Habitat Assessment and Marine Chemistry: Nearshore Habitat
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Beach seining for forage fish. |
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Shallow, nearshore habitats are some of the most important
in Alaska and the most vulnerable
to human disturbance. The nearshore environment provides a mosaic of habitat
types (e.g., eelgrass, kelp) that are used by many fish species for spawning,
feeding, and rearing. A better understanding is needed, however, on the importance
of the nearshore to commercially important species to help managers conserve
fish populations and protect essential habitats.
Recent amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries
Conservation Management Act establish new provisions which direct the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to identify and describe essential fish habitat
(EFH) in federal Fishery Management Plans (FMPs). Essential fish habitat is
defined as "those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning,
breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity." In Alaska,
however, NMFS lacks the basic information needed to identify and describe EFH
for many FMP species. The Habitat Assessment staff is presently quantifying and
identifying EFH in Alaska through
coastal mapping, nearshore fish surveys, and eelgrass monitoring.
Related Links:
Alaska Regional Office-Essential Fish Habitat
Contacts
Scott Johnson
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Auke Bay Marine Station
11305 Glacier Hwy
Juneau AK 99801
(907) 789-6063
Scott.Johnson@noaa.gov
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