Comprehensive Amendment to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council Fishery Management Plans Comprehensive Amendment to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council Fishery Management Plans Revised Options Paper (Draft Version 3) 152 nd Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Timing of Accountability Measure-Based Closures

152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015 Amendment consists of two actions: - Action 1: Select an approach to modify the timing of AM- based closures in the EEZ - Action 2: Specify how often to revisit the approach Previous Action 1 (First Draft Options Paper) Option 1: No Action Option 2: Customized Approach/Mechanism Option 3: Pre-determined (Fixed) Approach Actions and Management Options 2

December 2014: 1) The Council requested that the customized approach (Option 2) be removed from the document due to concerns regarding time requirement and 2) the Council requested the DAPs to review the document and provide input for fixed dates (Option 2 and Sub-option 3c) March 2015: DAPs met, reviewed a revised options paper based on Council input, and unanimously chose a fixed closure start date of September 30 going backward toward the beginning of the year as the option having the least negative socioeconomic and cultural effects. DAPs did not to pursue the option for different closure dates for each FMU. Update on Activities and Changes to the Document 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Early April 2015: The IPT met and revised the document based on the Council’s input from December and the DAP’s input from March. Developed new options. Today: The Council to review the current document and provide further guidance on development. Update on Activities and Changes to the Document nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Option 1: No Action. December 31 backward Option 2: September 30 going backward (DAP’s input) Option 3: January 1 going forward Option 4: Different fixed dates for different FMUs Overview – Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Option 1: No action. Continue AM-based closures resulting from an ACL overage beginning on December 31 st of the closure year and extending backward in the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Proposed Option 2 (new): Accountability measure-based closures resulting from an ACL overage will begin on September 30 th of the closure year and would extend backward into the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. This closure start date would apply to all FMUs for each of Puerto Rico commercial and recreational sectors, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and Caribbean-wide. If for any FMU in any year, the number of days left in the year is not enough to achieve the required reduction in landings, then those additional days would be captured in the opposite direction. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Proposed Option 3 (new): Accountability measure-based closures resulting from an ACL overage will begin on January 1 st of the closure year and would extend forward into the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. This closure start date would apply to all FMUs for each of Puerto Rico commercial and recreational sectors, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and Caribbean- wide. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Proposed Option 4: Modify the AM-based closure date by selecting and establishing a fixed fishing closure start date for the implementation of AMs for each FMU (i.e., species/species complex) by island/island group (Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and Caribbean-wide). A different start date may be chosen for each FMU on each island/island group, but that start date would apply every year AMs need to be triggered for that FMU on that island. The start date will either begin on the first day of the identified month and go forward towards the end of the year, or begin on the last day of the identified month and go backward towards the beginning of the year. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Proposed Option 4 Sub-Options: Sub-Option 4a: (previously Sub-Option 3a) – Month with highest landings Sub-Option 4b: (previously Sub-Option 3b) – Month with lowest landings Sub-Option 4c: (previously Sub-option 3c) – Month with least negative social, cultural, and economic effects Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Proposed Option 4 - Puerto Rico (Commercial) Sub-Option 4a. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month that has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4b. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4c. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with the least negative economic, social, and cultural effects. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Option 4 Sub-Option 4a (highest landings) Sub-Option 4b (lowest landings) Sub-Option 4c (least negative economic, social, and cultural effects) FMU ParrotfishMar 1Dec 1 TBD Snapper Unit 1 (silk, black, blackfin, and vermilion) Jan 1October 1 or Jun 1 1 TBD Snapper Unit 2 (queen and cardinal)Jan 1Nov 1 TBD Snapper Unit 3 (mutton, lane, gray, dog, schoolmaster, and mahogany) Dec 1May 1 or Jul 1 2 TBD Snapper Unit 4 (yellowtail) Mar 1Dec 1 TBD GroupersMar or Aug 1 3 Dec 1 4 TBD Angelfish 5 No Landings BoxfishFeb 1Jun 1 TBD GoatfishFeb 1May 1 TBD GruntsFeb 1Nov 1 TBD WrassesSept 1Nov 1 TBD JacksMar 1No 1 TBD Scups & PorgiesMar 1Nov 1 TBD SquirrelfishMar 1Aug 1 TBD Surgeonfish 5 No Landings Triggerfish & FilefishAug 1Nov 1 TBD Spiny LobsterFeb 1May 1 TBD Table (from Options Paper). Sub-Option 4a and 4b are based on monthly average landings through time from the most recent years of available landings data ( ). Dates in Sub-Option 4c would be based on input from the Council. Puerto Rico Commercial FMUs 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Proposed Option 4 - Puerto Rico (Recreational) Sub-Option 4a. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month that has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4b. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4c. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with the least negative economic, social, and cultural effects. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Table (from Options Paper). Sub-Option 4a and 4b are based on monthly average landings through time from the most recent years of available landings data ( ). Dates in Sub-Option 4c would be based on input from the Council. 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Proposed Option 4 - St. Thomas/St. John, USVI (Commercial and Recreational combined) Sub-Option 4a. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month that has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4b. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4c. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with the least negative economic, social, and cultural effects. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Table Sub-Option 4a and 4b are based on monthly average landings through time from the most recent three years of available landings data ( ). Dates in Sub-Option 4c will be based on input from the Council. Option 4 Sub-Option 4a (highest landings) Sub-Option 4b (lowest landings) Sub-Option 4c (least negative economic, social, and cultural effects) FMU ParrotfishMar 1Nov 1 TBD SnapperApr 1 or Sept 1 or Sept 30 1 Dec 1 or Aug 1 2 TBD GrouperJan 1 or Oct 1 3 Apr 1 or Dec 1 4 TBD AngelfishAug 1Feb 1 TBD BoxfishJan 1Dec 1 TBD Goatfish 5 Jan 1 or May 1 No landings Feb-Apr, June, and Aug-Dec; Jul 1(lowest landings) TBD GruntsJan 1Dec 1 TBD WrassesAug 1Feb 1 TBD JacksMay 1Dec 1 TBD Scups & PorgiesJan 1Feb 1 TBD SquirrelfishAug 1Apr 1 TBD SurgeonfishJan 1Dec 1 TBD Triggerfish & Filefish Jan 1Dec 1 TBD Spiny LobsterJan 1Sept 1 TBD St. Thomas Commercial FMUs 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Proposed Option 4 - St. Croix, USVI (Commercial and Recreational combined) Sub-Option 4a. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month that has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4b. Closure to start either the first day or the last of the month with lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4c. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with the least negative economic, social, and cultural effects. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Option 4 Sub-Option 4a (highest landings) Sub-Option 4b (lowest landings) Sub-Option 4c (least negative economic, social, and cultural effects) FMU ParrotfishMar 1Sept 1 TBD SnappersJuly 1Sept 1 or Sept 30 1 TBD GroupersJul 1Dec 1 TBD AngelfishOct 1Jun 1 TBD BoxfishJune 1Jan 1 TBD Goatfish 2 Feb 1 or Nov 1Aug 1 TBD GruntsJul 1Dec 1 TBD Wrasses 2 Nov 1 No landings in Feb – Apr, Jun, Aug, and Oct; Jan 1 or Sept 1(lowest landings) TBD JacksFeb 1Dec 1 TBD Scups & PorgiesJan 1Oct 1 TBD Squirrelfish 2 Jul 1Jan 1 or Apr 1 TBD SurgeonfishJul 1Dec 1 TBD Triggerfish & FilefishMar 1Dec 1TBD Spiny LobsterMar 1Sept 1 TBD Table Sub-Option 4a and 4b are based on monthly average landings through time from the most recent three years of available landings data ( ). Dates in Sub-Option 4c will be based on input from the Council. St. Croix Commercial FMUs 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Proposed Option 4 - Caribbean-Wide (Commercial and Recreational combined) Sub-Option 4a. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month that has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data (shortest closure time). Sub-Option 4b. Closure to start either the first day or the last of the month with lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available landings data. Sub-Option 4c. Closure to start either the first day or the last day of the month with the least negative economic, social, and cultural effects. Revised Options Paper - Action nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Table Closure dates resulting from Sub-Options 4a through 4c for Caribbean-wide fishery management units: tilefish and aquarium trade species. Sub-Option 4a and 4b are based on monthly average landings through time from the most recent three years of available landings data. *Dates in Sub- Option 4c would be based on input from the Council. Caribbean-wide FMUs 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015

