Overview of ichthyofauna, including fish species designated with essential fish habitat (EFH) of the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB), and ancillary fishes observed during the shipboard and aerial surveys. New Jersey coastal waters consist of various nearshore (e.g., estuaries, bays, salt marshes, tidal creeks, and coastal beaches) and offshore environments (e.g., sand ridges, continental shelf, canyons, hard bottom, and artificial reefs (e.g., ship wrecks and man-made structures) that provide critical habitats for many state and federally managed fish and invertebrates. Marine fish depend upon and utilize many types of habitats (e.g., seagrasses, salt marshes, solitary corals, and rocky intertidal areas) at different life stages. In general, the nearshore waters (estuaries, bays, and coastal beaches) are utilized by early life stages (larvae and juveniles), while the offshore waters provide habitat for sub-adult and adult life stages of various fish and invertebrates. Within the study area, the Atlantic surfclam is the primary landed commercial species, while the Atlantic sea scallop is the most economically valuable species. Summer flounder is the primary landed recreational species.