2
31
January
2003
EPA
defined
eight
regions
for
its
analysis
based
on
similarities
in
the
physical
characteristics
of
the
affected
water
bodies,
aquatic
species
present
in
the
area,
and
characteristics
of
commercial
and
recreational
fishing
activities
in
the
area.
These
regions
and
the
water
body
types
within
each
region
are
described
below.

Coastal
Regions
Coastal
regions
are
fisheries
regions
defined
by
the
National
Atmospheric
and
Oceanic
Administration
(
NOAA)
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service
(
NMFS).
Table
1
presents
these
geographic
areas
and
the
number
of
facilities
included
in
each
NMFS
region.
The
North
Atlantic
region
includes
all
estuary/
tidal
river
and
ocean
facilities
in
Maine,
New
Hampshire,

Massachusetts,
Connecticut,
and
Rhode
Island.
The
Mid
Atlantic
region
includes
all
estuary/
tidal
river
and
ocean
facilities
in
New
York,
New
Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
Maryland,
the
District
of
Columbia,
Delaware,
and
Virginia.
The
South
Atlantic
region
includes
all
estuary/
tidal
river
and
ocean
facilities
in
the
North
Carolina,
South
Carolina,
Georgia,
and
the
east
coast
of
Florida.
The
Gulf
of
Mexico
region
includes
all
estuary/
tidal
river
and
ocean
facilities
in
Texas,
Louisiana,

Mississippi,
and
Alabama
and
the
west
coast
of
Florida.
The
Northern
California
region
includes
all
estuary/
tidal
river
and
ocean
facilities
north
of
Point
Conception.
The
Southern
California
region
includes
all
estuary/
tidal
river
and
ocean
facilities
south
of
Point
Conception.

Table
1
:
Definition
of
Costal
Regions
Region
Geographic
Area
Number
of
Estuarine
Facilities
Number
of
Ocean
Facilities
Total
Number
of
Facilities
North
Atlantic
Maine,
New
Hampshire,
Massachusetts,
Rhode
Island,
Connecticut
19
2
21
Mid
Atlantic
New
York,
New
Jersey,
Delaware,
Maryland
and
Virginia
43
1
44
South
Atlantic
North
Carolina,
South
Carolina,
Georgia,
East
Florida
13
1
14
