3/20/12
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service is requesting public input on formulating policy regarding eelgrass, an essential fish habitat across California and in Humboldt Bay.
According to NOAA, eelgrass is one of the state’s most important components for ecosystems in bays, estuaries and near-shore coastal areas.
“It’s a cornerstone species,” Northern California Habitat Manager Steve Edmonds said. “A lot of the basis for estuaries and ecosystems is based on the eelgrass community.”
Eelgrass exists throughout the world and is considered to be one of the most productive habitats available to adult and larval stages of fish, and it also plays a major role in erosion control and recycling of nutrients, according to NOAA.
Humboldt Bay has one of the largest stands of eelgrass within California. Humboldt Bay contains roughly 45 percent of California’s eelgrass habitat.
Eelgrass habitat supports commercial and protected fish species. The draft policy will also serve as guidance to NOAA Fisheries Service’s Southwest Region for recommendations concerning eelgrass impacts and management through essential fish habitat consultations as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and through the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and National Environmental Policy Act reviews throughout California.
Electronic copies of the draft plan are available online at www. swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/index.htm.