Alt 1 (No action): The alternative would continue the status quo. Alts 2 and 3: These alternatives would have biological, socioeconomic and administrative effects. Analyses should consider the effects of the different proposed closure start dates as well as the effects of overlap with seasonal closures for particular FMUs. Example for Alt 2 (Sept 30 backward): AMs have to be applied to SU1. SU1 has a seasonal closure that goes from Oct 1 until Dec 31. What are the effects of those two closures combined? Type of Analysis Needed 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Option 1. No Action. Do not specify how often the approach chosen should be revisited. Option 2. Review the approach selected no longer than 3 years from implementation. Option 3. Review the approach selected no longer than 5 years from implementation. Reviewing the approach that sets the timing for AM closures can involve reviewing the dates selected, criteria for choosing the dates, or any other aspect of the rule. Action 2: Specify how often the approach to set the timing of AM-based closures selected in Action 1 should be revisited. 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Possible Next Steps 1.Discuss management options. 2.Motion to request the staff create a Public Hearing Draft for August 2015 Council meeting. 152 nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22,

Draft Timeline Today December 2015 August 2015 Council reviews PHD, selects preferred alternative(s) and approves for Public Hearings. *Council to schedule Public Hearings for Fall 2015 Late Spring/ Early Summer 2016 NOAA publishes Comprehensive Amendment/ Final Rule Final Rule Effective April 2015 Council discusses management options Council passes motion to develop Public Hearing Draft (PHD) Council discusses outcomes of Public Hearings Council revises and approves codified text Council approves Amendment for Secretarial Review Late Fall / Early Spring 2016 Amendment and Proposed Rule Comment Period nd Caribbean Council Meeting April 21-22, 2015