Amendments to the U S Caribbean Reef Fish

Amendments to the U. S. Caribbean Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, and Corals And Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans Timing of Accountability Measure-Based Closures Draft Amendment/Environmental Assessment August 2016

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Actions and Management Alternatives Amendment consists of two actions: - Action 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM- based closures in the EEZ - Action 2: Specify how often to revisit the approach selected in Action 1 2

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Action 1 Alternative 1: No Action. December 31 going backward (All FMUs) Preferred Alternative 2: September 30 going backward (DAP’s input) (All FMUs). If Alt 5 also chosen, for FMUs that include species with seasonal closures, Alt 5 regs govern those FMUs affected. Alternative 3: January 1 going forward (All FMUs). If Alt 5 also chosen, for FMUs that include species with seasonal closures, Alt 5 regs govern those FMUs affected. Alternative 4: Different fixed dates for individual or a group of FMUs. AM-based closure dates would end the last day of the month that has the highest or the lowest landings based on monthly average landings through time, using 2012 -2014 as the most recent three years of available landings data. 3

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Action 1 Alternative 4 Sub-alternatives (by island management area): Dates identified in Alts 1 -5 would apply for any year AMs need to be implemented for that particular FMU, unless and until the chosen closure dates are revised as described in Action 2. Alternatives 4 a (PR comm. ), 4 c (PR rec. ), 4 e (STT/STJ), 4 g (STX), 4 i (Caribbean-wide). Closure to end the last day of the month with highest average landings Alternatives 4 b (PR comm. ), 4 d (PR rec. ), 4 f (STT/STJ), 4 h (STX), 4 j (Caribbean-wide). Closure to end the last day of the month with lowest average landings - Tables 2. 2. 1 – 2. 2. 5 in Document, Pages 16 -19 4

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Action 1 Alternative 5: For FMUs that include species with seasonal closures in U. S. Caribbean federal waters, AM-based closures resulting from an ACL overage for these FMUs would be timed to be continuous with the seasonal closure. The AMbased closure will extend either forward or backward from the seasonal closure into the year as specified in Sub. Alternatives 5(a) through 5(n) for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. - Pages 22 -23 in Document (includes Table 2. 2. 6) 5

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Alternative 5 Sub-alternatives 5 a-5 n (by FMU and island management area): Sub. Alternative Island Mgt. Area or PR sector 5 a PR - Commercial 5 c PR-Recreational 5 e STT/STJ 5 f STX 5 b PR Commercial 5 d PR Recreational 5 g PR Commercial 5 i PR Recreational 5 k STT/STJ 5 m STX 5 h PR Commercial 5 j PR Recreational 5 l STT/STJ 5 n STX Date Seasonal Closure/species Applicable FMU for AM May 1 st going forward Feb 1 – Apr 30: Black, red, yellowfin, tiger, yellowedge Grouper Complex Nov 30 th going backward Dec 1 – last day Feb: Red hind west of Puerto Rico Grouper Complex July 1 st going forward Apr 1 – Jun 30: Mutton and lane snappers Snapper Unit 3: mutton, lane, gray, dog, schoolmaster, mahogany Snapper Complex Sep 30 th going backward Oct 1 – Dec 31: Silk, blackfin, vermillion SU 1 (all + wenchman) Snapper Complex 6

7 Public Hearing Results San Juan Mayaguez Deponents (#present=17) Deponents (#present=33) ACTION 1 Alt. 1 4 Alt. 2 4 1+ Alt. 3 1 Alt. 4 Lowest 4 b n=7 Lowest 4 B n=1 Alt. 5 1=NO +1 ACLs are too low and should be revised Improve data Closures during months of lowest landings

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Action 2: Specify how often the approach to set the timing of AM-based closures selected in Action 1 should be revisited. • Alternative 1. No Action. Do not specify how often the approach chosen should be revisited. • Preferred Alternative 2. Revisit the approach selected no longer than 2 years from implementation and every 2 years thereafter. • Alternative 3. Revisit the approach selected no longer than 5 years from implementation and every 5 years thereafter. Revisiting the approach that sets the timing for AM closures can involve revisiting the dates selected, criteria for choosing the dates, or any other aspect of the rule. 8

9 Public Hearing Results San Juan Mayaguez Deponents (#present=17) Deponents (#present=33) 5 1 2 3 ACTION 2 Alt. 1 Alt. 2 Alt. 3 NEW = annual

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Codified Text: “As described in the respective FMPs, for each species or species group in this paragraph, any required fishing season reduction will be applied from September 30 th backward, toward the beginning of the fishing year. If the length of the required fishing season reduction exceeds the time period of January 1 st through September 30 th, any additional fishing season reduction will be applied from October 1 st forward, toward the end of the fishing year. ” 10

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Draft Timeline Today Council approves Amendment for Secretarial Review ly 2 017 Council reviews and approves codified text Final Rule Effective Aug Amendment and Proposed Rule Comment Period 2016 NOAA publishes Amendment/ Final Rule Ear Co Lat uncil e. F Mtg all 201 and 6 Council discusses Public Hearings, reviews document. 2017 11

Timing of AM-Based Closures Amendment August 2016 Next Steps: • Review results of the Public Hearings • Deem codified text • Consider taking final action v. Motion to submit to the Secretary v. Motion to give staff editorial license to finalize the document

Number of days a fishery would be closed under Alternatives 1 and 2 for FMUs that will have AMs applied in 2016 in federal waters of Puerto Rico (PR) (Source: Table 2. 2. 1. 1) Fishery Management Unit Snapper Unit 2 (Commercial PR) Wrasses (Commercial PR) Triggerfish and Filefish (Commercial PR) Spiny Lobster (Comm and Rec PR) Parrotfish (Comm PR) Jacks (Rec PR) Days Fishery would be closed Annual ACL Overage in Preferred Alt. 2 Catch Limit Alt. 1 pounds 1 in a (Sep 30 (pounds Fishing Year 2016 (Dec 31 backward) [lbs]) 145, 916 9, 973 36 days 18 days 54, 147 5, 047 46 days 22 days 58, 475 12, 451 77 days 57 days 327, 920 18, 077 22 days 17 days 52, 737 9, 973 13 days 10 days 51, 001 11, 536 58 days 96 days For the FY 2016, ACL overages were determined from analyses conducted using reported landings from 2012 -2014. This same overage was used to estimate closure days under Alternatives 1 and 2 for species/species groups with AMs in FY 2016.

