Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) GIS Mapping

Van Hare

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

PSMFC managed the contracts that supported development of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) EIS. The final EIS was published in December of 2005.

Through the EFH EIS process a wealth of data was assembled related to West Coast Groundfish.

compiled from work by researchers at OSU & Moss Landing

A Habitat Use Database (HUD) was developed documenting the habitat preferences for individual species and life stage combinations as gathered from the literature.

The HUD was used in combination with spatial data to model the Habitat Suitability Probability for each of the species / lifestage combinations based on: 1. Benthic Habitat Type, 2. Depth, and 3. Latitude Zone

Essential Fish Habitat: 100% of areas identified to have a Habitat Suitability Probability (HSP) >0 for all species and additional areas with depth less than 3500m

Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs): includes areas of seagrass, canopy kelp, rocky reef, estuaries, oil platforms and ‘areas of interest’

Ecologically Important Areas (EIAs): including gear type restrictions

Pacific Coast Marine Habitat Program Website

http://marinehabitat.psmfc.org

Access documents and links related to Pacific Coast Groundfish management

Download GIS data for the west coast

Interactively map areas off the west coast and browse the EFH EIS data using a standard web browser.

Navigate using standard mapping tools

Turn on and activate map layers of interest

Zoom to areas of interest and create a custom map

Select between viewing the Table of Contents or the map legend

Measure distance and area

Determine coordinates for points of interest

Add labels and create map layout for printing

Customize map elements and print or export map