Public Hearings Bajo de Sico Caribbean Fishery Management Council April 22, 2009 –St. Thomas, USVI April 23, 2009 –St. Croix, USVI April 27, 2009 – Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Council Managed Species Spiny lobster Reef fish (groupers, snappers, etc.) Queen conch Corals Note: These do not include: coastal pelagics (mahi, wahoo, among others) and HMS (marlin, highly migratory tuna species, among others).

Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico Alternative 1: No Action - do not extend the seasonal closure of Bajo de Sico.Alternative 1: No Action - do not extend the seasonal closure of Bajo de Sico. –All fishing is prohibited during December, January and February of each year; all traps, pots, nets, bottom longlines are prohibited year round; anchor retrieval device requiered year round.

Alternative 1: No Action (December 1 through end of February in the EEZ) Prohibited:Prohibited: –Reef Fish (groupers, snappers, etc.) –HMS (marlins, etc.) –Spiny Lobster –All Other Species –Bottom-Tending Gear (year round) –Trolling –Other Gear Permitted: Permitted: Transit with Fish on Board BUT gear properly stowed. Transit with Fish on Board BUT gear properly stowed. Anchoring with anchor retrieval device. Anchoring with anchor retrieval device.

SEASONAL AREA CLOSURES No bottom longlines, pots, traps, gillnets, trammel nets allowed year-round Bajo de Cico Tourmaline Abrir la Sierra Red hind December-February Closures

Alternative 2 (Preferred): Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – March 31 in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat.Alternative 2 (Preferred): Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – March 31 in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. –Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including HMS –Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all species, including HMS –Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species –Option d (Preferred): Prohibit fishing for and possession of council managed species Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico

Alternative 3: Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from December 1 – May 31 in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat.Alternative 3: Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from December 1 – May 31 in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. –Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including HMS –Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all species, including HMS –Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species –Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of council managed species Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico

Alternative 4: Extend closure of Bajo de Sico to 12 months in order to provide full protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat.Alternative 4: Extend closure of Bajo de Sico to 12 months in order to provide full protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. –Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including HMS –Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all species, including HMS –Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species –Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of council managed species Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico

Action 2: Prohibit Anchoring by Fishing Vessels. Alternative 1: No Action - do not prohibit anchoring by fishing vessels.Alternative 1: No Action - do not prohibit anchoring by fishing vessels. Alternative 2: Prohibit anchoring for 6 months. The 6-month closure will coincide with the closure period chosen in Action 1.Alternative 2: Prohibit anchoring for 6 months. The 6-month closure will coincide with the closure period chosen in Action 1. Alternative 3 (Preferred): Prohibit anchoring year-round.Alternative 3 (Preferred): Prohibit anchoring year-round.