1. Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting 28-29 June 2011 1

2. SSC addressed the following: CFMC interest in (expressed by RA Crabtree) setting OFL levels above average landings for healthy stocks Used the ORCS Working Group Approach (Berkson et al. 2011) to determine OFL and make recommendations to CFMC regarding ABC Determined if an FMU was lightly, moderately or heavily exploited – associated with a scalar to apply to the landing statistic Determined the time series of landings on which to base OFL Determined the landings statistic(s) to be used as the basis for determining OFL Applied the scalar to the landing statistic ABC calculation SSC classified FMUs as to whether they were at low, moderate, or high risk of being overfished Council is responsible for the scalar to apply to OFL to get ABC 2

3. CFMC asked SSC to consider the following: CFMC asked the SSC to consider setting OFL levels above average landings for healthy stocks RA Crabtree provided rationale: “If the you believe a stock is healthy with no signs of overfishing, but you then set the OFL at average catch, aren't you then saying that overfishing has been occurring on average about half the time? Isn't that inconsistent with the starting premise that the stock is healthy? So if a stock healthy, shouldn't the OFL be a level above average catch?” 3

4. SSC Response Setting OFL equal to average catch over a period of time does not mean that overfishing occurred about half the time. Catch can fluctuate and can be higher if fishing is maintained at F msy (fishing morality rate at MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield). However, managing by a constant fishing morality strategy requires info on stock size and fishing mortality so that catch can be adjusted annually. When average catch is used to estimate fishing mortality this information is lacking – constant catch strategy required. 4

5. CFMC request continued RA Crabtree also pointed out that the Gulf of Mexico Council’s SSC has been working on the following: “Based on expert evaluation of the best scientific information available, recent historical landings are without trend, landings are small relative to stock biomass, or the stock is unlikely to undergo overfishing if future landings are equal to or moderately higher than the mean of recent landings...... Set the overfishing limit equal to the mean of recent landings plus two standard deviations. “ 5

6. SSC Response The conditions for applying this approach (i.e., landings without trend, landings small relative to stock size, stock unlikely to undergo overfishing) are not generally applicable to Caribbean stocks because of insufficient information. Furthermore, the CFMC SSC is not aware of a scientific basis for assuming that OFL occurs at a "catch equal the average plus two standard deviations.” This corresponds to assuming that a catch that occurred rarely (about 2.5% of the time) during the averaging period could have been taken as a constant catch without overfishing. Why should this be true in general? 6

7. OFL Determination using the ORCS (Only Reliable Catch Stocks) Working Group Approach 7

8. Step One Determine if an FMU (Fisheries Management Unit) was lightly, moderately or heavily exploited using evidence- based scoring system of selected attributes. Commercial and recreational landings were scored separately Commercial: Six of the nine original attributes were scored for each FMU based on criteria provided in the ORCS report Recreational: 3 – 4 of the attributes were scored for each FMU Attributes were scored as follows: 1 – low level of exploitation 2 – medium level of exploitation 3 – high level of exploitation 8

9. Attributes Table – Example Results for Puerto Rico AttributesPorgiesGoatfishJacksAngelfish Exploitation 1 Not Included Refugia 2 3333 Behavior 3 2222 Morphology 4 2122 Bycatch 5 2321 M = Natural mortality 6 2222 Rarity 1 Not Included Value 7 1211 Trend 1 Not Included Average2.002.172.001.83 Ecological value2 9

10. Explanation of attributes REFUGIA - Presence of extensive natural or managed refugia. This applies to species that were not highly mobile as adults in relation to the size of the refugia. Value of 1 - less than 50% of habitat is accessible to fishing, 2 - 50-75%, 3 - >75%. SCHOOLING, aggregation, or other behavior responses affecting capture by fishing gear. Species specific behavior characteristics can make a species more or less susceptible to capture by a fishing gear. School of yellowtail snapper – schools of yellowtail are harvested with seine nets on St. Thomas/St. John. 10

11. Explanation of attributes (cont.) Morphological characteristics affecting capture, i.e. large spines, body shape. Targeting of stock - Is the stock targeted by the fishery or is it bycatch. Stocks that are primarily bycatch are likely to be lightly exploited relative to the targeted stocks. However non-targeted stocks may still become overfished if it is less productive than the targeted stock. Four-eye butterfly fish susceptible to capture by traps and nets because of its body shape. It is bycatch. 11

12. Explanation of attributes (cont.) Natural mortality - For stocks subject to similar fishing mortality rates, those with low natural mortality have a higher likelihood of becoming overfished than those with a higher natural mortality. Blue fry – high natural mortality Graysby – moderate to high natural mortality 12

