Amendment 19 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan

Essential Fish Habitat Designation and Minimization of Adverse Impacts Environmental Impact Statement

• Download the FMP Amendment 19 for public review
• Visit NOAA's website for the FINAL EFH EIS
• Final rule implementing the regulatory provisions of Amendment 19 (May 11, 2006)

The Council took final action to approve FMP Amendment 19 and submitted it to NMFS for review on November 23, 2005. NMFS partially approved the amendment on March 8, 2006. Two provisions were disapproved: (1) the designation of specified oil rigs in Southern Califorina as habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs) and (2) the prohibition of bottom trawling in areas not designated essential fish habitat (EFH) (i.e., waters deeper than 3,500 m).

The FMP amendment 19 language incorporates the appropriate elements of the Essential Fish Habitat Designation and Minimization of Averse Impacts EIS preferred alternative into the groundfish FMP. There is substantial overlap between the parts of the FMP addressed by Amendment 18 (bycatch mitigation) and Amendment 19. For this reason, a combined document incorporates both Amendment 18 and Amendment 19 changes.

The preface to the draft amendatory language explains and guides the reader through the proposed changes. The preferred alternative is incorporated into the FMP in the following sections:

In addition to amending the body of the FMP, the following EFH appendices are available:

Appendix A: Description of the Biological, Economic, Social and Regulatory Characteristics of the Groundfish Fishery

APPENDIX B: Pacific Coast Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat

1. B.1  Assessment Methodology for Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat
2. B.2  Groundfish Life History Descriptions
3. B.3  Essential Fish Habitat Text Description
4. B.4  Habitat Suitability Probability Maps for Individual Groundfish Species and Life Stages
   • Links to Individual Habitat Suitability Maps
5. B.5  Research Needs and Data Gap Analysis

APPENDIX C: The Effects of Fishing on West Coast Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat and Current Conservation Measures

1. Description of the Impacts Model
2. The Effects of Fishing Gear on West Coast Habitat
3. Coordinates for EFH conservation areas
4. Map of EFH conservation areas

APPENDIX D: Nonfishing Effects on West Coast Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat and Recommended Conservation Measures

PFMC
09/14/06