Island-Based FMPs – Species Selection Criteria Southeast Regional Office St. Petersburg, Florida

Development of island-based fishery management plans (FMPs) Development of FMPs is guided by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and the 10 National Standards (NS). Both the MSA and the NSs provide guidance to determining what species should be included in an FMP: NS1 – Achieve optimum yield and avoid overfishing NS3 – Manage stocks as a unit NS7 – Minimize costs, avoid duplication .

Fishery Management Units (FMUs) vs. Species Current managed species are grouped in FMUs except spiny lobster and queen conch. Currently (e.g., parrotfish, snapper unit 1,2,3,4, groupers, angelfish, spiny lobster, aquarium trade species) Selection criteria will be applied to presently managed FMUs and presently not managed individual species Removed from Management Entire FMUs (e.g., parrotfish, snapper unit 1, aquarium trade species, squirrelfish) Individual species (e.g., mahi mahi, snook, king mackerel) Added to Management

First Step Take an initial look at what species need management Use the proposed dichotomy model Yes

Species/ Species Complex Draft criteria to use in inclusion/exclusion of species or species complex in an FMP Species/ Species Complex Biology Habitat Specificity Range (Geography) Economic Importance Target Species Bycatch Yearly Mean Landings Ecological Value Protected/ Managed Resource Spiny Lobster L H VH M H? Dolphin Fish M (PR) H (STT/STX) H (PR, STX); M (STT) Octopus L (PR) L (STX) L (STT) Snapper Unit 2 (Queen & Cardinal) ? L = low, M = medium, H = high, VH = very high, ? = to be determined PR = Puerto Rico, STT = St. Thomas, STX = St. Croix

Criteria definition Biology - defined as question of vulnerability/productivity. Is species particularly at risk? Application of the ‘Only Reliable Catch Stocks’? Habitat Specificity - defined as a question of vulnerability due to particular dependence on limited or vulnerable habitat during some life stage. Range - defined as whether species is either 1) effectively limited to local waters, 2) limited to EEZ, 3) spans both, or 4) is a migratory species or coastal pelagic. Used up-front to eliminate those species only occurring in State waters, so using again in the selection criteria table may be redundant.

Criteria definition - continued Economic Importance - defined as total economic value, not just ex-vessel price. This would include, for example, nonconsumptive use, recreational value, targeted species, “filler” species and socio-cultural importance. Target Species vs. Bycatch- Species that fishers seek to catch for sale or personal use, including economic discards as defined under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Landings – are used up-front to establish lower and upper thresholds for automatic rejection from or inclusion in an FMP, respectively. Including them again in the selection criteria table may be redundant.

Criteria definition - continued Bycatch - Fish other than the primary target species that are caught incidental to the harvest of the primary species. Ecological Value - defined as having a unique or large ecological function relative to habitat (esp. coral reefs), or trophic/community structure, e.g., keystone species, apex predator, key forage species such that management is needed to sustain that function. Protected/Management Status - defined as whether the species is fully protected or partially protected within an existing management framework within EEZ or local waters. Used up-front as a fundamental selection criterion. Using again in the selection criteria table is redundant.

OCTOPUS* TUNNY, LITTLE SHARKS, REQUIEM* PORGIES* SNOOK, COMMON MOJARRAS* GROUPERS* JACKS* SNAPPER, CARDINAL FISHES, BONY* SNAPPER, VERMILION WAHOO SQUIRRELFISHES* TUNA, YELLOWFIN CRAB, BLUE LAND GROUPER, MISTY GRUNTS* 0-60% LOBSTER, CARIBBEAN SPINY CONCH, QUEEN SNAPPER, SILK SNAPPER, QUEEN SNAPPER, YELLOWTAIL DOLPHIN SNAPPER, LANE Using landing thresholds - % of total species complex or single species landings for Puerto Rico (2008-2012 landings) >60-95% MACKEREL, KING HOGFISH PARROTFISHES* TRIGGERFISH, QUEEN HERRINGS, SARDINELLA GRUNT, WHITE BOXFISH SNAPPERS* SNAPPER, MUTTON BALLYHOO JACK, BAR HIND, RED TUNA, BLACKFIN CERO TUNA, SKIPJACK MULLET, WHITE >95-100% 0-60% >60-95% >95-100% 7 40 50 SNAPPER, BLACKFIN JACK, HORSE-EYE CONEY DOLPHINS SHELLFISH, OTHER* GOATFISH, SPOTTED BARRACUDAS* ALBACORES* SNOOKS* CRAB *species complex

