Draft Species List for Federal Management in the IBFMPs

Report from the Panel of Experts

Panel of Experts: Charge

• To develop the list of species to be include for federal management for each of the island-based fishery management plans . [152nd CFMC Meeting]

• The Panel met June 16-18 2015, to develop the draft list of species

• The DAPs reviewed the list of species during their meetings in July 2015

Action 1:• Approach 1: Bring everything from the old FMPs into the

new FMPs.

• Approach 2: Choose any combination of the following choice factors:– Species occurrence in State waters-the extent to which the fishery

could be or already is adequately managed by the State;– Status of the stock-the condition of the fish and whether an FMP

can improve or maintain that condition;– Species as a component of the catch-the importance of the fishery

to the Nation and the regional economy;– Ecologically essential species-does the species have an essential

ecological role in the coral reef ecosystem (e.g., herbivores, spongivores).

• Approach 3: Use a stepwise selection process following these Criteria:– Criterion A: Include for management those species that are classified as

overfished in U.S. Caribbean waters based on NOAA Fisheries’ determination, or for which historically identified harvest is now prohibited due to their ecological importance as habitat (corals presently included in the Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMP) or habitat engineers (midnight, blue, rainbow parrotfish), or those species for which seasonal closures or size limits apply;

– Criterion B: From the remainder, exclude from federal management those species that have been determined to infrequently occur in federal waters based on expert analysis guided by available data;

– Criterion C: From the remainder, include for management those species who are biologically vulnerable, constrained to a specific habitat that renders them particularly vulnerable, or have an essential ecological value, as determined by expert analysis;

– Criterion D: From the remainder, include those species possessing economic importance to the nation or regional economy based on a threshold of landings or value separately determined for each of the recreational, commercial, and aquarium trade sectors as appropriate (e.g., top 90%) and those representing an important component of bycatch, as established by expert analysis.

• Approach 3: Use a stepwise selection process following these Criteria:

– Criterion A: Include for management those species that are classified as overfished in U.S. Caribbean waters based on NOAA Fisheries’ determination, or for which historically identified harvest is now prohibited due to their ecological importance as habitat (corals presently included in the Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMP) or habitat engineers (midnight, blue, rainbow parrotfish), or those species for which seasonal closures or size limits apply;

Regulations Puerto Rico St. Croix St. ThomasGoliath Grouper

Goliath Grouper

Goliath Grouper

BannedNassau Grouper

Nassau Grouper

Nassau Grouper

 Midnight parrotfish

Midnight parrotfish

Midnight parrotfish

 Rainbow parrotfish

Rainbow parrotfish

Rainbow parrotfish

 Blue parrotfish

Blue parrotfish

Blue parrotfish

  94 Sp. Coral 94 Sp. Coral 94 Sp. Coral   Queen conch   Queen conch

Regulations Puerto Rico St. Croix St. Thomas

Seasonal closures Red hind    

  Yellowfin grouperYellowfin grouper Yellowfin grouper

  Black grouper Black grouper Black grouper  Red grouper Red grouper Red grouper

  Yellowedge grouper

Yellowedge grouper

Yellowedge grouper

  Tiger grouper Tiger grouper Tiger grouper  Silk snapper Silk snapper Silk snapper  Black snapper Black snapper Black snapper

  Blackfin snapper Blackfin snapper Blackfin snapper

  Vermillion snapper

Vermillion snapper

Vermillion snapper

  Mutton snapper Mutton snapper Mutton snapper  Lane snapper Lane snapper Lane snapper

Regulations Puerto Rico St. Croix St. Thomas

Size limits Spiny lobster Spiny lobster Spiny lobster

  Yellowtail snapper Yellowtail snapper Yellowtail snapper

    Stripped parrotfish  

    Redtail parrotfish  

    Stoplight parrotfish  

    Princess parrotfish  

    Queen parrotfish  

    Redband parrotfish  

    Redfin parrotfish  

    Queen conch  

Area Closures Red hind Red hind Red hind

      Yellowfin grouper

    Mutton snapper  

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 12

Action 4: Ecosystem Species (EC)?

To be consider an EC species, the species should: (A) Be a non-target species or nontarget stock; (B) Not be determined to be subject to overfishing, approaching

overfished, or overfished; (C) Not be likely to become subject to overfishing or overfished,

according to the best available information, in the absence of conservation and management measures; and

(D) Not generally be retained for sale or personal use.

Occasional retention of the species would not, in and of itself, preclude consideration of the species under the EC classification.

Regulated Species Puerto Rico St. Croix St. ThomasQueen conch 1/1 1/1 1/1Spiny lobster 1/1 1/1 1/1

Reef fish 18/81 24/81 17/81Sub-totalCorals 94/94 94/94 94/94

Council Decision: Include or exclude in IBFMP all regulated species?

