Important Update: This comment period has been extended and is now open through 11:59 p.m. January 10, 2026.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks information and data to support the review and potential revisions to Pacific Coast Salmon Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The information can include, but is not limited to, peer-reviewed literature, unpublished scientific reports, data from government resource agencies, fisheries reports, and other sources of information, including previously unavailable or inaccessible data. The Council will consider different types of information according to its scientific rigor.
Background
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires regional fishery management councils to describe and identify essential fish habitat for species managed under a Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The MSA defines EFH as ‘those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity.’ The FMP generally defines Pacific Coast Salmon EFH as ‘those waters and substrate necessary for salmon production needed to support a long-term sustainable salmon fishery and salmon contributions to a healthy ecosystem.’ It goes on to describe the geographic extent and characteristics of EFH in freshwater, estuarine, and marine waters in text, tables, and maps. The Pacific Coast Salmon FMP and EFH provisions can be found on the Council’s webpage. FMP Appendix A contains the detailed EFH provisions, maps, rationale, and other background information on salmon EFH. Maps, metadata, and additional information can be found on the National EFH Mapper.
Species managed under the FMP include Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch), and Puget Sound pink salmon (O. gorbuscha). The following species are not managed under the salmon FMP and EFH is therefore not designated for these species: Sockeye salmon (O. nerka), chum salmon (O. keta), steelhead (O. mykiss), and pink salmon outside of the Puget Sound watershed. Information submitted specific to species that are not managed under the Council’s FMP may not be considered.
The EFH regulatory guidance at 50 CFR§600.815(a) provides additional details on developing EFH provisions. The mandatory contents described in the regulations are divided into 10 subject areas, which form the basis of EFH provisions and are summarized below. Respondents should read the regulations for additional clarification and information.
Read the full announcement
How to submit comments
Electronic files should be submitted via THIS FORM. Please note the following important information:
- You are responsible for ensuring any information submitted is publicly available and that you have permission to distribute it.
- Information submitted via this process will eventually become publicly accessible.
- Please contact Kerry Griffin (Kerry.griffin@pcouncil.org; 503-820-2409) with any questions or concerns.
- For technical issues associated with the submission form, please contact Kris Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@pcouncil.org; 503-820-2412.
- Spatial data must conform to the requirements in Appendix 1 of the full announcement and must include metadata.