Amendments to the U.S. Caribbean Reef Fish,
Spiny Lobster, and Corals And Reef
Associated Plants and Invertebrates
Fishery Management Plans
Timing of Accountability Measure-Based Closures
Draft Amendment/Environmental Assessment
June 2016
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Actions and Management Alternatives
Amendment consists of two actions:
- Action 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM-
based closures in the EEZ
- Action 2: Specify how often to revisit the approach selected
in Action 1
2
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Action 1
Alternative 1: No Action. December 31 going backward (All FMUs)
Preferred Alternative 2: September 30 going backward (DAP’s input)
(All FMUs). If Alt 5 also chosen for FMUs that include species with
seasonal closures, Alt 5 regs govern those FMUs affected.
Alternative 3: January 1 going forward (All FMUs). If Alt 5 also chosen
for FMUs that include species with seasonal closures, Alt 5 regs govern
those FMUs affected.
Alternative 4: Different fixed dates for individual or a group of FMUs.
AM-based closure dates would end the last day of the month that has
the highest or the lowest landings based on monthly average landings
through time, using 2012-2014 as the most recent three years of
available landings data.
3
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Action 1
Alternative 4 Sub-alternatives (by island management area):
Dates identified in Alts 1-5 would apply for any year AMs need to
be implemented for that particular FMU, unless and until the
chosen closure dates are revised as described in Action 2.
Alternatives 4a (PR comm.), 4c (PR rec.), 4e (STT/STJ), 4g
(STX), 4i (Caribbean-wide). Closure to end the last day of the
month with highest average landings
Alternatives 4b (PR comm.), 4d (PR rec.), 4f (STT/STJ), 4h
(STX), 4j (Caribbean-wide). Closure to end the last day of the
month with lowest average landings
- Tables 2.2.1 – 2.2.5 in Document
4
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Action 1
Alternative 5:
For FMUs that include species with seasonal closures in
U.S. Caribbean federal waters, AM-based closures
resulting from an ACL overage for these FMUs would be
timed to be continuous with the seasonal closure. The AMbased closure will extend either forward or backward from
the seasonal closure into the year as specified in SubAlternatives 5(a) through 5(n) for the number of days
necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings.
- Pages 31-33 in Document (includes Table 2.2.6)
5
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Alternative 5 Sub-alternatives 5a-5n (by FMU and island management area):
SubAlternative
Island Mgt. Area or
PR sector
5a
PR - Commercial
5c
PR-Recreational
5e
STT/STJ
5f
STX
5b
PR Commercial
5d
PR Recreational
5g
PR Commercial
5i
PR Recreational
5k
STT/STJ
5m
STX
5h
PR Commercial
5j
PR Recreational
5l
STT/STJ
5n
STX
Date
Date Seasonal
Closure/species
Applicable FMU for
AM
May 1st going
forward
Feb 1 – Apr 30:
Black, red, yellowfin,
tiger, yellowedge
Grouper Complex
Nov 30th going
backward
Dec 1 – last day Feb:
Red hind west of
Puerto Rico
Grouper Complex
July 1st going
forward
Apr 1 – Jun 30: Mutton
and lane snappers
Snapper Unit 3:
mutton, lane, gray,
dog, schoolmaster,
mahogany
Snapper Complex
Sep 30th going
backward
Oct 1 – Dec 31:
Silk, black, blackfin,
vermillion
SU1 (all +
wenchman)
Snapper Complex
6
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Action 1 – Alt 5 Effects (vary by FMU and date)
Economic – Could decrease costs associated with having two closures
instead of one (positive), could have closures during economically
important times (negative), current harvest efficiencies resulting from
fishing adjacent to a seasonal closure would be interrupted (negative)
Social and Cultural – Could have closures during socially and
culturally important times (negative); greater complexity of regs could
be more confusing for fishers (negative)
Biological –AM closure ending or starting immediately before or after
the spawning closure may have biological benefits (positive for
species affected)
Physical – Extended protection to habitat during period immediately
before or after the spawning closure by reducing anchoring activities
and reducing gear interactions used for those specific species
(positive).
Administrative – One closure instead of two could ease enforcement
(positive) but more complex info for public compliance and
enforcement efforts (some species in AM closure not included in
species closure, more dates to keep track of) (negative)
7
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Action 1 Summary of Effects
Alternative
Alt 1 (Dec 31 end)
Positive effects
Avoids fishing during bad weather
Alt 2 (Sept 30 end) (Preferred)
Avoids fishing during bad weather; May result in long closure due to
Avoid closure during high demand AM closure consecutive with
period in USVI and West Coast of seasonal closures (SU1)
PR
Alt 3 (Jan 1 start)
Established start date (easier to
plan for); High probability of
abutting or overlapping with
seasonal closures
Alt 4 (various based on high
landings/low landings)
Negative Effects
Closure during high demand
period in USVI and West Coast of
PR
May have a closure going into
Lent; high tourism season in USVI;
high probability of abutting or
overlapping with seasonal
closures (SU1)
Longer closure during low demand Longer closures during low
periods; Shorter closures during
demand periods; Shorter closure
high demand periods (varies by
during high demand periods
alt)
(varies by alt)
Alt 5 (AM closure consecutive with Extends protection of spawning
seasonal closure for certain
activity; decreases adjustments
species)
needed to switch fisheries due to
closures; eases enforcement for
affected species in some ways
More complex regs; makes
enforcement and compliance more
difficult; current harvest
efficiencies could be interrupted
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Action 2: Specify how often the approach to set the timing
of AM-based closures selected in Action 1 should be
revisited.
• Alternative 1. No Action. Do not specify how often the
approach chosen should be revisited.
• Preferred Alternative 2. Revisit the approach selected no
longer than 2 years from implementation and every 2 years
thereafter.
• Alternative 3. Revisit the approach selected no longer than 5
years from implementation and every 5 years thereafter.
Revisiting the approach that sets the timing for AM closures can
involve revisiting the dates selected, criteria for choosing the
dates, or any other aspect of the rule.
9
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Draft Timeline
Today
Council discusses Public
Hearings, reviews document.
Council discusses alternatives,
reconsiders or confirms
preferred alts
Decides if taking final action at
August meeting
2016
Council holds
Public Hearings, if
necessary
Council reviews and approves
codified text
Council approves Amendment
for Secretarial Review
Amendment and Proposed
Rule Comment Period
2017
NOAA
publishes
Amendment/
Final Rule
Final Rule
Effective
10
Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment
June 2016
Next Steps:
• Review alternatives (including Alt 5) and preferred
alternatives
• Motion to reconsider or confirm preferred alternatives
• Consider Public Hearings schedule
• Consider taking final action (August Council
Meeting?)
12
Motions
• Move to hold one public hearing in Mayaguez/Cabo Rojo
and one public hearing at the Council meeting in San
Juan in August 2016.
• Blanchard/Hanke
• Motion carries