An overview of the development and utility of the ACFHP species habitat matrix and ACFHP assessment of existing information

The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) is a coast-wide initiative made up of 30 different state, federal, tribal, and non-governmental entities.  Its mission is to accelerate the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for native Atlantic coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fishes.  The ACFHP has completed two major science projects, a Species-Habitat Matrix and an Assessment of Existing Information.  The primary objective of these projects is to inform the development of ACFHP goals, objectives, action strategies, and priorities.  The Species-Habitat Matrix evaluates the relative importance of coastal, estuarine, and freshwater habitat types in terms of their value to the major life stages of over 100 fish species.  The development, review, and analysis of the Matrix represents a truly coast-wide cooperative effort to which scientists from state, federal, NGO, and academic entities contributed.  The Assessment was conducted through a contract with the NOAA National Ocean Service.  It is a database of documents, datasets, and information portals on Atlantic coastal fish species and habitats that were collected and analyzed for indicator, threat, and action information, and is available to all resource managers through web-based query tools.  This presentation will summarize the development and the utility of these projects in conservation planning.