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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? After approval: may modify options within this range at later date. Am16 Progress. February 2013

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MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives

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  1. MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives August 14, 2013

  2. Objectives • Amendment 16 update • Review range of alternatives • Is this a reasonable rangefor public hearings? • After approval: may modify options within this range at later date

  3. 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

  4. April Alternatives Workshop • Feb meeting discussion: need to refine spatial alternatives • April workshop with: Ecosystems Advisory Panel + Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel, scientists, management partners, additional participants • Interactive mapping exercise to refine coral zone boundaries in context of fishing effort and deep sea coral presence • Understanding of tradeoffs

  5. Workshop Outcomes • Informative discussion on fishing behavior and new deep sea coral research • Rough maps of fishing effort and coral areas • Follow up with industry • July – refined set of boundaries for 3 discrete zone options in small group meeting with industry

  6. Letter regarding additional alternatives • From several Ecosystems AP members + representatives from several other orgs. • Briefing book Tab 2 • Suggestions for additional or modified alternatives • Discussed on FMAT call, incorporated some suggestions into range

  7. Today’s Meeting • Range of Alternatives document: is this range sufficient for public hearings and analysis? • Full Council review Wed. Aug 14 • Approval of range of alternatives will help inform NEPA analysis requirements (EA vs. EIS)

  8. Questions?

  9. 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

  10. Discretionary Provisions • Magnuson-Stevens discretionary provisions to designate deep sea coral zones • To prevent damage to corals from fishing gear or loss or damage to such gear • More flexibility to define spatial areas for coral protection • See page 7 of alternatives document

  11. Alternative Sets • Broad coral zones • Management measures in broad zones • Discrete coral zones • Management measures in discrete zones • Framework provisions • VMS requirement for Illex fishery

  12. 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*

  13. 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

  14. Broad Zones

  15. 2. Management Measures in Broad Zones • Alt 2A: No Action • Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending gear • Alt 2C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Baltimore Canyon

  20. Norfolk Canyon

  21. Mey-Lindenkohl Slope

  22. Block Canyon

  23. 3. Discrete Coral Zones • Alt 3C: Designation of canyons with inferred coral presence • Emery Canyon • Jones and Babylon Canyons • Hudson Canyons • Lindenkohl Canyon • Wilmington Canyon • Washington Canyon

  24. Inferred Coral Presence

  25. 4. Management Measures in Discrete Zones • Alt 4A: No Action • Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending gear • Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear

  26. 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

  27. 6. VMS Requirement • Alt 6A: No Action • Alt 6B: Require VMS for Illex squid moratorium vessels

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