Translating science into evidence-based policy for the protection and restoration of essential fish habitat

Coastal and estuarine ecosystems are vital as essential fish habitat (EFH). Given accelerating climate- and human-driven environmental change, conserving these habitats is increasingly urgent to ensure the sustainability of marine populations and their associated fisheries. This paper examines how scientific knowledge is being used to support management of EFH in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere. We find that while scientific knowledge to identify and quantify important habitats has rapidly increased, the transfer of this knowledge to management practice has been limited and slow, resulting in important habitats being vulnerable to degradation. Through an international review of EFH concepts and their application in science, policy, legislation, and management, we suggest the following four lessons learned to guide this knowledge transfer and better integration of EFH in fisheries and coastal zone management: (i) clearly define EFH, (ii) estimate ecosystem services at relevant (populations and fisheries) scale, (iii) build on success, and (iv) expand dialog to better integrate EFH into conservation.