List of fish, conch, lobster, coral currently regulated species: Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx

Motion by Council

• Approach 3: Use a stepwise selection process following these Criteria:

– Criterion B: From the remainder, exclude from federal management those species that have been determined to infrequently occur in federal waters based on expert analysis guided by available data;

Panel Decision DecisionScientific Name Common Name PR CRITERION DAP-PR

No Criteria met

Lutjanidae--Snappers Lutjanus griseus Gray snapper EXCLUDED BLutjanus mahogani Mahogany snapper EXCLUDED B

Haemulidae--Grunts Haemulon album Margate EXCLUDEDHaemulon aurolineatum Tomtate EXCLUDED BHaemulon sciurus Bluestriped grunt EXCLUDEDHaemulon flavolineatum French grunt EXCLUDEDAnisotremus virginicus Porkfish EXCLUDED

Mullidae--Goatfishes Pseudupeneus maculatus Spotted goatfish EXCLUDED BMulloidichthys martinicus Yellow goatfish EXCLUDED B

Sparidae--Porgies Calamus bajonado Jolthead porgy EXCLUDEDArchosargus rhomboidalis Sea bream EXCLUDEDCalamus penna Sheepshead porgy EXCLUDEDCalamus pennatula Pluma EXCLUDED

Holocentridae--Squirrelfishes Myripristis jacobus Blackbar soldierfish EXCLUDED BPriacanthus arenatus Bigeye EXCLUDED BHolocentrus rufus Longspine squirrelfishEXCLUDEDHolocentrus adscensionis Squirrelfish EXCLUDED B

Malacanthidae--Tilefishes Caulolatilus cyanops Blackline tilefish EXCLUDEDMalacanthus plumieri Sand tilefish EXCLUDED

Carangidae--Jacks Caranx crysos Blue runner EXCLUDED BCaranx latus Horse-eye jack EXCLUDED BCaranx lugubris Black jack EXCLUDED BSeriola rivoliana Almaco jack EXCLUDED BCaranx ruber Bar jack EXCLUDED BSeriola dumerili Greater amberjack EXCLUDEDCaranx bartholomaei Yellow jack EXCLUDED

Scaridae--Parrotfishes Sparisoma rubripinne Redfin parrotfish EXCLUDED B VulnerableBalistidae–-Triggerfishes Xanthichthys rigens Sargassum triggerfishEXCLUDEDMonacanthidae-–Filefishes Aluterus scriptus Scrawled filefish EXCLUDED

Cantherhines macrocerus Whitespotted filefish EXCLUDEDMelichthys niger Black durgon EXCLUDED

Ostraciidae--Boxfishes Lactophrys polygonia Honeycomb cowfish EXCLUDED BLactophrys quadricornis Scrawled cowfish EXCLUDED BLactophrys trigonus Trunkfish EXCLUDED BLactophrys bicaudalis Spotted trunkfish EXCLUDED BLactophrys triqueter Smooth trunkfish EXCLUDED B

Panel Recommendations EXCLUDED Species for Puerto Rico IBFMPs

Species recommended for exclusion: Criterion B or no Criteria met

• Puerto Rico excluded species Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx

• St. Croix excluded species Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx

• St. Thomas excluded species Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx

Council Decision: accept recommendation of exclusion?

• Motion by Council

• Approach 3: Use a stepwise selection process following these Criteria:

– Criterion C: From the remainder, include for management those species who are biologically vulnerable, constrained to a specific habitat that renders them particularly vulnerable, or have an essential ecological value, as determined by expert analysis;

Species recommended for inclusion – Criterion C - Vulnerability

• Puerto Rico species: Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx• St. Croix species Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx• St. Thomas species Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx

• Approach 3: Use a stepwise selection process following these Criteria:

– Criterion D: From the remainder, include those species possessing economic importance to the nation or regional economy based on a threshold of landings or value separately determined for each of the recreational, commercial, and aquarium trade sectors as appropriate (e.g., top 90%) and those representing an important component of bycatch, as established by expert analysis. Tables_IBFMPs.xlsx

Council Decision

• Table 1.3.1. Draft Puerto Rico FMP Actions and Alternatives 2015 July 31.docx

• Table 1.3.1 Draft St. Croix FMP Actions and Alternatives 2015 July 31.docx

• Table 1.3.1Draft St. Thomas_St. John FMP Actions and Alternatives 2015 July 31.docx

Council Decision: Draft IBFMPs

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 27

Draft Timeline

August 2015 Council Meeting

Approve list of species for management. Discuss additional Actions and Alternatives. Council tasks staff to develop public hearing draft (PHD).

October 2015 SSC Meeting Start the development of management reference points

December 2015 Council Meeting

SERO presents draft actions and alternatives. SERO works on making final changes to the actions and alternatives based on Council feedback. Completed PHD document by the Council meeting in Spring 2016

January 2016 SSC Meeting Continue work developing management reference points

March 2016 Council Meeting

Council selects preferred alternatives, approves public hearing draft, and goes out for public hearings for each FMP and EIS. Provide charge to APs to review and comment

June 2016 Public Hearings

August 2016 Council Meeting Review outcomes of public hearings

October 2016 SERO Staff finalizes FMPs

December 2016 Council Meeting Approve FMPs for Secretarial submission