Recommendations from the ACLG ACLG Meeting February 23-25 2008 Carolina, Puerto Rico

Queen Conch St. Croix A quota be set for 50,000 lb, 6-month closure [June-Nov], 200 conch per boat, no possession when the season is closed or quota reached. Size limit 9 inches or 3/8” LT (passed unanimously) ACL (Commercial) STX EEZ+State=50,000 lb D. Olsen: quotas based on QC FMP

Queen Conch Recommend that the queen conch fishery be closely monitored. Include fishers in the monitoring effort (AM); monitoring (Pat). Enforcement issues. Federal waters are closed to fisihng

Queen Conch St. Thomas/St. John ACL commercial (STT/STJ): 50,000 lb ACL EEZ =0 (STT/STJ) (13 yes) The USVI has a regulation in place where the quota of 50,000 lb per Island is set. PR: regulations in place in recent times (4 years). There is no quota established and the government is to wait. Discussion on the spawning season that needs to be revisited (July-September). August 1 – October 31 would be the new season.

Queen Conch Puerto Rico ACL EEZ PR = 0 (passed unanimously) AS/DO

Queen Conch [Recommend that the] SSC in conjunction with the Commonwealth look at Average catch for conch to develop ACL for PR [state waters.] (passed unanimously) Time period to look at performance of the fishery and the best estimate for the period selection. DO/PS

Nassau Grouper ABC = 0 [all of US Caribbean] Monitoring of the Nassau grouper aggregations is highly recommended. (passed unanimously) Discussion: This covers all US Caribbean. DO/JM

METHODOLOGY from Methodologies Working Group This methodology was presented to the ACLG

Methodology Recommendation 1 Approve Scenario 4 as shown [see previous slide] including the advice given when the data fall within this scenario. (passed unanimously) (JB/PS) [In the cases where we have only catch data and no length data] (all yes)

STT/STJ Parrotfish [ABC] commercial [catch] STT/STJ parrotfish = 50,000 lb Scenario 4 (1994-2006 average of catches) (passed unanimously) (JM/DO) (all yes) DO/JM

STX Parrotfish [ABC] commercial [catch] STX (1994-2006) = 270,000 [lb] Parrotfish [in] STX will fall in Scenario 4 Recommend not [to] increase catch more than 270,000 and decrease if the Council was to be precautionary (one vote against) (TD/JB/GM) Averages prior to this were 81,000 (1976-1990 or so). Marcia need to look at pre-gillnetting period. What is the wording exactly – Council substantially less. If it says ACL then that is different – Gerson down from 1 000,000 lbs – Wait for the advise of the Council on deciding the action be precautionary. Major regulations in place --

Methodology Recommendation 2 Approve Scenario 3 as shown including the advice given when the data fall within this scenario. (In the cases where the demographic data is not useful but have length data, no recruitment anomaly and have catch data) (passed unanimously) (JB/PS) NOTE need to clarify that OFL cannot be set, but average catch advice can be rpovided.

Parrotfish Puerto Rico Methodology of Scenario 3 for Puerto Rico parrotfish with average catch for 1999-2006 (80,000 lbs) Recommend catches [no higher than] of 80,000 lbs for parrotfish (when OFL cannot be determined) and Council can be more precautionary if they want to be. Setting the most appropriate years to set the level. (passed unanimously) Recent catch corrected (0.54 for 04-05-06) provides an average catch of 73,000 lb Preliminary analysis shows increase in mean lengths for 1999-2000; therefore trend in F likely decreasing Landings information (RG/DM) yes Recent catch corresponds to time period when F is lower

STT/STJ GU4 For STT GU4 use scenario 7 [as recommended by the Methodologies Workgroup] with the comments on creating experimental fishery and monitoring (passed with 1 abstention) Strike experimental fishery – put monitoring and research for the fishery. Need to establish the limits -- rationale to use the scenario 7 and allow it to go on. (JB/JM) [fishery controlled such that achieves the desired information – requirements to get the information as used in other fisheries] (do not have the information required and the recommendation is to establish monitoring and research. ) Catch levels not set not knowing what is going on. No information needed to do anything with this fishery. (JB/JM) (1 abstention)

STX GU4 For STX GU4 use scenario 7 [as recommended by the Methodologies Workgroup] with the comments on creating experimental fishery and monitoring. {Intent is to collect the data needed, SSC to [develop] the correct language; not as per NMFS’ experimental permits, etc.} Passed with 2 abstentions (members present = 11) Strike experimental fishery – put monitoring and research for the fishery. Need to establish the limits -- rationale to use the scenario 7 and allow it to go on. (JB/JM) [fishery controlled such that achieves the desired information – requirements to get the information as used in other fisheries] (do not have the information required and the recommendation is to establish monitoring and research. ) Catch levels not set not knowing what is going on. No information needed to do anything with this fishery. (PS/JB)

PR GU4 Use scenario 7 [as recommended by the Methodologies Workgroup] for Puerto Rico GU4 (passed with 1 abstention) Recommend setting catch no higher than the 1994-2006 average landings.

STT/STJ/STX SU1 STT/STX SU1 use Scenario 7 [as recommended by the Methodologies Working Group and create an experimental fishery with monitoring] Passed with 1 abstention JB/

Methodology Recommendation 3 Approve Scenario 1 [from] Methodolog{ies Working Group} including advice from Scenario 1. Passed unanimously Daniel Matos correction factor for DWS selling directly to restaurants – the correction factor 0.5 similar to parrotfish ; recent 04-06 the correction factor is 0.5 – it is included in the time series assessed. Underreporting. Then how to apply the methodology to SU1. (TG/PS)

SU1 Based on analysis scenario 1 for SU1 recommend that set and ABC of 200,000 lb (RG/JB) See Todd’s e-mail Issues mis id silks and others; most landed species;

PR SU1 For PR use Scenario 1 to determine the OFL for snapper unit 1. The SSC should determine appropriate species grouping options for use in determining OFL and use average catch from 1999-2006. (Passed with 1 opposed)

PR SU1 Based on analysis of scenario 1 for snapper unit 1 in PR we recommend an OFL of 284,400 lbs for PR. (Passed, with 1 opposed and 2 abstentions.)

PR SU1 Use Scenario 1 to set OFL for SU1. SSC to determine appropriate species groupings Use average catch for 1999-2006 Passed with 1 opposed

Recommendation Recommend STFA be involved in the development of the experimental fishery

Summary ACLG Scenario Recommendations PR STT STX QC ACL EEZ =0 closely monitor ACL=50,000 lb ACL EEZ=0 (ACL=EEZ+State=50,000 lb; 200 qc/boat 6-month closed Nassau ABC=0 monitor aggregations NOTE: Commercial Sector

Summary ACLG Scenario Recommendations PR STT STX Parrotfish 3 (99-06) (80,000) 4 (94-06 avg.) (ABC=50,000) 4 (94-06 avg.) (max. 270,000) GU4 7 SU1 1 (200,000) NOTE: Commercial Sector