GROUNDFISH ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT REVIEW COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE PROTOCOL FOR CONSIDERATION OF GROUNDFISH ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT MODIFICATION PROPOSALS BACKGROUND

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) provides designations of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), and Ecologically Important Habitat Closed Areas (HCAs) to identify and protect EFH and to mitigate for the adverse effects of groundfish fishing activities. The FMP requires review and update of these designations during a periodic five-year review process, and also allows for reviews as needed during interim periods. Section 7.2 and Appendix B in the FMP describes groundfish EFH, which is generally between the shore line or limit of saltwater intrusion out to depths of 3,500 m as well as seamounts in depths greater than 3,500 m. HAPC have been identified for four habitat types (Estuaries, Canopy Kelp, Seagrass, and Rocky Reefs) and several Areas of Interest. Figure 7.2 in the FMP is a map of the approximate location of habitat types identified as HAPC. The coordinates defining Area of Interest HAPC are presented in FMP Appendix B. HCAs are currently categorized as either Bottom Trawl Closed Areas or Bottom Contact Closed Areas. There are currently 50 HCAs on the West Coast; maps showing their locations and coordinates defining their boundaries are presented in FMP Appendix C. The FMP is available on the Counci