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MRAG Proposal for 5-Yr EFH Review. Bob Trumble Erika Zollett MRAG Americas, Inc. Roles of Council and NOAA Fisheries. MRAG will assist coordination of the EFH review by providing information to both the Council and NMFS Identify points of contact at NMFS, Council. Scope of 5-yr Review.
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MRAG Proposal for 5-Yr EFH Review Bob Trumble Erika Zollett MRAG Americas, Inc.
Roles of Council and NOAA Fisheries • MRAG will assist coordination of the EFH review by providing information to both the Council and NMFS • Identify points of contact at NMFS, Council
Scope of 5-yr Review • Identification and description of EFH • Minimization of adverse effects of fishing • Measures to conserve EFH, and • HAPC • MRAG will consider climate change, lionfish invasions, and use of habitat models. • MRAG will consider effectiveness of EFH regulations and descriptions
Climate Change Impacts • Declines in fish production • Species/ecological shifts • Distribution changes • Reduced reproductive capacity • Local extinctions • Coral bleaching and mortality • Increased sea levels
Lionfish Invasions • Native to tropical coral reefs in waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans • In the Atlantic Ocean beginning in 1992 • Bermuda and the Bahamas in early 2000s • Expand southward through Mexican, Central, and South American waters • Voracious predators w/o native predators • Vegetation overgrowing coral
Habitat Models • Habitat suitability model for PFMC/NWRO • Identified habitat distribution and usage • Model determined probability that any parcel is EFH • Find other potentially appropriate models • Determine which, if any, model would work for US Caribbean
HSP Contour Plots: Arrowtooth Flounder Adult Juvenile Larvae
EFH Model Output: Multiple Species Aurora rockfish Adults Lingcod Adults Dover sole Adults
EFH Model Output: HSP Threshold Shortspine Thornyhead Threshold: 0.00 Threshold: 0.60
Best Available Science • SSC to determine • SSC • Habitat Advisory Panel • Experts • General public MRAG will use SSC, HAP for info and review
Documentation • Report on changes in EFH information • Considerations that influenced review • Description of process used to review • Obsolete or new information • Effectiveness of Caribbean EFH regulations • Letter from NMFS (RA) to Council MRAG will gather the information and prepare a report for the Council to submit to SERO
Plans and Logistics • Meeting 1 with Council • Meeting 1 with SSC/HAP • Report of errors, obsolete information • Obtain new information • Draft Climate Change, Models • Meeting 2 with SSC/HAP • Review report • Meeting 2 with Council