MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives August 14, 2013

Objectives Amendment 16 update Amendment 16 update Review range of alternatives 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 February 2013 –Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee meets; reviews draft alternatives –Public scoping process April 2013 April 2013 –Spatial alternatives workshop in Baltimore July 2013 July 2013 –Follow up with industry participants

April Alternatives Workshop Feb meeting discussion: need to refine spatial alternatives Feb meeting discussion: need to refine spatial alternatives April workshop with: Ecosystems Advisory Panel + Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel, scientists, management partners, additional participants 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 Interactive mapping exercise to refine coral zone boundaries in context of fishing effort and deep sea coral presence Understanding of tradeoffs Understanding of tradeoffs

Workshop Outcomes Informative discussion on fishing behavior and new deep sea coral research Informative discussion on fishing behavior and new deep sea coral research Rough maps of fishing effort and coral areas Rough maps of fishing effort and coral areas Follow up with industry 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. From several Ecosystems AP members + representatives from several other orgs. Briefing book Tab 2 Briefing book Tab 2 Suggestions for additional or modified alternatives Suggestions for additional or modified alternatives Discussed on FMAT call, incorporated some suggestions into range 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? Range of Alternatives document: is this range sufficient for public hearings and analysis? Full Council review Wed. Aug 14 Full Council review Wed. Aug 14 Approval of range of alternatives will help inform NEPA analysis requirements (EA vs. EIS) 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 only to Mid-Atlantic Council region Applicable to all relevant federally- managed fisheries 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 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 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 To prevent damage to corals from fishing gear or loss or damage to such gear More flexibility to define spatial areas for coral protection More flexibility to define spatial areas for coral protection See page 7 of alternatives document See page 7 of alternatives document

Alternative Sets 1. Broad coral zones 2. Management measures in broad zones 3. Discrete coral zones 4. Management measures in discrete zones 5. Framework provisions 6. VMS requirement for Illex fishery

Broad + Discrete Coral Zone Framework Broad Coral Zones Broad Coral Zones –“Freeze the footprint” –Large areas excluding most current fishing effort Discrete Coral Zones 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 1A: No Action Alt 1B: Landward boundary at 200 m depth contour Alt 1B: Landward boundary at 200 m depth contour Alt 1C: “ at 300 m depth contour Alt 1C: “ at 300 m depth contour Alt 1D: “ at 400 m depth contour Alt 1D: “ at 400 m depth contour Alt 1E: “ at 500 m depth contour Alt 1E: “ at 500 m depth contour

Broad Zones

2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2A: No Action Alt 2A: No Action Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending gear Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending gear Alt 2C: Prohibit mobile 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 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 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 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 3A: No Action/Status Quo Alt 3B: Designation of canyons or slope areas with observed coral presence 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 3. Discrete Coral Zones Alt 3C: Designation of canyons with inferred coral presence 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 4A: No Action Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending gear Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending gear Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear

5. Framework Provisions Alt 5A: No Action Alt 5A: No Action Alt 5B: Option to change boundaries for deep sea coral zones Alt 5B: Option to change boundaries for deep sea coral zones Alt 5C: Option to change management measures within 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 Alt 5D: Option to add additional discrete zones

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