Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) is defined as waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity and is typically designated by life history stage (egg, larvae, juvenile, adult). Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Regional Fishery Management Councils must designate EFH, which consists of a text description and geographic area (EFH map). Most species managed by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) have undergone two rounds of designations via Omnibus EFH Amendments 1 and 2.

Five-Year EFH Review

Federal regulations require the Councils and NMFS to periodically review EFH provisions of FMPs at least once every five years. The New England Council completed its most recent 5-year review in January 2025. This review work was conducted in collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

New England Council EFH-Review Summary Report (including Components 5 and 8)

Component 1: EFH Designation Methods - Updated

Components 2 and 6: Fishing Effects and Adverse Effects Minimization

Component 3: Non-Magnuson Stevens Act Fishing Activities

Component 4: Non-Fishing Impacts to EFH

Component 7: Food Habits of Managed Species

Component 9: EFH Research Needs

Additional Resources

The additional resources below include EFH consultation correspondence prepared by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office of NOAA Fisheries, the EFH map repository, which is maintained by NOAA Fisheries, the NRHA webpage, which includes links to the Data Explorer, EFH designations and supplementary information from the 2018 Omnibus EFH Amendment 2, and the 2002 EFH regulations.