NCDMF - North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

CHPP Documents and Downloads

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries, Environmental Management, and Coastal Resources Commissions unanimously adopted the North Carolina Coastal Habitat Protection Plan in December 2004.

The CHPP identifies six types of habitats that produce North Carolina’s coastal fisheries resources (shell bottom, sea grasses, wetlands, hard bottoms, soft bottoms, and the water column). The document provides information on the habitats’ distribution and abundance, ecological functions and importance to fish production, status and trends, threats to the habitats, and recommendations to deal with the threats.

Implementation Plans
The three Commissions and their Department of Environment and Natural Resources agencies have developed implementation plans to address the recommendations. Initial implementation steps are underway.

The combined Implementation Plan for 2005-2007 is available as a download here. For additional information, please call the CHPP office at DMF in Morehead City (252-726-7021, or 1-800-682-2632).

Download the entire Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (52 Meg PDF File)

Download CHPP Divided by Chapters - The Water Column, Shell Bottom, SAV, Wetlands, Soft Bottom, and Hard Bottom chapters, and the Map of Fish Habits in NC, Literature Cited, Appendices A-I, Appendix J, & Appendices K-O, and Index (for chapters 1-9) include the scientific information for each habitat type, such as distribution, ecological functions, related fishes, status and trends, threats, and management needs. The Title Page, Executive Summary & Table of Contents, Introduction, Strategic Habitat Areas, and Recommendations chapters deal with the policy issues.

If you would prefer to receive a CDROM of this file please call:
800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021 (ask for CHPP office) or contact via e-mail - [email protected]

New CHPP documents to download

SAV Mapping and Monitoring Inventory (2008)
Strategic Habitat Area report for Region 1
MFC approved guidelines for Strategic Habitat Areas
2008 CHPP Annual Report

Research Needs
The CHPP identifies a wide variety of information gaps in our scientific understanding of coastal ecosystems and how we can best address those issues. Some examples include specific influences of habitat extent and fish abundance, and cumulative impacts of man-made structures on various habitats. More than 90 specific research needs were noted in the CHPP, and they have been compiled into a report that interested researchers may wish to consult as an aid in preparation and submittal of research proposals to various funding agencies. No state funds are available specifically to address these needs. Please click here to download this report. Members of the CHPP Development Team are available to discuss research ideas with interested parties. Members of the CHPP Team are identified in the CHPP.

Tri-Commission Slide Show (3 Meg PDF File)
PDF of slide show presented during joint meeting of the Environmental Management, Coastal Resources, and Marine Fisheries commissions on September 9, 2004.

Summer 2004 Public Meeting Summary (PDF File)
Summer 2003 Public Meeting Summary (PDF File)

Please note: When dealing with a PDF file, you can right click on the link above and select "Save Target As" so that you can direct the file to download to a folder of your choice on your computer. Older browsers such as Netscape 4.7 will not open these files properly in the browser. You will need to download them to your computer using the "Save Target As" feature.

Fish-N-CHPPs - Informational Video
Windows Media v8 (may require codec download)
Resolution: 320x240
File Size: 15 megabytes
Windows Media v9 (may require codec download, best quality:bandwidth)
Resolution: 320x240
File Size: 20 megabytes
MPEG1 Audio and Video (compatible with most computer platforms, best to download and play from local media)
Resolution: 352x240
File Size: 84 megabytes



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