SURGEON, OCEAN SNAPPER, QUEEN DOCTORFISH SNAPPER, MAHOGANY WENCHMAN TUNA, YELLOWFIN 0-60% LOBSTERS, SPINY PARROTFISH, STOPLIGHT DOLPHIN CONCH, QUEEN TRIGGERFISH, QUEEN PARROTFISH, PRINCESS WAHOO PARROTFISH, QUEEN PARROTFISH, REDFIN HIND, RED PARROTFISH, REDTAIL PARROTFISH, REDBAND >95-100% Using landing thresholds - % of total species complex or single species landings for St. Croix (2012-2013 landings) SCAD, ROUND ANGELFISH, QUEEN GRUNT, FRENCH RUNNER, BLUE TUNA, BLACKFIN COWFISH, HONEYCOMBED HONEYCOMB COWFISH BARRACUDAS* SNAPPER, VERMILION TUNA, SKIPJACK GROUPER, YELLOWFIN LIONFISHES HERRINGS* HERRINGS, SARDINELLA SNAPPER, LANE SQUIRRELFISH, LONGSPINE TOMTATE TRUNKFISH, SPOTTED SHARK, NURSE JACK, HORSE-EYE >60-95% SNAPPER, BLACKFIN BALLYHOO TUNNY, LITTLE MACKEREL, KING SCHOOLMASTER SNAPPER, SILK CONEY GRUNT, BLUESTRIPED JACK, BAR TANG, BLUE GRUNT, WHITE SNAPPER, YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER, GRAY SNAPPER, MUTTON ANGELFISH, FRENCH ANGELFISH, GRAY 0-60% >60-95% >95-100% 12 34 54 *species complex

0-60% >95-100% LOBSTERS, SPINY TRIGGERFISH, QUEEN HIND, RED RUNNER, BLUE SNAPPER, YELLOWTAIL ANGELFISH, GRAY GROUPER, YELLOWFIN TRIGGERFISHES TUNA, BLACKFIN GRUNT, BLUESTRIPED TANG, BLUE ANGELFISH, QUEEN ANGELFISH, FRENCH NEEDLEFISHES* BALLYHOO RUNNER, RAINBOW HERRINGS* HERRINGS, SARDINELLA COWFISH, HONEYCOMBED HONEYCOMB COWFISH TUNA, YELLOWFIN TOPSNAIL, WEST INDIAN MARGATE CRAB SNAPPER, LANE SCHOOLMASTER Using landing thresholds - % of total species complex or single species landings for St. Thomas/St. John (2012-2013 landings) >60-95% DOCTORFISH GRUNT, WHITE COWFISH, SCRAWLED SCRAWLED COWFISH PORGY, SAUCEREYE SQUIRRELFISH, LONGSPINE PARROTFISH, REDTAIL SNAPPER, MUTTON PARROTFISH, STOPLIGHT JACK, BAR DOLPHIN SNAPPER, BLACKFIN TUNNY, LITTLE LIONFISHES WAHOO CONEY SNAPPER, SILK HOGFISH MACKEREL, KING 0-60% >60-95% >95-100% 12 25 45 *species complex

Questions? Stoplight parrotfish, terminal phase

Different Variations in the Nomenclature used to Name Managed Species/ Species Groups Snapper Unit 2 (SU2): Cardinal and Queen Snappers used as an example. Current FMPs NS1 Status of the Stocks SU2 = FMU and part of the snapper complex SU2 = stock complex SU2 = stock unit Queen and Cardinal snappers = units within the FMU Queen and Cardinal snappers = stocks within the stock complex SU2 = Unit However, the 2011 species are called stock complex (e.g., Angelfish Complex) SU2 is part of the snapper complex within the Reef Fish FMU SU2 unit part of the Caribbean Reef Fish FMU SU2 unit part of the Caribbean Reef Fish FMU