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
Caribbean Fishery Management Council
154th Meeting
December 15 2015
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
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
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
Dates and Places: Public Hearings
Puerto Rico:
• Monday, November 23 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. – Doubletree Hotel, Avenida de Diego,
Santurce, Puerto Rico
• Tuesday, November 24 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. -- Mayagüez Holiday Inn, Núm.. 2701
Avenida Hostos, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
• Wednesday, Noviembre 25 2015 - 2:00 p.m. a 5:00 p.m. -- Ponce Holiday Inn, Ponce , Puerto
Rico
USVI
• Monday, Noviembre 16 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. -- Buccaneer Hotel, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.
• Tuesday, Noviembre 17 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. -- Windward Passage, Holiday Inn Hotel, St.
Thomas, U.S.V.I.
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
4
Public Hearings Results
Deponents
(Present)
Action 1
Action 2
St. Croix
4 (14)
Alt. 2
Alt. 2
St. Thomas
1 (5)*
Alt. 2
Alt. 2
San Juan
16** (65)
Alt. 2 =7
Alt. 4(b) = 1
NONE = 7
Alt. 5 (new) = 1
Alt. 2 = 8
Alt. 3 = 1
NONE = 5
Every year n=2
Mayagüez
9 (65)
More information
More information
Ponce
2 (3)
Alt. 2
Alt. 2
*Representing 32 commercial fishers of the STFA
**4 Presidents of Fishing Associations
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
5
Public Hearings Results
• Summer months are better for them economically speaking,
•
•
•
•
•
because this is a slow time for the tourism season.
Seasonal closures already in place should be considered
Each coast of Puerto Rico should be considered separately
Factors to consider include: (1) decreased number of fishers; (2)
environmental changes; (3) safety issues when forced to fish
when closure in place, 4’-6’ seas prevent fishers from going out;
(4) basis for ACLs is wrong
Research needs to be conducted in collaboration with fishers
and inform decisions
Need to manage for small scale fisheries
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
6
Public Hearings Results
• Get real time information
• Data collected should be audited to eliminate the ones that are
not real before they are sent to the US
• Information should be brought to the fishers before the public
hearings; informal meetings, workshops
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
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
7
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
Public Hearing Draft - Action 1
Alternative 1: No Action. December 31 going backward
(All FMUs)
Preferred Alternative 2: September 30 going backward
(DAP’s input) (All FMUs)
Alternative 3: January 1 going forward (All FMUs)
Alternative 4: Different fixed dates for individual or a group
of FMUs on each island/island group
8
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
Public Hearing Draft - Action 1
Alternative 4 Sub-alternatives (by island/island group):
Alternatives 4a (PR comm.), 4c (PR rec.), 4e (STT/STJ),
4g (STX), 4i (Caribbean-wide). Closure to start 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 start the last
day of the month with lowest average landings
9
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
Public Hearing Draft - Action 1
Alternative 5: If there is a need to apply the closure for
any species, this closure for recuperating the fishery
from the over captures should be placed during the
closed season for such species
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AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
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.
11
AM Based Closures Amendment
December 2015
Action 2: Specify how often the approach to set the timing of
AM-based closures selected in Action 1 should be revisited.
• IPT recommends specifying how the review/revisiting will
proceed
• Content:
• Oral presentation of closure history over the past two years and
verbal discussion by Council members with public comment at a
Council meeting? Review needed? (IPT can help determine
appropriate vessel to do this. Formal analysis? Written report?)
• Process:
• When will revisiting occur? Will changes be made through a plan
amendment? Framework action?
12
Draft Timeline
Today
Council discusses outcomes of
Public Hearings
Amendment and
Proposed Rule
Comment Period
Council revises alternatives of
Action 2 as appropriate
Staff to bring final document to
Spring Meeting for final action
2015
2016
Council revises and
approves codified
text
Council approves
Amendment for
Secretarial Review
NOAA
publishes
Amendment/
Final Rule
Final Rule
Effective
13
14
Next Steps:
• Modify text in Alternatives 2 and 3 of Action 2, if
appropriate. Provide additional information for Alternatives
2 and 3 of Action 2 to guide the review process.
• Direct staff to bring final draft to Spring 2016 meeting for
final action