The habitat conservation program of the National Marine Fisheries Service for fiscal years 1984 and 1985.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is responsible for the conservation, management, and development of certain living marine resources and the protection of marine mammals and endangered marine species. The agency's goal is to achieve continued optimum use of living marine resources for the benefit of the nation. The goal of NMFS' Habitat Conservation Program is to conserve and protect the habitats and associated biological communities necessary to sustain these living marine resources. This is accomplished primarily through habitat-related research, coordination with Regional Fisheries Management Councils on fisheries management plans, and review of licensing, affect living marine resources and habitats. This report documents marine habitat issues of national as well as regional importance, and summarizes the accomplishments and activities of the agency's Habitat Conservation Program.