Southern New England Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC)

During 2023 and 2024, NOAA Fisheries conducted a public process that led to protection of important fish habitat in waters south of Massachusetts. The Northeast Ocean Data Portal’s interactive maps made it possible for all interested parties to view the proposed management area in combination with data on ocean uses and the ecosystem.

On September 26, 2023, NOAA Fisheries published a Proposed Rule to implement the New England Fishery Management Council’s Framework Adjustment that would identify a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) offshore of Southern New England. HAPCs designated by the New England Fishery Management Council do not directly restrict fishing or non-fishing ocean activities, but actions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on habitats are strongly encouraged within HAPCs. The proposed HAPC would be within and around wind lease areas in Southern New England, including Cox Ledge, to focus conservation recommendations on cod spawning habitats and complex benthic habitats that are known to serve important habitat functions to Council-managed fishery species.

During the 30-day public comment period, the Data Explorer on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal enabled the public to see the location of the proposed Southern New England HAPC. They could view it with their choice of marine life and human dimensions data layers such as active renewable energy leases and trawl data on Atlantic cod biomass.

On February 5, 2024, NOAA Fisheries published a final rule to implement the HAPC. This rule adjusts the following fishery management plans: Northeast Multispecies; Atlantic Sea Scallop; Monkfish; Northeast Skate Complex; and Atlantic Herring.

The gallery below shows the Southern New England HAPC (and other Atlantic cod HAPCs) overlaid with active renewable energy leases and data on observed biomass of Atlantic cod. Click on the images to open a new tab with the interactive Data Explorer map showing these data.