July 23, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
We’re excited to launch an updated version of the Essential Fish Habitat Mapper with improved layout, navigation, and functionality. EFH is the habitat managed species need to complete their life cycles and it serves a foundational role in sustainably harvested U.S. seafood. The EFH Mapper is an interactive tool for viewing important habitats for managed fish species.
Users of the tool can discover where managed fish species spawn, grow, or live in a chosen location on the map. They can also generate a report with supporting documentation. They can access maps of EFH areas protected from fishing and habitat areas of particular concern; fishery management plans; and embedded NOAA nautical charts. They can also download GIS data.
The redesigned tool includes the following improvements and new features:
- Simplified layout and menu options for easier navigation
- Added ability to look at all data within a specific region, find locations by address or latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, and control data layer visibility
- Customized data filtering tool for the region of interest
- Increased context and information provided in pop-up windows
- Improved response time for accessing species information and generating reports of supporting materials