Snapper Grouper Amendment 35 (Removal of Species & Golden Tilefish Endorsements) Prepared by Myra Brouwer January 2015

Why is an amendment needed? The Council is considering removing black snapper, dog snapper, mahogany snapper, and schoolmaster from the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) because: – Landings (commercial and recreational) are very low in both state and federal waters – Regulations for these species are inconsistent across jurisdictional boundaries making enforcement difficult

Why is an amendment needed? Amendment 18B established a longline endorsement program for the commercial golden tilefish fishery in In August 2014, the Council got word that some longline endorsement holders were legally fishing on the hook-and-line quota by transferring the endorsement to another vessel or waiting to renew their endorsement. The Council’s original intent was for longliners to NOT be allowed to fish on the hook-and-line quota once the longline ACL was met.

Timing for Amendment 35 January 2014 – Council initiated development of Amendment 35  August 2014 – Council conducted scoping hearings  December 2014 – Council approved for public hearings  January 2015 – Council conducts public hearings in FL and SC  March 2015 – Council reviews public comment and approves all actions  June 2015 – Council approves for formal review Regulations effective in late 2015

Purpose Statement The purpose of Amendment 35 is to ensure that: only snapper grouper species that require federal management are included in the Snapper Grouper FMP, regulations for snapper grouper species in south Florida are as consistent as possible across state and federal jurisdictional boundaries, regulations implemented to govern the use of golden tilefish longline endorsements are aligned with the South Atlantic Council’s intent for establishing the endorsement program.

Action 1. Remove species from the Snapper Grouper FMU Dog snapper Schoolmaster

Alternative 1. No Action. Retain the four species in the Snapper Grouper FMU. Preferred Alternative 2. Remove black snapper (Apsilus dentatus) from the Snapper Grouper FMU. Preferred Alternative 3. Remove dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) from the Snapper Grouper FMU. Preferred Alternative 4. Remove mahogany snapper (Lutjanus mahogoni) from the Snapper Grouper FMU. Preferred Alternative 5. Remove schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) from the Snapper Grouper FMU. *Note this species is currently an ecosystem component species.

Black Snapper Commercial and recreational landings 1986 – 1990 = 0 pounds whole weight (lbs ww) 1991, 1992 = less than 500 lbs ww 1993, 1994 = less than 5,000 lbs ww 1995 – 2013 = less than 600 lbs ww (with some years 0 lbs ww) Total commercial landings in federal waters = just over 900 lbs ww No landings of black snapper in GA through NC from 1986 through 2013.

Dog Snapper Commercial and recreational landings 1986 – 2013 = less than 8,000 lbs ww – 2007 = 25,000 lbs ww GA through NC, = 0 lbs ww – 2000 = less than 6,000 lbs ww GA through NC, = less than 400 lbs ww

Mahogany Snapper Commercial and recreational landings 1986 – 2013 = less than 600 lbs ww – 1999, 2007 = less than 4,000 lbs ww GA through NC, 1986 – 2013 = 0 lbs ww – 2010 = less than 500 lbs ww

Schoolmaster Commercial and recreational landings Designated Ecosystem Component Species in 2012 through Comp ACL Amendment = less than 15,000 lbs ww GA through NC, 1986 – 2013 = 0 lbs ww – 1995 = less than 500 lbs ww

Summary of Effects Council removed 13 species from the FMU in 2012 Long term biological effects of removing species could be negative if they are in need of federal management and the Council is unable to establish harvest controls in a timely manner. Positive biological effects would result if Florida establishes consistent regulations in state and federal waters of the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Summary of Effects Net economic benefits are expected from removing species from the Snapper Grouper FMU – more efficient management at the state level, consistent regulations. However, because the removal of species from the Snapper Grouper FMU does not directly affect participants in the snapper grouper fishery, these net economic benefits would be indirect.

Summary of Effects Changing a multi-species ACL may have some negative effects on commercial fishermen and recreational fishing opportunities if access to other species in the complex becomes limited due to a lower ACL. However, the species proposed for removal comprise a very small portion of the Complex ACL: – Black snapper – 382 lbs ww of the Deepwater Complex ACL (170,278 lbs ww as proposed in Am 29 and Am 32) – Snappers Complex ACL = 1,517,716 lbs ww – Snapper Complex ACL without dog and mahogany snappers = 1,513,883 lbs ww

Action 2. Clarify regulations for the golden tilefish longline endorsement to reflect the South Atlantic Council’s intent regarding which gear-specific quota endorsement holders may fish under

Alternative 1 (No Action). Vessels with golden tilefish longline endorsements are not eligible to fish for golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the 500-pound gutted weight golden tilefish hook-and-line trip limit (50 CFR (2)(ii)). Alternative 2. Revise the golden tilefish longline endorsement regulations to indicate that vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements are not eligible to fish for golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the 500- pound gutted weight golden tilefish hook-and-line trip limit.

Action 2. Continued. Preferred Alternative 3. Revise the golden tilefish longline endorsement regulation to indicate that vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements anytime during the golden tilefish fishing year are not eligible to fish for golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the 500-pound gutted weight golden tilefish hook-and-line trip limit.

Summary of Effects No biological impacts, beneficial or adverse, are expected as a result of any of the alternatives under consideration. This action would not significantly modify the way in which the snapper grouper fishery is prosecuted in terms of gear types used or area fished.

Summary of Effects Fishermen who participated in both the longline and hook-and-line components of the fishery would potentially experience direct negative economic effects based on foregone losses from no longer being able to do so. As both the longline portion of the commercial ACL and the hook-and-line portion of the ACL are caught each year prior to the end of the fishing year, there is not expected to be any overall economic loss, just a shifting of who is eligible to participate in the fishery.

Summary of Effects For hook-and-line fishermen, Alternative 1 (No Action) would be the least beneficial because the longline fishermen could continue to access the hook-and-line quota after the longline quota was caught. This could result in fairness concerns. Alternative 2 and Preferred Alternative 3 would be more beneficial to the participants in the hook-and-line component by reducing the number of snapper grouper permit holders who can access the hook-and-line quota.

What Next? your comments: (Subject: Amendment 35 Send written comments: Bob Mahood, Executive Director South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 4055 Faber Place Drive; Suite 201 Charleston, SC Written comments must be received by 5 P.M. on February 4, 2015

January 13, 2015 Marriott Key West Beachside 3841 North Roosevelt Boulevard Key West, Florida Phone: January 21, 2015 Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront 1550 North Atlantic Avenue Cocoa Beach, FL Phone: January 27, 2015 Kimbel Lodge at Hobcaw Barony 22 Hobcaw Road Georgetown, SC Phone: Public hearings will be held from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. (except 5:30 P.M. in Key West)