Comprehensive Amendment to the U.S. Caribbean Fishery Management Plans

1. Comprehensive Amendment to the U.S. Caribbean Fishery Management Plans Annual Catch Limit Control Rule 148th Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands December 11-12, 2013 OPTIONS PAPER

2. 148th Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting December 11-12, 2013 ACL Control Rule Purpose for Action Establish a control rule to modify the buffer reduction that is applied to the overfishing limit (OFL) or other chosen reference point to derive an annual catch limit (ACL) in response to changes in the overfishing status of any U.S. Caribbean fishery management unit (FMU). The control rule would apply a specific buffer reduction based on the current status of the FMU as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Need for Action Need to establish a mechanism that describes the relationship between overfishing status and the reduction buffer applied to the OFL (or ABC) used to determine the ACL.

3. Action: Establish a control rule to adjust the buffer reduction applied to the OFL or to the ABC used to derive the ACL to reflect a change in overfishing status of the stock. Option1: No Action. Do not establish an ACL Control Rule. The buffer reductions to the OFL or to the ABC would continue to be those defined in the 2010 and 2011 Caribbean ACL Amendments. Option 2: For all FMUs for which harvest is allowed (or where applicable), establish an ACL Control Rule where: ACL = [OFL (or ABC) x (0.85)] for FMUs determined to be subject to overfishing, and where ACL = [OFL (or ABC) x (0.90)] for FMUs determined not to be subject to overfishing in a specific year. Option 3:Same as Option 2, but allows for exceptions: (cont.)

4. Option 3 (Sub-options) For the following FMUs, buffer reductions to the OFL or ABC specified in the 2010 and/ or 2011 Caribbean ACL Amendments would continue to be applied to derive the ACL: Sub-option 3a.Parrotfish FMU: ACL = [ABC x (0.85)] for the ecological role of parrotfish as herbivores in coral reefs. An additional 5.8822 %reduction to the St. Croix ACL would continue to be applied. Sub-option 3b. Surgeonfish FMU: ACL = [ABC x (0.75)] for the ecological role of surgeonfish as herbivores in coral reefs. Sub-option 3c.Angelfish FMU: ACL = [ABC x (0.75)] for the ecological role of angelfish as spongivores in coral reefs. Sub-option 3d. Queen conch FMU: for St. Croix, ACL = ABC specified by the SSC (50,000 lbs). For Puerto Rico and St. Thomas/St. John, ACL = 0. Sub-option 3e.Aquarium Trade Species FMU: ACL = [ABC x (0.75)] for aquarium trade species in the Coral and Reef Fish FMPs.

5. ACL Control Rule • The ACL Control Rule would shift the buffer applied to the OFL or the ABC (if specified) to determine the ACL based on changes in overfishing status. • Would simplify the process of adjusting the ACLs, if needed, in the future. • More responsive management sensitive to the status of the targeted population and increased revenue from healthy fisheries. However, the latter may be adverse as well, if a change in status results in a reduction in allowable harvest.

6. ACL Control Rule • The control rule would not take into account the overfished status of a stock: • Overfished stocks are managed through rebuilding plans until the stock has been rebuilt to levels consistent with supporting the maximum sustainable yield on a sustainable basis. • Overfished status of the stocks was already factored in during the development of the 2010 and 2011 Caribbean ACL Amendments.

7. ACL Control Rule • Establishment of the ACL Control Rule would be accomplished by a comprehensive plan amendment to the FMPs (Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch, Corals). • If, in any particular year, the status of a unit changes, NMFS will officially notify the Council and will publish a Federal Register notice applying the buffer according to the control rule, and the ACL for the next year for that particular FMU would be adjusted.

8. Draft Timeline Today • Council discusses outcomes of Public Hearings and considers comments on Amendment/DRAFT EA. • Council revises and approves codified text. • Council approves Amendment for Secretarial Review. Council passes motion directing staff to develop Public Hearing Draft (PHD)/Environmental Assessment (EA). Council to schedule Public Hearings for Spring 2014. • NOAA publishes Comprehensive Amendment / Final EA and Final Rule. • Final Rule Effective Winter 2013 Summer 2014 Winter 2014 / Early Spring 2015 2014 2015 Council reviews PHD/EA, select preferred alternative(s) and approves for Public Hearings. Public Hearings in PR and USVI • Amendment/EA and Proposed Rule Comment Period Spring 2014 Fall 2014

9. Next Steps • Develop Public Hearing Draft for the Spring 2014 Council meeting. • Schedule Public Hearings for Spring 2014.

10. Additional Slides

11. Status of the Stocks

12. Summary of management reference points for most managed species per island/island group showing changes to ACL if reduction buffers of 0.85 (15%) and 0.90 (10%) are applied to the OFL or ABC based on overfishing status.