Essential Fish Habitat

From NOAA Fisheries Service:

Did you know the MSA calls for the long-term protection of "essential fish habitat?" These essential habitats include waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity. NOAA Fisheries is tasked with preventing, mitigating, or minimizing impacts that reduce quality and/or quantity of essential fish habitats. See where EFH areas exist here: http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/habitatmapper.html #MSA40