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Generic Amendment for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat Requirements in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico

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Generic Amendment for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat Requirements in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico Generic Amendment for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat Requirements in the following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: <Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, United States Waters <Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico <Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico <Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerels) in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic <Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico < Spiny Lobster in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic <Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (Includes Environmental Assessment) Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000 Tampa, Florida 33619-2266 813-228-2815 October 1998 This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA87FC0003. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE ................................................................................................................... 1 ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................... 10 CONVERSION CHART ....................................................................................... 12 GLOSSARY .......................................................................................................... 13 1.0 PREFACE ..................................................................................................... 20 1.1 List of Preparers ........................................................................... 20 1.2 List of Persons and Agencies Consulted ........................................ 20 1.3 Persons to Contact Regarding EFH .............................................. 21 2.0 SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 22 3.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 24 4.0 IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT .. 28 4.1 HABITAT TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION: ESTUARINE ................. 29 4.1.1 State-by-State Description of Estuaries ....................................... 29 4.1.1.1 Texas .......................................................................... 31 4.1.1.2 Louisiana .................................................................... 38 4.1.1.3 Mississippi .................................................................. 40 4.1.1.4 Alabama ..................................................................... 44 4.1.1.5 Florida ....................................................................... 46 4.2 HABITAT TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION: MARINE ..................... 53 4.2.1 Water .................................................................................... 53 4.2.1.1.1 Temperature ........................................................... 53 4.2.1.1.2 Salinity ................................................................... 55 4.2.1.1.3 Dissolved oxygen ................................................... 56 4.2.1.1.4 Turbidity ................................................................ 56 4.2.1.1.5 Other ..................................................................... 58 4.2.2 Vegetated bottom and other types of vegetation................... 60 4.2.3 Non-vegetated bottom .......................................................... 64 4.2.4 Irregular bottom ................................................................... 65 4.2.4.1 Live Bottom ............................................................ 65 4.2.4.1.1 Coral Reefs ............................................... 66 4.2.4.1.2 Artificial Reefs .......................................... 71 4.2.4.2 Geologic Features ................................................... 76 4.2.4.2.1 Continental Shelf Features ........................ 76 4.2.4.2.2 West Florida Shelf .................................... 76 4.2.4.2.3 Mississippi/Alabama Shelf ........................ 80 2 4.2.4.2.4 Louisiana/Texas Shelf .............................. 83 4.2.4.2.5 South Texas Shelf ..................................... 85 5.0 ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT OF MANAGED SPECIES .................................. 87 5.1 Amendment to the Shrimp FMP ............................................................... 88 5.1.1 List of actions ......................................................................... 88 5.1.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Shrimp ........... 88 5.1.3 Prey Dependence .................................................................... 91 5.1.4 Review and Update of Amendment ......................................... 91 5.2 Amendment to the Red Drum FMP .......................................................... 92 5.2.1 List of actions .......................................................................... 92 5.2.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Red Drum ....... 92 5.2.3 Prey Dependence ..................................................................... 93 5.2.4 Review and Update of Amendment .......................................... 93 5.3 Amendment to the Reef Fish FMP ............................................................ 94 5.3.1 List of actions .......................................................................... 94 5.3.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Reef Fish ....... 94 5.3.3 Prey Dependence .................................................................... 98 5.3.4 Review and Update of Amendment ......................................... 99 5.4 Amendment to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerels) FMP.. 100 5.4.1 List of actions ........................................................................... 100 5.4.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Coastal Migratory Pelagic Species ........................................................................ 100 5.4.3 Prey Dependence ...................................................................... 102 5.4.4 Review and Update of Amendment ........................................... 102 5.5. Amendment to the Stone Crab FMP ......................................................... 103 5.5.1 List of actions .......................................................................... 103 5.5.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Stone Crab ...... 103 5.5.3 Prey Dependence ..................................................................... 104 5.5.4 Review and Update of Amendment .......................................... 105 5.6 Amendment to the Spiny Lobster FMP ..................................................... 106 5.6.1 List of actions ......................................................................... 106 5.6.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Spiny Lobster ... 106 5.6.3 Prey Dependence .................................................................... 108 5.6.4 Review and Update of Amendment ......................................... 109 3 5.7 Amendment to the Coral FMP ................................................................. 110 5.7.1 List of actions ......................................................................... 110 5.7.2 Distribution and Summary of Habitats Used by Coral .............. 110 5.7.3 Prey Dependence .................................................................... 112 5.7.4 Review and Update of Amendment ......................................... 112 6.0 THREATS TO ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ............................................... 113 6.1 Fishing Activities That May Adversely Affect EFH ............................... 115 6.1.1 Current Management Measures Protecting Fishery Habitat .. 117 6.1.2 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico .............................................. 199 6.1.2.1 Trawl fishery review ................................................ 199 6.1.2.2 Recreational fishery review ...................................... 120 6.1.2.3 Trap fishery review .................................................. 121 6.2 Identification of Non-Fishing Related Activities That May Adversely Affect EFH ........................................................................................ 123 6.2.1 Physical Alterations................................................................. 123 6.2.1.1 Navigation projects, ports, marinas, and maintenance dredging .......................................................... 125 6.2.1.2 Canals, ditches, levees and embankments ................. 128 6.2.1.3 Tidal water control structures .................................. 128 6.2.1.4 Pipeline crossings and rights-of-way ........................ 129 6.2.1.5 Impoundments and alteration of freshwater inflow ... 130 6.2.1.5.1 Salinity characteristics of Gulf of Mexico estuaries ................................. 133 6.2.1.5.2 Other factors affected by freshwater inflow .. 134 6.2.1.6 Industrial/commercial operations ........ 135 6.2.1.7 Housing developments ............................................ 136 6.2.1.8 Oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico ............ 137 6.2.1.9 Agriculture and silviculture practices ....................... 138 6.2.1.10 Faulting induced by water and oil/gas extraction 138 6.2.1.11 Loss of barrier islands and shorelines ........... 139 6.2.1.12 Impacts of recreational water craft .............. 139 6.2.1.13 Sand, gravel and shale extraction ................. 141 6.2.2 Water Quality Issues................................................................ 141 6.2.2.1 Point-source discharges ............................................ 143 6.2.2.2 Hydromodifications .................................................
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