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

– 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

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

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

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

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)

Questions?

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

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

Alternative Sets1. Broad coral zones2. Management measures in broad

zones3. Discrete coral zones4. Management measures in

discrete zones5. Framework provisions6. VMS requirement for Illex fishery

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*

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

Broad Zones

2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2A: No Action Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending

gear Alt 2C: Prohibit mobile bottom-

tending gear

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

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

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

Baltimore Canyon

Norfolk Canyon

Mey-Lindenkohl Slope

Block Canyon

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

Inferred Coral Presence

4. Management Measures in Discrete

Zones Alt 4A: No Action Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending

gear Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-

tending gear

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

6. VMS Requirement Alt 6A: No Action Alt 6B: Require VMS for Illex squid

moratorium vessels