This dataset depicts the boundaries of the North Atlantic Right Whale Critical Habitat. This dataset includes boundaries for the following Regulated Areas: - Critical Habitat for North Atlantic Right Whale Unit 1 - Critical Habitat for North Atlantic Right Whale Unit 2. Please Note: Unit 1, in the Gulf of Maine, falls under the jurisdiction of the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region. Unit 2, off the southeastern US coast, falls under the jurisdiction of the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region. Because GIS projection and topology functions can change or generalize coordinates, these GIS files are considered to be approximate representations and are NOT an OFFICIAL record for the exact regulated area boundaries. For information on the official legal definition refer to the Use Constraints metadata section.

Critical habitat for the North Atlantic Right Whale was originally designated June 3, 1994 (Vol 59, No. 106). The 2016 critical habitat designation (81 FR 4838, January 27, 2016) replaced the 1994 designation. This dataset depicts the 2016 designation.