FMU ACL (lbs) ACL Overage in lbs 1 in a FY 2013 FY Snapper Unit 2 (Commercial PR) 145, 916 Wrasses (Rec PR) 2013 5, 050 Wrasses (Comm PR) 54, 147 Triggerfish and Filefish (Comm PR) Spiny Lobster (Comm and Rec PR) Parrotfish (Comm PR) 2016 FY 9, 973 2013 489 2016 102 days 36 days 18 days 25 days 72 days 11 days 67 days 46 days 22 days 36 days 5, 047 2016 58, 475 12, 451 77 days 57 days 69 days 2016 327, 920 52, 737 Jacks (Rec PR) 51, 001 Triggerfish & Filefish (all sectors, STX) 24, 980 Spiny Lobster (all sectors, STX) 107, 307 Groupers 132, 063 Alt. 1 (Dec 31 bwd) Days Fishery would be Closed under each Alternative Sub-Alts. 4: 4 a, Pref. Alt. 2 Alt 4 (date Alt. 3 4 c, 4 e, 4 g, 4 i Alt. 5 (Sep 30 varies by (Jan 1 fwd) (date varies by (if appl. ) bwd) FMU)1 1 FMU) Jun 30 back Dec 31 back 96 days 172 days 178 days 102 days NA 18, 077 2016 9, 973 2016 11, 536 2013 1, 473 2013 2, 401 2013 22 days 17 days 20 days 13 days 10 days 13 days 58 days 96 days 42 days 41 days 13 days 32 days 13 days 20 days 5 days 23 days 36 days Oct 31 back Dec 31 back 11 days Aug 31 back 72 days May 31 back 22 days 39 days May 31 back Aug 31 back 61 days 63 days Sep 30 back May 31 back 17 days 21 days Mar 31 back 7 days Feb 28 back 41 days May 31 back Aug 31 back 11 days Oct 31 back 112 days Dec 31 back 18 days 41 days Mar 31 back Dec 31 back 7 days 13 days N/A NA NA N/A N/A May 1

15 Sub-Alternative 4 a (highest landings) Sub-Alternative 4 b (lowest landings) Parrotfish Mar 31 Aug 31 Snapper Unit 1 (silk, blackfin, vermilion, and wenchman) Jan 31 Nov 301 Snapper Unit 2 (queen and cardinal) Jun 30 Dec 31 Snapper Unit 3 (mutton, lane, gray, dog, schoolmaster, and mahogany) Mar 31 Aug 31 Snapper Unit 4 (yellowtail) Mar 31 Dec 31 Groupers Feb 28 Dec 312 Alternative 4 - Commercial FMUs FMU Angelfish No Landings 3 Boxfish Mar 31 Oct 31 Goatfish Sep 30 Apr 30 Grunts May 31 Sep 30 Wrasses Aug 31 May 31 Jacks Jul 31 May 31 Scups & Porgies Mar 31 Nov 30 Squirrelfish July 31 Sep 30 Surgeonfish Dec 31 No Landings Jan-Oct Triggerfish & Filefish May 31 Aug 31 Spiny Lobster 4 Sep 30 May 31

16 Sub-Alternative 4 c (highest landings – second month in wave) Sub-Alternative 4 d (lowest landings – second month in wave) Parrotfish Jul/Aug (Aug 31) March/Apr (April 30) Snapper Unit 1 May/Jun (Jun 30) No landings Nov-Dec 1 Snapper Unit 2 Jan /Feb (Feb 28) No landings for the rest of the year Snapper Unit 3 May /Jun (Jun 30) Sep/Oct (Oct 31) Snapper Unit 4 May /Jun (Jun 30) Sep/Oct (Oct 31) Groupers Jan/Feb (Feb 28) Nov/Dec (Dec 31) Angelfish Jan/Feb (Feb 28) No landings for rest of the year Boxfish Sep/Oct (Oct 31) Jul/Aug (Aug 31) Goatfishes May/Jun (Jun 30) No landings for the rest of the year Grunts May/Jun (June 30) Nov/Dec (Dec 31) Wrasses Sep/Oct (Oct 31) No landings Nov-Dec Jacks Jan/Feb (Feb 28) Sep/Oct (Oct 30) Porgies Jul/Aug (Aug 31) No landings Sep/Oct Squirrelfish May/Jun (Jun 30) No landings Jul/Aug (Aug 31) Alternative 4 – Recreational FMUs FMU Surgeonfish Triggerfish & Filefish No Landings 4 Sep/Oct (Oct 31) No landings Nov-Dec

17 • Motion. Move to approve the Timing of AMs amendment, with the selected preferred alternatives, and submit the amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for approval. • Motion. Give staff the authority to make any changes to the Timing of AMs amendment in response to decisions made by the Council at this meeting, and give staff the editorial license to make editorial changes. Any changes will be reviewed and approved by the Council Chairman.

18 • Motion. Give the Council Chairman the authority to deem as necessary and appropriate any modifications made to the proposed rule.