Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment

Source: NOAA Fisheries

Regional fishery management councils are required to designate essential fish habitat (EFH) for species managed under federal fishery management plans (FMPs) and minimize the impacts of fishing in those areas to the extent practicable. Federal regulations also require the Councils and NOAA Fisheries to review EFH provisions of FMPs at least once every five years. In April 2025, the Council completed a technical review of EFH information. Based on this updated information, the Council is developing an Omnibus (“all species and FMPs”) Amendment which will revise the EFH components and any associated management measures for all Council FMPs.

This action is an opportunity to utilize the best available fish habitat science to improve EFH designations and support the Council’s fish habitat conservation efforts while supporting the EFH consultation process. The consultation process plays an important role in addressing the impacts of non-fishing projects (such as wind energy projects) on fish habitat.

Contacts:

Public Hearings

The Council has scheduled five public hearings (four virtual, one in person) to gather public input on the draft EFH Amendment. Written comments will be accepted through February 11, 2026. Two of the hearings will focus on specific species, while others will be “all species” sessions. If you are only interested in a particular species, we encourage you to join one of the species focus webinars.

  1. December 2, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Webinar Registration. All Species: Open Discussion.

  2. December 9, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Webinar Registration. Focus: Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, and Spiny Dogfish.

  3. January 6, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Webinar Registration. Focus: Mackerels, Squids, Butterfish, Tilefishes, Surfclam, and Ocean Quahog.

  4. January 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Webinar Registration. All Species: Open Discussion.

  5. February 3, 2026, 6:30 p.m. In-Person: Westin Crystal City (1800 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202). All Species: Open Discussion.

Public Hearing Document
Submit Comments
Hearing Presentation Slides

Amendment Development Timeline

Current Action Plan (as of 7/2/25)

October 2022 Council Meeting: Amendment initiated

January 2023: Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) formed.

April 2025 Council Meeting: The Council completed the 5-Year EFH Review and submitted it to NMFS. Report documents are linked in the section below.

October 2025 Council Meeting: The Council approved a public hearing document.

Next Steps: Hearings will be held between December 2, 2025 and February 3, 2026, and written comments will be accepted through February 11, 2026. Final action is expected in April 2026.

5-Year EFH Review

The Mid-Atlantic Council completed its most recent 5-year review in April 2025. This review work was conducted in collaboration with the New England Fishery Management Council. The reports linked below provide information on findings related to each of the nine required EFH components.