MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives

MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives

August 14, 2013

Objectives

Amendment 16 update Review range of alternatives

– Is this a reasonable range for public hearings?

Am16 Progress February 2013

– Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee meets; reviews draft alternatives

– Public scoping process April 2013

– Spatial alternatives workshop in Baltimore July 2013

– Follow up with industry participants– Letter from several Ecosystems AP members +

others

Notes on Alternatives Applicable only to Mid-Atlantic Council

region Applicable to all relevant federally-

managed fisheries– NOT applicable to non-federal fisheries

(e.g. lobster) Best available science on deep sea

coral distribution rapidly changing– FMAT incorporating as much as possible– Framework provision alternatives

Discretionary Provisions Magnuson-Stevens

discretionary provisions to designate deep sea coral zones

See page 7 of alternatives document

Alternative Sets1. Broad coral zones2. Management measures in broad

zones3. Discrete coral zones4. Management measures in

discrete zones5. Framework provisions6. VMS requirement for Illex fishery

Broad + Discrete Coral Zone Framework

Broad Coral Zones– “Freeze the

footprint”– Large areas

excluding most current fishing effort

Discrete Coral Zones– Smaller areas– Protection for

areas of known/likely coral presence

– Individual canyons, inter-canyon slope areas*Both could be implemented

simultaneously*

1. Broad Coral Zones Alt 1A: No Action Alt 1B: Landward boundary at 200 m

depth contour Alt 1C: “ at 300 m depth contour Alt 1D: “ at 400 m depth contour Alt 1E: “ at 500 m depth contour

Broad Zones

2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2A: No Action Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending

gear Alt 2C: Prohibit mobile bottom-

tending gear

2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2D: Require Council review

and approval for fishing within broad zones– 2D-1: Special access program– 2D-2: Exploratory fishing access

program– 2D-3: Research/experimental access

program Alt 2E: Exempt red crab fishery

from broad coral zone measures

2. Management Measures in Broad Zones

Alt 2F: Require increased monitoring for vessels fishing in broad zones– 2F-1: Require observer coverage in

broad coral zones– 2F-2: Require VMS for vessels fishing

in broad coral zones Alt 2G: Exempt mid-Atlantic

golden tilefish fishery from broad zone restrictions.

3. Discrete Coral Zones

Alt 3A: No Action/Status Quo Alt 3B: Designation of canyons or

slope areas with observed coral presence– 3B-1: Original boundaries– 3B-2: Modified boundaries

Baltimore Canyon

Norfolk Canyon

Mey-Lindenkohl Slope

Block Canyon

3. Discrete Coral Zones Alt 3C: Designation of canyons

with inferred coral presence– Emery Canyon– Jones and Babylon Canyons– Hudson Canyon– Accomac Canyon– Wilmington Canyon– Washington Canyon

Inferred Coral Presence

Alt 3D: Designation of canyons with possible coral presence, including canyons with insufficient coral presence data to determine whether or not corals are present. – Based on Table 4 of Appendix B, there are

10 such canyons: McMaster Canyon, Ryan Canyon, Uchupi Canyon, Spencer Canyon, South Wilmington Canyon, North Heyes Canyon, South Vries Canyon, Warr Canyon, Phoenix Canyon, and Leonard Canyon.

3. Discrete Coral Zones

4. Management Measures in Discrete

Zones Alt 4A: No Action Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending

gear Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-

tending gear Alt 4D: Exempt illex and loligo

fisheries from discrete zone restrictions.

5. Framework Provisions

Alt 5A: No Action Alt 5B: Option to change

boundaries for deep sea coral zones

Alt 5C: Option to change management measures within zones– Fishing restrictions, exemptions,

special access, monitoring requirements

Alt 5D: Option to add additional discrete zones

6. VMS Requirement Alt 6A: No Action Alt 6B: Require VMS for Illex squid

moratorium vessels