NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comment on potential revisions to the essential fish habitat (EFH) guidelines. Comments will be received until January 26, 2004. The agency requests comment from the public on whether the EFH guidelines should be revised, what parts need revision, how they should be revised, and why. NOAA Fisheries will use any comments received to determine whether or not to revise the EFH guidelines.

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment as part of its continuing commitment to evaluate the efficacy of the EFH guidelines. The 1996 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act created the EFH provisions that require fishery management plans to describe and identify EFH and minimize adverse impacts on it that are caused by fishing activities. During the finalization of the guidelines in January 2002, NOAA Fisheries recognized that there remained a great deal of interest from its various stakeholders regarding how to integrate habitat considerations into fisheries management.

Comments may be mailed to Mr. Rolland A. Schmitten, Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, NOAA Fisheries, F/HC, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or via fax to (301) 427-2570. For further information, read the press release online, or contact Karen Abrams or David MacDuffee at 301-713-4300.