A multiregional assessment of estuary and coastal fish habitat of the United States

In order to assist in the National Fish Habitat Board and regional partnerships formed under NFHAP in identifying conservation priorities, scientists from a number of agencies and academia are working together to produce a national assessment of fish habitat.  NOAA’s portion of the assessment describes the status and threats to estuarine, coastal and marine habitats in the continental United States.  This study synthesizes existing nation-wide data sets on anthropogenic disturbance and natural drivers affecting coastal and estuarine ecosystems, and includes indicators of connectivity, hydrology, benthic complexity, and water quality.  A quantitative assessment of habitat components was nested into a multi-scale spatial framework for the coastal Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico using NOAA’s Coastal Assessment Framework (CAF). Indicator values were assigned to units within the CAF and composite habitat condition scores were assessed using principle components analysis and other data reduction methods.  Next steps include testing how these scores predict fish species composition and abundance metrics of well-studied stocks.  Additional analyses within regions will be completed to further refine habitat conditions and assist in establishing critically degraded areas.   Assessment of Alaska and Hawaii coastal and nearshore habitats will be completed following these methods as available data allows.