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Fisheries Service Issues Final EFH Rule

In January, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), the federal agency charged with managing the nation’s marine fisheries resources, issued its final rule on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). Congress added the EFH provisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 1996, directing the regional fishery management councils to identify EFH and evaluate adverse effects on it. The final rule replaces an interim final rule that has been in effect since January 1998. The final rule clarifies the standards for use in identifying EFH and implementing the EFH review and consultation procedures, specifically summarizing the five approaches for conducting EFH consultation. The rule can be found at 67 Federal Register 2,343 (January 17, 2002) or on-line at

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatprotection/efhfinalrule.pdf .

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