Using ShoreZone to Assess Rockfish Critical Habitat in Puget Sound

Section 4 of the Federal Endangered Species Act requires the designation of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. In 2014 the National Marine Fisheries designated critical habitat for the threatened Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus), the threatened DPS of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger), and the endangered DPS of bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinus) of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin.  In delineating nearshore (shallower than 30 m (98 ft)) areas in Puget Sound, we used the habitat characteristics described in the ShoreZone inventory to assist in determining if essential features for juvenile canary rockfish and bocaccio occur along particular areas.  This area generally coincides with the maximum depth of the photic zone in Puget Sound and can contain physical or biological features essential to the conservation of juvenile canary rockfish and bocaccio.  To determine the distribution of essential features of nearshore habitats for juvenile canary rockfish and bocaccio, we used the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) ShoreZone inventory (Berry et al. 2001) in combination with the benthic habitat classifications of the BTM related to the locations where moderate to large rivers enter Puget Sound