Acceptable Biological Catch calculations forTier 3 Gulf of Mexico reef fish species

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

SSC Meeting August 2013

ABC Calculations 1/31

Background

MSA reathorization requires specification ofABCs, ACLs, AMs for federally managedstocks*

Implemented in Generic ACL Amendment(GMFMC 2011)

Many stocks/species without stockassessment (i.e., data poor)

ABCs for Tier 3 stocks set using historicallandings

CommercialFor-hireRecreational

ABC Calculations 2/31

Data Improvements

Recreational data improved sinceimplementation of Generic ACL Amendment(i.e., MRFSS –> MRIP)

Recreational landings estimates have beenre-estimated (MRIP program) 2004 - 2011

MRFSS (1986 - 2003) adjusted using MRIPratio estimators (MRIP CalibrationWorkshop)

Commercial, headboat, and TPWD dataupdated based on additional QA/QC

Data-poor ABCs and OFLs should bere-calculated based on MRIP

ABC Calculations 3/31

MRIP Data 2004 - present

Objective: To provide more detailed, timely,and reliable estimates of marine recreationalfishing catch and effortMRIP estimates are available from 2004 -present. These represent the best availablescientific dataThis Amendment considers MRIP data from2004-2008 to maintain consistentmethodology with Generic ACL Amendment

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MRIP (1986 - 2003) = Recalibrated MRFSS

MFRSS historical data calibrated to MRIPusing ratio estimators

Methodology developed by SEFSC-SEROgroup (August 2012) based on MRIPworkgroup recommendations

Apply ratio estimators based on ratio of means tohind cast catch and variance estimates (1986 -2003)Developed MRIP/MRFSS ratio estimator usingMRIP and MRFSS data (2004 - 2011)Hindcast catch and variance (1986 - 2003)Ratios applied at each stratum (e.g., stock,sub-region, year, wave)Mean weights assigned to strata using SEFSCweight estimation procedure

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Ratio estimates

Apply ratio estimators based on ratio of means to hindcast catch and variance estimates (1986 - 2003)

Ratios were applied at each stratum (species,sub-region, year, wave, state, mode, and area) to theA, B1, and B2 estimates and variances

11when available, else use stock and subregion, stock

ABC Calculations 6/31

Overview of ABC Calculations

Used ABC control rule tier 3a

OFL = mean + 2 sd of annual landings

ABC = mean + 1 sd of annual landings

Same time series as specified in GMFMC2011

Some species managed in groups (e.g.,shallow-water grouper) established inGMFMC 2011

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Applicable Stocks

Species groups Individual species

Shallow-water grouper Gray snapper

Deep-water grouper Lane snapper

Tilefishes Cubera snapper

Jacks complex Hogfish

Mid-water snapper

ABC Calculations 8/31

MRFSS and MRIP Results

Shallow-water grouper: Black grouper*, scamp, yellowmouth grouper,yellowfin grouper (* = assessed species)

Deep-water grouper: Yellowedge grouper*, warsaw grouper, snowygrouper, speckled hind

Tilefishes: Golden Tilefish, blueline tilefish, goldface tilefish

Jacks: Almaco jack, banded rudderfish, lesser amberjack

Mid-water Snapper: Silk, blackfin, queen snappers, wenchman

when available, else use stock and subregion, stockABC Calculations 9/31

MRFSS and MRIP Comparisons

ABC Calculations 10/31

Summary

Changes do not affect allowable recreationaleffortChanges do affect allowable commercialharvest

Minimal impacts expected given thesmall percent changes

MRIP may provide "official" re-estimatesprior to 2003 and thus may require additionalcalibrationConsideration of other methods to establishABCs and ACLs for data-poor stocks may beappropriate

ABC Calculations 11/31

Scamp

ABC Calculations 12/31

Yellowmouth Grouper

ABC Calculations 13/31

Yellowfin Grouper

ABC Calculations 14/31

Warsaw Grouper

ABC Calculations 15/31

Snowy Grouper

ABC Calculations 16/31

Speckled Hind

ABC Calculations 17/31

Golden Tilefish

ABC Calculations 18/31

Blueline Tilefish

ABC Calculations 19/31

Goldface Tilefish

ABC Calculations 20/31

Almaco Jack

ABC Calculations 21/31

Banded Rudderfish

ABC Calculations 22/31

Lesser Amberjack

ABC Calculations 23/31

Silk Snapper

ABC Calculations 24/31

Wenchman

ABC Calculations 25/31

Blackfin snapper

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Queen snapper

ABC Calculations 27/31

Gray snapper

ABC Calculations 28/31

Lane snapper

ABC Calculations 29/31

Cubera snapper

ABC Calculations 30/31

Hogfish

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