Beach seining for forage fish.

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

Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
17109 Pt Lena Loop Rd
Juneau AK 99801
(907) 789-6063
Scott.Johnson@noaa.gov