What
are habitat areas of particular concern (HAPC)?
Habitat Areas of Particular Concern are discrete subsets of EFH
that provide extremely important ecological functions or are especially
vulnerable to degradation. Councils may designate a specific habitat
area as an HAPC based on one or more of the following reasons:
- Importance of the ecological function provided by the
habitat
- Extent to which the habitat is sensitive to human-induced
environmental degradation
- Whether, and to what extent, development activities
are, or will be, stressing the habitat type
- Rarity of the habitat type
The HAPC designation does not confer additional protection or
restrictions upon an area, but can help prioritize conservation
efforts. Healthy populations of fish require not only the relatively
small habitats identified as HAPCs, but also other areas that provide
suitable habitat functions. HAPCs alone will not suffice in supporting
the larger numbers of fish needed to maintain sustainable fisheries
and a healthy ecosystem.