13. Explanation of attributes (cont.) Highly valued fish stocks are more susceptible to overfishing or becoming overfished. Surgeonfish are considered trash fish in Puerto Rico – sell for $0.75/lb. Red grouper (below) and mutton snapper (above) are highly valued stocks in the U.S. Caribbean. 13

14. Recommended scalar to apply to OFLs Stock Category Lightly exploited B > B 65% Moderately exploited B approximately B MSY Heavily exploited B < B 20% 2.0 X catch statistic1.0 x catch statistic0.5 x catch statistic Corresponding Average Attribute Values < 1.51.5 – 2.5> 2.5 14

15. Results Average attribute scores ranged from 1.67 for tilefish to 2.5 for spiny lobster Therefore, all FMUs, including both commercial and recreational landings, were determined to be moderately exploited and the scalar applied was 1.0 x the catch statistic 15

16. Step two – Selection of Time Series for Puerto Rico Landings time series from 1988 – 2009 was selected. Expansion factors for landings prior to 1988 were unknown Prior to 1988 landings may have included catches from outside the Puerto Rican EEZ After 1988, the DNER lab has institutional knowledge of the expansion factors and the rationale supporting their application to annual landings Landings data for Puerto Rico 16

17. Step two – Selection of Time Series for Puerto Rico (cont.) Landings from 1988 onwards show a high degree of variability potentially owing to a variety of factors Natural variability in fish populations Accuracy of data % of fishers reporting Accuracy of self-reported landings in the past because of difficulty in accurately identifying species and more recently because fishers are asked to report and submit trip tickets without port samplers assistance Misreporting because of discontent with new regulations Landings data for Puerto Rico 17

18. Step two – Selection of Time Series for Puerto Rico (cont.) Expansion calculations changed in 2003 from participation based calculation to fish weight based calculation. Declines in reported data likely because of many fishers not submitting trip reports because of discontent with new regulatory regime. In conclusion, no substantial time period is free of changes and impacts. Landings data for Puerto Rico 18

19. Commercial Landings – Step 3: Selecting an appropriate landings statistic The SSC selected the median* of the commercial landings values for the time series 1988 – 2009 for each FMU with adequate landings data as the basis of OFL. Rationale: More robust to errors of measurement Less sensitive to outliers Three FMUs (Angelfish, Surgeonfish and Tilefish FMUs) were treated differently. They are not commercially targeted in Puerto Rico because they are considered either trash fish (surgeonfish, tilefish) or 2 nd class fish (angelfish) and sold for $0.75 - $1.00/lb These three FMUs had very low reported commercial landings that didn’t reflect what was considered sustainable for the fishery. These were considered pre-emptive quotas – quotas for underdeveloped fisheries that the CFMC would probably not want to get out of hand. The SSC selected two times the highest annual recreational landings recorded as the basis for commercial OFL for the Angelfish, Surgeonfish and Tilefish FMUs. * Median = middle value in a range of values, with half the values above the median and half below the median 19

20. Recreational Landings – Step 3: Selecting an appropriate landings statistic Landings were based on MRFS data which was available from 2000 – 2009 OFL based on Median for FMUs with annual landings in most if not all years For FMUs with a median value of 0 (Angelfish, Tilefish, Surgeonfish) the maximum landings were the basis for OFL MRFSS does not gather data on spiny lobster. The SSC based the OFL for spiny lobster was the 2005 SFA Amendment that allocated 32% of total spiny lobster landings to the recreational sector 20

21. Table 1: OFL values based on selected statistic measures x 1.0 1 2 x max rec landings, 2 median, 3 maximum, 4 rec landings = 32% of total landings FMU Group Commercial Landings(lbs) Recreational Landings(lbs) Total Landings (lbs) Angelfishes 11,978 1 5,989 3 17,967 Aquarium Trade 4,953 2 5,920 2 10,873 Boxfish95,683 2 5,129 2 100,812 Goatfishes19,517 2 402 2 19,919 Grunts202,662 2 5,587 2 208,249 Jacks95,621 2 56,668 2 152,289 Lobster364,355 2 171,461 4 535,816 Others39,861 2 Porgy27,488 2 2,863 2 30,351 Squirrelfish18,514 2 4,323 2 22,837 Surgeonfishes9,572 1 4,786 3 14,348 Tilefish10,846 1 5,423 3 16,269 Trigger and filefish64,972 2 24,365 2 89,337 Wrasses60,163 2 5,611 2 65,774 21

22. Calculation of ABC from OFL - Two step process Step 1 – responsibility of SSC: SSC classifies each FMU as to whether it is at low, moderate or high risk of becoming overfished due to its productivity. High productivity – low risk (short life span, fast growth, etc.) Example: sprat, fry, herring. Low productivity – high risk (large grouper species). 22

23. 23 PorgiesGoatfishJacks Angel -fishGrunts Surgeon -fish Squirrel -fishBoxfishWrasses Trigger- fish Tile- fish Spiny Lobster MLMMMLLMHMMH Table 4: Risk levels as determined by the SSC for FMUs not overfished or undergoing overfishing. L = low risk of becoming overfished, M = moderate risk, H = high risk.

