THE NMFS OFFICE OF HABITAT CONSERVATION - PROTECTING THE HABITATS OF LIVING MARINE RESOURCES

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), an agency of the Nationa l Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the U.S. Depart ment of Commerce, is responsible for the conservation of living marine resources (LMRs) and the habitats on which they depend. This responsi bility is exercised by NMFS's Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC), wh ich protects and conserves riparian, estuarine, and offshore habitats necessary to sustain NOAA trust resources, including fish, protected s pecies, and associated communities. These activities are accomplished through reviewing licensing, permitting, legislative, and administrati ve activities; coordinating with regional fishery management councils on fishery management plans (FMPs); conducting habitat-related researc h; and creating special management plans for key waters and resources. In response to recommendations of several external reviews, the OHC i s reorganizing the National Habitat Program. This article reviews the importance of marine habitat, the 125-year history of NMFS, the curren t status of its National Habitat Program, and elements of the new NMFS strategic plan for the program.