1. U.S. Caribbean Fishery- Independent Survey Workshop SEFSC/SERO Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting St. Croix USVI April 22-23, 2014

2. Internal MARFIN awarded FY2013 Title : U.S. Caribbean Fishery-Independent Survey Workshop: to evaluate extant and novel fishery-independent surveys in the U.S. Caribbean in order to maximize their utility for stock assessment. Co-PIs : Shannon L. Cass-Calay, William S. Arnold, Jennifer Schull, Meaghan D. Bryan Tentative Date and Location: Miami, FL September 10-12, 2014 or Sept. 16-18, 2014 U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 2

3. Specific Objectives: Evaluate the design, data collection methods, etc. of available FI surveys. Explore the utility of surveys with respect to stock assessments. Make near-term and long-term recommendations on how to improve data collection methods to enhance utility for stock assessment. Conduct a cost/benefit analysis to identify “action items”. U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 3

4. Scope of Work Focus on U.S. Caribbean All available FI surveys, including historic surveys. For example: Diver-based visual surveys SEAMAP Caribbean survey St. Croix Trap Study Trap studies ROV surveys Camera surveys Deep-diver surveys U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 4

5. Agenda DAY 1: Morning Session - Modeling and data considerations Overview of available models and data requirements Discussion of current practices Afternoon Session - Description of survey designs Selection of sampling locations (e.g. Stratification) Sampling Intensity Temporal-spatial coverage of sampling effort Frequency of occurrence of relevant species Data Collected (e.g., number species, length, sex) Training and Equipment Needs U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 5

6. Agenda DAY 2: Morning Session: Description of survey designs (cont.) Afternoon Session : Integration and Enhancement Strengths/Weaknesses with respect to assessing the status of fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean Gap Analysis (for example) Insufficient temporal/spatial coverage Deep-water fisheries Diver-shy species Cryptic species U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6

7. Agenda DAY 3: Morning Session: Integration and Enhancement (cont.) Description of additional sampling required to enhance utility for Stock Assessment Predicted benefits Afternoon Session : Workshop Summary and Recommendations Recommendations Action Items U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 7

8. Participation We would like additional participation from USVI and Puerto Rico Miguel Rolon Graciela Garcia-Moliner Richard Appeldoorn Richard Nemeth Jim Berkson John Christensen Shannon Cass-Calay Bill Arnold Todd Gedamke Meaghan Bryan Kevin McCarthy Jennifer Schull Nancie Cummings Mandy Karnauskas Graciela Garcia-Moliner Ron Hill Andy Strelcheck Jim Berkson Jerry Ault Steve Smith Randy Clark Jim Bohnsack Steve Turner David Gloekner Joseph Serafy David Die Todd Kellison Benjamin Ruttenberg Nick Farmer Clay Porch U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 8