24. Calculation of ABC from OFL - Two step process (continued) Step 2 – responsibility of CFMC: The CFMC decides on the scalar needed to multiply by the OFL to get ABC. The scalar is based on the SSCs determination of risk (previous table) 24

25. 25 Risk LevelAlternative A* Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D Low risk (high productivity) 0.75 x OFL 0.90 x OFL Moderate risk (moderate productivity) 0.75 x OFL 0.80 x OFL High risk (low productivity) 0.75 x OFL0.50 x OFL0.50 X OFL0.70 X OFL Table 5 (Table 6 (Berkson et al. 2011). Example ABC options for catch- only stocks using the ORCS Working Group Approach. * Note the example scalars provided in each column remain equal or decrease as you read down the columns as risk increases (productivity decreases).

26. US Virgin Islands Given that the SSC only met for two days, the SSC did not re-address their recommendations for OFL and ABC for St. Thomas/St. John or St. Croix. OFL and ABC recommendations remain as previously presented. Note: The time series for St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix is short because fishers in the USVI only started recording landings by fish family at the turn of the century. There is no recreational data in the USVI, so the OFL is based only on average commercial landings. 26

27. OFL’s for St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix Districts The time series for determining average annual catch for commercial landings of species listed in Tables 2 and 3 of the Options Paper dated December 22, 2010 (spiny lobster and reef fish) shall be the longest time series available for both islands; for STT/STJ 2000- through the most recent year for which reliable data are available and for STX 1999-through the most recent year for which reliable data are available.

28. OFL Recommendations The SSC recommends [Action 1(b)] Option 2(b) under Table 7* and that OFL equals the average annual commercial landings for the year sequences selected in the previous motion. *Refers to Option Paper dated 22 Dec 2010 School of stoplight parrotfish

29. ABC Recommendation For STT/STJ, STX, and Puerto Rico, the SSC recommends ABC=OFL (for species listed in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Options Paper dated December 22, 2010) except for the Acanthuridae (reef herbivores) and most Pomacanthidae (reef spongivores). Because these species may play a significant ecological role in regulating algal and sponge populations of the coral reefs, the SSC recommends that a new option under Action 1(b), Option 2(i) ABC = OFL x (0.50) for the Acanthuridae and the Pomacanthidae be considered. Acanthuridae - surgeonfish Pomacanthidae - angelfish 29

30. SSC Rationale for New Option SSC is proposing this the new option because of the severe decline in coral and the increase in the abundance of algae and the high abundance and competitive dominance of sponges: Acanthurids are herbivores and as such may be important in helping regulate algal populations on the reef. Angelfish: At least the larger species of angelfish (rock beauty, French, and queen) feed on sponges and as such may have a keystone species role in protecting corals from erosion by boring sponges and overgrowth by sponges. Juvenile French angelfish 30

31. Impact of sponges on coral reefs French angelfish, queen angelfish, and rock beauty were found to feed mainly on sponges (volume of sponges in stomachs was 74.8%, 96.8%, and 97.1% by volume, respectively). Sponges are currently abundant in Caribbean coral reef communities. Sponge biomass, diversity, and abundance can exceed that of corals. Sponges can overgrow, kill and or dissolve the skeletons of corals. Predation on sponges from hawksbill turtles and angelfishes has been compared to herbivory on plants. Even though other factors such as disease or storms may play an important role in regulating sponge populations, it is important to view FMUs in an ecosystem context. 31

32. Aquarium Species The SSC recommends the following preferred alternative for the Aquarium Species (Options Paper dated December 22 2010): Action 2, Option 2, Sub-option C: Move all of the aquarium trade species listed in both the Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, into a separate Fishery Management Plan specific to aquarium trade species. Spirobranchus giganteus, Christmas tree worm 32

33. SSC Recommendations Puerto Rico – expanded landings from 2003 to present should be calculated using the participatory expansion method so that data from 1988-2002 can be compared with 2003 – 2009. If the reults differ significantly, a correction factor should be developed. Once this is done, the SSC may need to revisit their decision. Puerto Rico – SSC recommended that the data and expansion factors for the 2005 landings be reviewed. The peak appears to be anomalous. The SSC noted that their was no connection between level of fishing and MSY. Only if a stock assessment is done should MSY be included in the discussion of fishing levels. 33 Hawksbill Turtle - STX