Essential Fish Habitat Mapper
The EFH Mapper is an interactive tool for viewing important habitats for managed fish species. We provide links to supporting materials, including fishery management plans, and the ability to download GIS data.
This one-of-a-kind tool allows users to discover where managed fish species spawn, grow, or live in a chosen location on the map. Users can generate a report with supporting documentation, including maps of EFH areas protected from fishing and habitat areas of particular concern; fishery management plans; and embedded NOAA nautical charts. They can also download GIS data from the EFH Data Inventory.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act directs NOAA Fisheries and the councils to minimize adverse effects on EFH from fishing activities. It also directs federal agencies to consult with NOAA Fisheries on any actions—varying from port expansions to offshore energy development—that occur where EFH is designated. The EFH Mapper is used by natural resource managers, often early in the consultation process. It helps them to identify species and life stages potentially affected by their agency’s activities.
