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WCR_HMS_EFH_20241021_Shortfin_mako_shark
Shortfin mako shark EFH is defined using the combination of data sources described in the FMP as well as expert opinion. Combining all age classes, mako shark EFH includes the entire U.S. West Coast EEZ seaward of the 12 m depth contour. While mako sharks may occur in shallow water <12 m, they occur primarily in deeper waters, and these shallow regions including bays and estuaries are not considered essential. Studies have shown that mako sharks of all sizes can feed opportunistically on a high diversity of prey. The high productivity and presence of diverse fish, squid and crustacean species and relatively warm and shallow shelf waters make the California Current a suitable habitat for feeding and growth to maturity for shortfin mako sharks.The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires that regional management councils describe EFH in their fishery management plans (FMPs), that they minimize to the extent practicable adverse effects on EFH from fishing activities, and that federal agencies consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service on activities that may adversely affect EFH, among other things. Actions that occur outside of EFH, but that may adversely affect EFH, also warrant an EFH consultation. EFH means those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity (50 CFR 600.10). FMPs must describe and identify EFH in text that clearly states the habitats or habitat types determined to be EFH for each life stage of the managed species, if possible. The text descriptions are ultimately determinative of the limits of EFH. Those text descriptions of HMS EFH can be found in the HMS FMP available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) website: https://www.pcouncil.org/. In addition, FMPs must include maps that display, within the constraints of available information, the geographic locations of EFH or the geographic boundaries within which EFH for each species and life stage is found (50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(v)(A)). This Geographic Information System (GIS) data which depicts the EFH of HMS within the EEZ off the U.S. West Coast, was developed to meet that requirement.
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Full Metadata Record
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GCMD Keyword Forum Page
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Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| contactPoint |
{ "fn": "Chavez, Eric", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:eric.chavez@noaa.gov" } |
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | Shortfin mako shark EFH is defined using the combination of data sources described in the FMP as well as expert opinion. Combining all age classes, mako shark EFH includes the entire U.S. West Coast EEZ seaward of the 12 m depth contour. While mako sharks may occur in shallow water <12 m, they occur primarily in deeper waters, and these shallow regions including bays and estuaries are not considered essential. Studies have shown that mako sharks of all sizes can feed opportunistically on a high diversity of prey. The high productivity and presence of diverse fish, squid and crustacean species and relatively warm and shallow shelf waters make the California Current a suitable habitat for feeding and growth to maturity for shortfin mako sharks.The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires that regional management councils describe EFH in their fishery management plans (FMPs), that they minimize to the extent practicable adverse effects on EFH from fishing activities, and that federal agencies consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service on activities that may adversely affect EFH, among other things. Actions that occur outside of EFH, but that may adversely affect EFH, also warrant an EFH consultation. EFH means those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity (50 CFR 600.10). FMPs must describe and identify EFH in text that clearly states the habitats or habitat types determined to be EFH for each life stage of the managed species, if possible. The text descriptions are ultimately determinative of the limits of EFH. Those text descriptions of HMS EFH can be found in the HMS FMP available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) website: https://www.pcouncil.org/. In addition, FMPs must include maps that display, within the constraints of available information, the geographic locations of EFH or the geographic boundaries within which EFH for each species and life stage is found (50 CFR 600.815(a)(1)(v)(A)). This Geographic Information System (GIS) data which depicts the EFH of HMS within the EEZ off the U.S. West Coast, was developed to meet that requirement. |
| distribution |
[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Full Metadata Record", "accessURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/80249", "mediaType": "text/html", "description": "View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.", "describedByType": "application/octet-stream" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page", "accessURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords", "mediaType": "text/html", "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2026. GCMD Keywords, Version 24. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords", "describedByType": "application/octet-stream" } ] |
| identifier | https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/nmfs/wcro/iso/xml/80249.xml |
| keyword |
[ "DOC/NOAA/NMFS/WCRO > West Coast Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce", "WCR Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Essential Fish Habitat" ] |
| landingPage | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/80249 |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 2026-07-21T19:43:56.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{ "name": "West Coast Regional Office", "@type": "org:Organization" } |
| spatial | -117.129444,30.541995,-129.162414,48.506117 |
| theme |
[ "geospatial" ] |
| title | WCR_HMS_EFH_20241021_Shortfin_mako_shark |
