Post on 22-Feb-2016
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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