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Understanding Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and NOAA's Role in Conservation

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) refers to the waters and substrates critical for fish spawning, breeding, feeding, and growth. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, federal action agencies must consult with NOAA Fisheries on projects that may negatively impact EFH. The EFH Consultation process ensures that potential adverse effects are scientifically assessed, and conservation recommendations are provided. These recommendations include project design modifications, time-of-year restrictions, and monitoring requirements to safeguard vital fish habitats. For more information on EFH, visit the NOAA Habitat Conservation Division website.

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Understanding Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and NOAA's Role in Conservation

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  1. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Habitat Conservation Division NOAA / National Marine Fisheries Service Gloucester, Massachusetts Jack Terrill

  2. What is EFH? The term “essential fish habitat” means those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.

  3. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (1996) • requires Federal action agencies to consult with NOAA Fisheries on projects that may adversely affect “Essential Fish Habitat” • examples of action agencies • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission • Environmental Protection Agency

  4. EFH Consultation • Notification by the Federal agency of the proposed action • EFH Assessment - written assessment of the effect of the action, prepared by the Federal agency • EFH Conservation Recommendations - recommended measures to conserve EFH, prepared by NMFS (non-binding) • Agency Response to the Conservation Recommendations

  5. EFH ConsultationEFH Assessment • Describes the action • Analyzes potential adverse effects of the action on EFH and the managed species • The agency’s conclusions regarding the effects of the action on EFH • Level of detail appropriate to the complexity and magnitude of the potential adverse effects of the action

  6. EFH ConsultationPotential Impacts • Impacts to subaquatic vegetation (SAV) • Resuspension of sediments, pollutants, nutrients • Restrictions to migration • Thermal impacts • Habitat alteration • Other

  7. Typical EFH Conservation Recommendations • Time-of-Year Restrictions on Dredging or In-Water Construction • Implementation of Construction Best Management Practices • Mitigation and/or Monitoring Requirements • Project Design Modifications • Project Denial

  8. EFH ConsultationFederal Agency Response • Detailed written response to NMFS on the conservation recommendations • Response must be at least 10 days prior to final approval of the action • Must include a description of the measures proposed for avoiding, minimizing or mitigating the impacts of the action • Scientific justification provided for any disagreements over anticipated adverse effects

  9. Sample EFH Consultation Select the Area

  10. Sample EFH Consultation Select the Area 1 2 4 3

  11. Sample EFH Consultation

  12. Sample EFH Consultation

  13. Sample EFH ConsultationEFH in Nantucket Sound

  14. Available EFH Consultation Tools Habitat Conservation Division Web Sitewww.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/doc/hcd.htm • Guide to EFH Designations • Guide to EFH Species • Guide to EFH Consultations • Types of Consultations • Consultation Requirements • How to do an EFH Assessment • Important Web Links

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