Description: These data delineate areas of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) deeper than 3,500 m water depth that were not designated as Pacific Coast groundfish essential fish habitat (EFH). Although outside of EFH, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) felt these areas included sensitive deep-water habitats, including deep-sea corals, that warranted protection. The Council recommended that this area be closed to fishing with bottom contacting gears using discretionary authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Bottom contacting gears is a defined term at 50 CFR 660.12.
Copyright Text: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), Sound GIS, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), West Coast Ocean Data Portal