, or undertaken, or proposed to be authorized, funded, or undertaken, by any State or Federal agency would adversely affect any essential fish habitat identified under this Act, the Secretary shall recommend to such agency measures that can be taken by such agency to conserve such habitat.
  • (B) Within 30 days after receiving a recommendation under subparagraph (A), a Federal agency shall provide a detailed response in writing to any Council commenting under paragraph (3) and the Secretary regarding the matter. The response shall include a description of measures proposed by the agency for avoiding, mitigating, or offsetting the impact of the activity on such habitat. In the case of a response that is inconsistent with the recommendations of the Secretary, the Federal agency shall explain its reasons for not following the recommendations.”

Upcoming Events

Sep
2
Tue
7:00 pm American Samoa Archipelago FEP A...
American Samoa Archipelago FEP A...
Sep 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tedi of Samoa Bldg., Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, AS Sept 2 (T) 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (SST) Hybrid Meeting via Webex: https://wprfmc.webex.com/wprfmc/j.php?MTID=m4f0685ec49268e509314f34c508b93a6 Event number (if prompted): 2864 025 9551 Event password (if prompted): ASAP0902mtg[...]
10:00 pm Mariana Archipelago FEP CNMI Adv...
Mariana Archipelago FEP CNMI Adv...
Sep 2 @ 10:00 pm – Sep 3 @ 12:00 am
BRI Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan Sept 3 (W) 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ChST) Hybrid Meeting via Webex: https://wprfmc.webex.com/wprfmc/j.php?MTID=mc4877a1cdc84db8e9072773f3b89fe26 Event number (if prompted): 2864 106 7826 Event password (if prompted):[...]
Sep
3
Wed
9:00 am Hawaii Archipelago and PRIA FEP ...
Hawaii Archipelago and PRIA FEP ...
Sep 3 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Council Office, 1164 Bishop St Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii Sept 3 (W) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (HST) Hybrid Meeting via Webex: https://wprfmc.webex.com/wprfmc/j.php?MTID=m212ae5a8df7553ccd20756232b9c053f Event number (if prompted): 2631 557 7390 Event password (if prompted): HIAP0903mtg[...]
Sep
4
Thu
2:00 pm Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
Sep 4 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Fishing Industry Advisory Committee Thursday, September 4, 2025 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (HST) FIAC Agenda https://wprfmc.webex.com/wprfmc/j.php?MTID=m91cdacee17b7985f32d32803e62ccc21 Event number: 2868 814 0934 Event password: FIAC0904mtg (34220905 from phones)