Landings, ACLs, AMs, and OFLs Southeast Regional Office October 6, 2019

Average Landings for ACL Overage Assessment Assessing for 2015 Fishing Year Averaging Years = 2011, 2012, 2013 Status of Data Availability: USVI data available for all three years PR Recreational data available for all three years PR Commercial data for 2013 not yet available, analyses delayed accordingly

Data and Assessment Timeline

St. Thomas/St. John Status Commercial/Recreational are combined (separate rec landings are not available) ACLs for three FMUs (angelfish, squirrelfish, wrasses) were exceeded based on 2011-2013 average landings SEFSC/SSC determination was that all three due to enhanced reporting (added to report forms since ACLs established) No AMs will be implemented No closures will be necessary for 2015

St. Thomas/St. John Averages vs. ACL: “2010” Species Average 2011-2013 St. Thomas/St. John Commercial Landings Species Landings (lbs) Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Conch 870 n/a Grouper 44,419 51,849 85.7% Parrotfish 19,389 42,500 45.6% Snapper 55,563 133,775 41.5%

St. Thomas/St. John Averages vs. ACL: “2011” Species Average 2011-2013 St. Thomas/St. John Commercial Landings Species Landings (lbs) Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Angelfish 16,872 7,897 213.7% Aquarium trade 18 8,155 0.2% Boxfish 13,012 27,880 46.7% Goatfishes 17 320 5.4% Grunts 17,692 37,617 47.0% Jacks 35,343 52,907 66.8% Porgies 2,896 21,819 13.3% Spiny Lobster 83,897 104,199 80.5% Squirrelfish 8,610 4,241 203.0% Surgeonfish 15,654 29,249 53.5% Tilefish 14,642 0.0% Triggerfish & Filefish 49,384 74,447 66.3% Wrasses 1,895 585 323.9%

St. Croix Status Commercial/Recreational are combined (separate rec landings are not available) ACLs for three FMUs (angelfish, squirrelfish, wrasses) were exceeded based on 2011-2013 average landings SEFSC/SSC determination was that all three due to enhanced reporting (added to report forms since ACLs established) No AMs will be implemented No closures will be necessary for 2015

St. Croix Averages vs. ACL: “2010” Species Average 2011-2013 St. Croix Commercial Landings Species Landings (lbs) Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Conch 37,137 50,000 74.3% Grouper 27,881 30,435 91.6% Parrotfish 126,943 240,000 52.9% Snapper 73,125 102,946 71.0%

St. Croix Averages vs. ACL: “2011” Species Average 2011-2013 St. Croix Commercial Landings Species Landings (lbs) Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Angelfish 10,555 305 3460.8% Aquarium trade 152 8,155 1.9% Boxfish 2,970 8,433 35.2% Goatfishes 527 3,766 14.0% Grunts 25,945 36,881 70.3% Jacks 11,086 15,489 71.6% Porgies 860 4,638 18.5% Spiny Lobster 85,365 107,307 79.6% Squirrelfish 612 121 505.5% Surgeonfish 22,023 33,603 65.5% Tilefish 14,642 0.0% Triggerfish & Filefish 21,024 24,980 84.2% Wrasses 25 7 361.9%

Puerto Rico Recreational Separate commercial and recreational data collection in Puerto Rico No recreational ACLs were exceeded based on 2011-2013 average landings No recreational AMs will be implemented No recreational closures will be necessary for 2015 Note that spiny lobster and queen conch are not included in the recreational monitoring program

Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL: “2010” Species Species Average Annual 2011, 2012, and 2013 Recreational Landings by Two-month Wave* Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Jan-Feb Mar-Apr May-Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Nov-Dec Total Average Goliath Grouper n/a Nassau Grouper 80 147 228 Grouper 987 4,764 1,487 469 2,301 358 10,366 77,213 13.4% Parrotfish 2,935 2,142 1,510 251 1,056 2,082 9,976 15,263 65.4% Snapper Unit 1 6,330 10,650 7,887 3,484 4,080 32,431 95,526 34.0% Snapper Unit 2 2,460 34,810 7.1% Snapper Unit 3 4,135 7,681 19,159 2,459 2,824 14,465 50,724 83,158 61.0% Snapper Unit 4 1,126 2,806 2,646 525 233 2,610 9,946 28,509 34.9%

Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL: “2011” Species Species Average Annual 2011, 2012, and 2013 Recreational Landings by Two-month Wave* Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Jan-Feb Mar-Apr May-Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Nov-Dec Total Reported Angelfish 126 56 182 4,492 4.1% Aquarium trade** 137 426 66 463 1,092 8,155 13.4% Boxfish 659 270 187 36 150 507 1,808 4,616 39.2% Goatfishes 46 5 88 140 362 38.6% Grunts 209 625 469 47 235 557 2,142 5,028 42.6% Jacks 4,381 10,970 8,659 5,601 4,913 4,924 39,448 51,001 77.3% Porgies 52 156 116 24 105 782 1,236 2,577 47.9% Squirelfish 18 77 112 128 381 3,891 9.8% Surgeonfish 3,590 0.0% Tilefish** 39 62 178 14,642 1.2% Triggerfish & Filefish 1,698 2,311 1,458 322 5,788 21,929 26.4% Wrasses 67 2,041 15 25 981 3,128 5,050 61.9%

Puerto Rico Commercial Commercial landings data for 2013 not yet available Expected in early 2015 (late January) Based on that expected delivery date, we will wait to evaluate landings relative to ACLs and establish closures as necessary Determinations will be made according to following timeline Also some Expansion Factor issues, but those should be resolved soon

Data and Assessment Timeline- Late Data

Puerto Rico Commercial- If All Else Fails? If 2013 PR commercial data do not become available, will use appropriate sequence that includes data through 2012 This essentially results in the same outcomes as last year, although closures may not be identical: For “2010” species, use 2010, 2011, 2012 data For “2011” species, use 2011 and 2012 data When do we “fall back” on previous data? Trade-off between waiting as long as possible for 2013 final data and having enough time to implement potential closures

Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL: “2010” Species Average 2010-2012 Puerto Rico Commercial Landings Species Landings (lbs) Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Conch 292,972 n/a Grouper Total 73,379 177,513 41.3% Parrotfish 43,211 52,737 81.9% Snapper Unit 1 197,598 284,685 69.4% Snapper Unit 2 248,665 145,916 170.4% Snapper Unit 3 172,160 345,775 49.8% Snapper Unit 4 183,457 373,295 49.1%

Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL: “2011” Species Average 2011-2012 Puerto Rico Commercial Landings Species Landings (lbs) Annual Catch Limit Percent of ACL Angelfish 8,984 0.0% Aquarium trade* 6 8,155 0.1% Boxfish 39,722 86,115 46.1% Goatfishes 8,429 17,565 48.0% Grunts 37,206 182,396 20.4% Jacks 41,387 86,059 48.1% Porgies 24,612 24,739 99.5% Spiny Lobster 309,729 327,920 94.5% Squirrelfish 6,907 16,663 41.5% Surgeonfish 7,179 Tilefish* 14,642 Triggerfish & Filefish 55,834 58,475 95.5% Wrasses 61,638 54,147 113.8%

Determining Closure Date Determine number of pounds by which ACL was exceeded for FMU of interest Calculate daily rate of landings each month for that FMU using data from most recent available fishing year For example, to determine a STX closure for 2015, calculate daily fishing rate for each 2013 month from 2013 STX landings Using that fishing rate, calculate number of days required to remove the necessary poundage Count back from December 31 for that number of days to establish closure date

ACL vs. OFL Overage OFL = MSYproxy, equivalent to average landings for a set period of years (e.g., 2000-2005 for STT/STJ “2010” species) ACL = OFL x buffer reduction For “2010” species, generally (not always) a 15% reduction For “2011” species, generally (not always) a 10% reduction Exceeding the ACL is based upon a three-year average of landings Exceeding the OFL is based on the most recent year of landings only, because overfishing is an annual event Thus, it is possible to exceed the OFL without exceeding the ACL, and in fact that was the case for the 2014 calendar year

Case Studies for 2014 Calendar Year PR Snapper Unit 2 (queen and cardinal snapper) Exceeded ACL but not OFL Because rate of fishing for most recent data year (2012) had decreased relative to average, no closure was implemented PR Wrasses (hogfish, Spanish hogfish, puddingwife) Exceeded ACL and OFL Because rate of fishing for most recent data year (2012) was equal to or greater than average, AM closure implemented on October 20, 2014. Council notified by letter of overfishing condition PR Scups & Porgies (sheepshead, jolthead and pluma porgy, sea bream) Exceeded OFL but not ACL No closure was implemented, but Council notified by letter of overfishing condition