Alaska Essential Fish Habitat Omnibus Amendments

2024 Omnibus Amendments

In 2022 NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) conducted an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 5-year Review. The review examined information within the 2005 EFH Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and updates from previous 5-year Reviews and found:

• New methods were developed to map EFH from new species distribution models and more recent information was incorporated to update text descriptions.
• An updated fishing effects model was used to evaluate the impact of fishing gear contact on EFH.
• The non-fishing impacts report was updated with the most current level of information on actions with adverse impacts to EFH, conservation recommendations for those actions, and it includes a chapter on climate change.

NPFMC revised the EFH sections of its Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) to address the results of the 5-year review. The NPFMC submitted Amendment 127 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 115 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 56 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 17 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off Alaska, and Amendment 3 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area to the Secretary of Commerce for review. A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2024 (89 FR 30318). These amendments revised the FMPs by updating the description and identification of EFH, updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available, and updating research and information needs. The Secretary of Commerce approved the EFH Omnibus Amendments on July 15, 2024 (89 FR 58632).

2015 Omnibus Amendments 

In 2015 NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) conducted an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 5-Year Review. The review examined information within the 2005 EFH Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and determined:

• New and more recent information and methods exists to refine EFH descriptions (PDF, 20 pages) and maps for many managed species.
• Using the best available science and a newly developed Fishing Effects (FE) model, changes in management with regard to fishing within EFH is not recommended at this time.
• The non-fishing impacts analysis, including advisory EFH Conservation Recommendations, be updated with the most current level of information, including sections on ocean acidification, climate change, and ecosystem processes.

NPFMC revised the EFH sections of its Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) to address the results of the 5-year review. The NPFMC submitted Amendment 115 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 105 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 49 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 13 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off Alaska, and Amendment 2 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area, (collectively Amendments) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on March 5, 2018 (83 FR 9257).  These Amendments revised the FMPs by updating the description and identification of EFH, and updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available. The Secretary of Commerce approved the EFH Omnibus Amendments on May 31, 2018 (83 FR 31340).

2012 Omnibus Amendments 

In 2010 NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) conducted an EFH 5-Year Review. The review examined information within the 2005 EFH Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and determined:

• New and more recent information exists to refine EFH for a small subset of managed species.
• Certain fishing effects may be impacting sensitive habitats of Bristol Bay red king crab; however additional analysis is needed.
• The non-fishing impacts analysis, including advisory EFH Conservation Recommendations, should be updated with the most current level of information.

The NPFMC revised the EFH sections of its Fishery Management Plans to address the results of the 5-year review. 

Supporting Documents

• Final Environmental Impact Statement for Essential Fish Habitat Identification and Conservation in Alaska
• Environmental Assessment - Essential Fish Habitat  Omnibus Amendments (2018): Amendment 115 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, Amendment 105 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 49 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska, Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area
• Final Environmental Assessment for Essential Fish Habitat Omnibus Amendments (2012): Amendment 98 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 90 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska, Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area

More Information

Learn more about:

• Essential Fish Habitat Reviews
• Essential Fish Habitat in Alaska
• Habitat Research in Alaska
• Conserving Habitat in the Alaska Region
• Alaska Fishery Management Plans