Illex squid (Illex illecebrosus)
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for Illex
squid:
- Pre-recruits: EFH is the pelagic waters found over the
Continental Shelf (from the coast out to the limits of the EEZ), from the Gulf
of Maine through Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in areas that comprise the
highest 75% of the catch where pre-recruit Illex were collected in
the NEFSC trawl surveys. Generally, pre-recruit Illex are collected
from shore to 600 ft and temperatures between 36 oF and 73
oF.
- Recruits: EFH is the pelagic waters found over the
Continental Shelf (from the coast out to the limits of the EEZ), from the Gulf
of Maine through Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in areas that comprise the
highest 75% of the catch where recruited Illex were collected in the
NEFSC trawl surveys. Generally, recruited Illex are collected from
shore to 600 ft and temperatures between 39 oF and 66
oF.
Pre-recruits and recruits are stock assessment terms used by NEFSC and
correspond roughly to the life history stages juveniles and adults,
respectively. Illex pre-recruits are less than or equal to 10 cm and
recruits are greater than 10 cm.