Habitat Overview
Regional Fishery Management Councils are required to designate essential fish habitat (EFH) and minimize the impacts of fishing in those areas to the extent practicable. The NEFMC’s 2018 Omnibus EFH Amendment 2 includes current EFH designations for 28 managed stocks.In January 2025, the Council completed a technical review of EFH information. This review along with the Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment informed the framework actions that will revise 2025 EFH designations for:
• Atlantic cod
• Atlantic herring
• Monkfish
• Skates
Additional actions will follow in 2026 and 2027 for other species.
To evaluate fishing impacts on EFH, the Council uses the Fishing Effects Model. The previous version of this model, the Swept Area Seabed Impact Model, was used in OHA2 to develop and update habitat management areas that restrict specific gear types in certain locations.
Other recent actions addressing fishing effects on habitat include the Clam Dredge Exemption Framework (2020) and the Deep-Sea Coral Amendment (2021) and the discontinued Northern Edge Habitat Scallop Framework (2024).
Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) highlight habitats in need of additional conservation. These designations are routinely referenced during EFH consultations that are administered by NOAA Fisheries. The latest Council HAPC in Southern New England, is intended to foster development of conservation recommendations that avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts from offshore development.
The Council collaborates with other habitat-focused organizations, including the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Habitat Committee and the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership, which the Council joined in 2024.
The Habitat Committee also supports coordinated regional science and monitoring including collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to prepare comment letters to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and other agencies.
Related News, Press Releases, and Announcements
- Council Covers Atlantic Herring, Habitat, and Risk Policy Issues; Learns About Fisheries Research in Offshore Wind Areas
- Council Discontinues Work on Northern Edge Framework
- Northern Edge of Georges Bank: Council Narrows Range of Scallop Access Concept Areas for Further Analysis
- Council Receives 2023 Scallop Survey Overview; Discusses VMS Ping Rates, Northern Edge; Approves Survey Guiding Principles
- Fishermen Encouraged to Watch Out for Bright Orange SAILDRONES in Eastern Gulf of Maine Beginning August 28, 2023
- Council Signs Off on Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Framework
- Habitat: Council Receives Updates on Salmon Aquaculture Framework, Offshore Wind; Retains Georges Bank DHRA
- New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils and Partners Launch Habitat Data Explorer; One-Stop Tool Ready for Use
- Council Seeks Applicants for All 2023-2025 Advisory Panels; Wide Range of Monkfish, Groundfish, Rec Fishermen Needed
- Council Approves HAPC for Southern New England; Previews Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment Data Explorer
- Council Initiates Action for HAPC in Southern New England; Discusses Great South Channel Habitat Management Area
- Council Approves Revised Wind Energy Policy; Receives Offshore Wind Project Updates from BOEM
- Council Receives Updates on Offshore Wind, Atlantic Herring, EBFM, and More; Approves 2021-2025 Research Priorities
- Council Seeks Contractor for Habitat Climate Vulnerability Assessment Matrix and Species Narratives Development
- Council Discusses Scallops, Habitat, Climate Change, NTAP, Congressional Updates, and Ecosystem at April Meeting
- December 2020 Council Meeting Highlights: EBFM, Habitat, SBRM, Whiting, Dogfish, Herring, and More
- Council Calendar: Here’s Our November 2020 Meeting Lineup: Groundfish, Scallops, Whiting, Habitat – Join Our Webinars!
- Council Discusses Skates, Atlantic Herring, Red Hake, EBFM, Habitat, and Research Priorities at June Meeting
- Deep-Sea Coral Amendment to Provide Sweeping Habitat Protection, Including in Canyons and Seamounts Monument
- Habitat: Council Reviews Great South Channel HMA Research Proposal; Receives Offshore Wind Updates
- NEFMC Seeks Applicants for Fishery Advisory Panels
- Habitat: Council Discusses Great South Channel HMA Research; Offshore Energy; New Fishing Effects Model
- Council Hosts Offshore Wind Special Session; Discusses EBFM, Commercial eVTRs, and RSA Program Review
- Clam Dredge Framework: Council Signs Off on New Measures for Great South Channel HMA
- Council Forwards Clam Dredge Framework Alternatives for Analysis
- Offshore Wind: New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils Launch New Webpage
- Council Sends Clam Dredge Framework Back to Habitat Committee to Develop New Alternatives
- Council Discusses Offshore Wind, Clam Dredge FW, Skates, Groundfish, Herring, IFM at Mid-April Meeting
- Council Takes Final Action on Coral Amendment; Comments on Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling
- NMFS Approves Majority of Council’s Habitat Amendment
- Scallops: Framework 29 “Highest Yield, Lowest Impact” Alternative Advances Following NMFS Habitat Decision
- Council Postpones Coral Action for Continental Slope/Canyons Pending Analysis of New Alternative; Takes Steps for GOM
- NEFMC Announces Coral Amendment Public Hearing Schedule
- Deep-Sea Corals: Council Selects Preferred Alternatives for Gulf of Maine, Continental Slope and Canyons
- NEFMC to Host Coral Workshops to Solicit Input From Active Fishermen
- Council Previews Deep-Sea Coral Amendment Analysis; Addresses Marine National Monument Overlap Issues
- Work Continues on Coral Amendment, Clam Dredge Framework
- Council to Weigh New Marine Monument Impacts, Implications
- Georges Bank Habitat Protection Reconfigured
- NEFMC April/May newsletter available; includes map of approved habitat areas
- NEFMC Takes Action on Habitat Amendment
- Habitat Omnibus Amendment 2 Public Hearing Schedule
Upcoming Meetings
There are currently no upcoming meetings for Habitat
Past Meetings
Plan Amendments, Frameworks, and Specifications
Plan Amendments
April 9, 2018
This action implements approved regulations for the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. This rule revises essential fish habitat and habitat area of particular concern designations, revises or creates habitat management areas, including gear restrictions, to protect vulnerable habitat from fishing gear impacts, establishes dedicated habitat research areas, and implements several administrative measures related to reviewing these measures, as well as other regulatory adjustments to implement these measures. This action is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to periodically review essential fish habitat designations and protections. The measures are designed to minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on essential fish habitat.
June 25, 2021
The Deep-Sea Coral Amendment includes management areas to protect coral habitat from the impacts of fishing gears, provisions to encourage further research on deep-sea corals and fisheries, and measures to facilitate future updates to coral management approaches.
April 21, 1999
Omnibus Habitat Amendment 1 (OHA1) was prepared by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) to implement the essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as reauthorized in 1996.
Framework Adjustments/Specifications
February 5, 2024
This omnibus action establishes a new Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) in Southern New England through framework adjustments to the groundfish, scallop, monkfish, skate, and Atlantic herring plans.
May 19, 2020
This framework adjustment would allow surfclam and mussel dredging under restrictive conditions in the Great South Channel Habitat Management Area (GSC HMA).