Environmental Assessment for NCCOS RESTORE Act proposed action to fund project titled: "Linking habitat to recruitment: evaluating the importance of pelagic Sargassum to fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico"

The purpose of the proposed action is to quantify the abundance of Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico to evaluate the nursery function and importance of Sargassum to fisheries in a context useful to managers. Activities include fish and invertebrate sampling using the following methods: plankton purse seine, neuston net, Sabiki rigs, and light traps. Formal consulation with NMFS has been completed and resulted in a Biological Opinion (FPR-2047-9216) and an incidental take statement for sea turtles. Informal EFH consultation with NMFS Southeast region has also been completed and resulted in a letter of concurrence that project activities would not adversely affect EFH resources.

Field research is proposed in Spring 2018