DRAFT Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 Volume 2: EFH and HAPC Designation Alternatives and Environmental Impacts Amendment 14 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP Amendment 4 to the Monkfish FMP Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Herring FMP Amendment 2 to the Red Crab FMP Amendment 2 to the Skate FMP Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Salmon FMP Including a Draft Environmental Impact Statement Prepared by the New England Fishery Management Council In cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service Updated December 5, 2013 Draft for Council review on December 18, 2013 Omnibus EFH Amendment 2 – Volume 2 1 Contents: Volume 2 1.1 Table of contents 1 Contents: Volume 2............................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Table of contents .............................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Tables ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Maps ................................................................................................................................. 6 2 Alternatives to designate Essential Fish Habitat and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern ........................................................................................................................................ 10 2.1 Essential Fish Habitat ..................................................................................................... 10 2.1.1 No action Essential Fish Habitat designations ........................................................ 13 2.1.1.1 Northeast multispecies (groundfish) ............................................................................... 13 2.1.1.1.1 Acadian redfish ......................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1.1.2 American plaice ........................................................................................................ 14 2.1.1.1.3 Atlantic cod ............................................................................................................... 16 2.1.1.1.4 Atlantic halibut .......................................................................................................... 18 2.1.1.1.5 Atlantic wolffish ........................................................................................................ 20 2.1.1.1.6 Haddock .................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.1.1.7 Ocean pout ................................................................................................................ 23 2.1.1.1.8 Offshore hake ............................................................................................................ 26 2.1.1.1.9 Pollock ...................................................................................................................... 27 2.1.1.1.10 Red hake .................................................................................................................. 30 2.1.1.1.11 Silver hake ............................................................................................................... 32 2.1.1.1.12 White hake ............................................................................................................... 34 2.1.1.1.13 Windowpane flounder ............................................................................................. 36 2.1.1.1.14 Winter flounder ....................................................................................................... 39 2.1.1.1.15 Witch flounder ......................................................................................................... 42 2.1.1.1.16 Yellowtail flounder .................................................................................................. 44 2.1.1.2 Monkfish ......................................................................................................................... 47 2.1.1.3 Skates .............................................................................................................................. 48 2.1.1.3.1 Smooth skate ............................................................................................................. 49 2.1.1.3.2 Thorny skate .............................................................................................................. 50 2.1.1.3.3 Barndoor skate .......................................................................................................... 51 2.1.1.3.4 Little skate ................................................................................................................. 52 Updated December 5, 2013 Page 2 of 195 Omnibus EFH Amendment 2 – Volume 2 2.1.1.3.5 Winter skate............................................................................................................... 53 2.1.1.3.6 Rosette skate .............................................................................................................. 54 2.1.1.3.7 Clearnose skate ......................................................................................................... 55 2.1.1.4 Atlantic sea scallop ......................................................................................................... 56 2.1.1.5 Atlantic herring ............................................................................................................... 58 2.1.1.6 Deep-sea red crab ............................................................................................................ 60 2.1.1.7 Atlantic salmon ............................................................................................................... 62 2.1.2 Updated EFH designations – Council preferred alternatives .................................. 67 2.1.2.1 Northeast multispecies (groundfish) ............................................................................... 67 2.1.2.1.1 Acadian redfish ......................................................................................................... 67 2.1.2.1.2 American plaice ........................................................................................................ 71 2.1.2.1.3 Atlantic cod ............................................................................................................... 75 2.1.2.1.4 Atlantic halibut .......................................................................................................... 80 2.1.2.1.5 Atlantic wolffish ........................................................................................................ 82 2.1.2.1.6 Haddock .................................................................................................................... 84 2.1.2.1.7 Ocean pout ................................................................................................................ 88 2.1.2.1.8 Offshore hake ............................................................................................................ 92 2.1.2.1.9 Pollock ...................................................................................................................... 95 2.1.2.1.10 Red hake .................................................................................................................. 99 2.1.2.1.11 Silver hake ............................................................................................................. 103 2.1.2.1.12 White hake ............................................................................................................. 107 2.1.2.1.13 Windowpane flounder ........................................................................................... 111 2.1.2.1.14 Winter flounder ..................................................................................................... 116 2.1.2.1.15 Witch flounder ....................................................................................................... 121 2.1.2.1.16 Yellowtail flounder ................................................................................................ 125 2.1.2.2 Monkfish ....................................................................................................................... 129 2.1.2.3 Skates ............................................................................................................................ 132 2.1.2.3.1 Smooth skate ........................................................................................................... 132 2.1.2.3.2 Thorny skate ............................................................................................................ 135 2.1.2.3.3 Barndoor skate ........................................................................................................ 138 2.1.2.3.4 Little skate ............................................................................................................... 139 2.1.2.3.5 Winter skate............................................................................................................. 143 2.1.2.3.6 Rosette skate ............................................................................................................ 147 Updated December 5, 2013 Page 3 of 195 Omnibus EFH Amendment 2 – Volume 2 2.1.2.3.7 Clearnose skate ......................................................................................................