1. Amendments to the U.S. Caribbean Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, and Corals And Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans Amendments to the U.S. Caribbean Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, and Corals And Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans Caribbean Fishery Management Council 154 th Meeting December 15 2015 Timing of Accountability Measure-Based Closures

2. AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015 Amendment consists of two actions: - Action 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM- based closures in the EEZ - Action 2: Specify how often to revisit the approach selected in Action 1 Actions and Management Alternatives 2

3. Dates and Places: Public Hearings Puerto Rico: Monday, November 23 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. – Doubletree Hotel, Avenida de Diego, Santurce, Puerto Rico Tuesday, November 24 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. -- Mayagüez Holiday Inn, Núm.. 2701 Avenida Hostos, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Wednesday, Noviembre 25 2015 - 2:00 p.m. a 5:00 p.m. -- Ponce Holiday Inn, Ponce, Puerto Rico USVI Monday, Noviembre 16 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. -- Buccaneer Hotel, St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Tuesday, Noviembre 17 2015 - 7:00 p.m. a 10 p.m. -- Windward Passage, Holiday Inn Hotel, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015

4. AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015 Public Hearings Results Deponents (Present) Action 1Action 2 St. Croix4 (14)Alt. 2 St. Thomas1 (5)*Alt. 2 San Juan16** (65)Alt. 2 =7 Alt. 4(b) = 1 NONE = 7 Alt. 5 (new) = 1 Alt. 2 = 8 Alt. 3 = 1 NONE = 5 Every year n=2 Mayagüez9 (65)More information Ponce2 (3)Alt. 2 4 *Representing 32 commercial fishers of the STFA **4 Presidents of Fishing Associations

5. AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015 Public Hearings Results 5 Summer months are better for them economically speaking, because this is a slow time for the tourism season. Seasonal closures already in place should be considered Each coast of Puerto Rico should be considered separately Factors to consider include: (1) decreased number of fishers; (2) environmental changes; (3) safety issues when forced to fish when closure in place, 4’-6’ seas prevent fishers from going out; (4) basis for ACLs is wrong Research needs to be conducted in collaboration with fishers and inform decisions Need to manage for small scale fisheries

6. AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015 Public Hearings Results 6 Get real time information Data collected should be audited to eliminate the ones that are not real before they are sent to the US Information should be brought to the fishers before the public hearings; informal meetings, workshops

7. AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015 Amendment consists of two actions: - Action 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM- based closures in the EEZ - Action 2: Specify how often to revisit the approach selected in Action 1 Actions and Management Alternatives 7

8. Alternative 1: No Action. December 31 going backward (All FMUs) Preferred Alternative 2: September 30 going backward (DAP’s input) (All FMUs) Alternative 3: January 1 going forward (All FMUs) Alternative 4: Different fixed dates for individual or a group of FMUs on each island/island group Public Hearing Draft - Action 1 8 AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015

9. Alternative 4 Sub-alternatives (by island/island group): Alternatives 4a (PR comm.), 4c (PR rec.), 4e (STT/STJ), 4g (STX), 4i (Caribbean-wide). Closure to start the last day of the month with highest average landings Alternatives 4b (PR comm.), 4d (PR rec.), 4f (STT/STJ), 4h (STX), 4j (Caribbean-wide). Closure to start the last day of the month with lowest average landings Public Hearing Draft - Action 1 9 AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015

10. Alternative 5: If there is a need to apply the closure for any species, this closure for recuperating the fishery from the over captures should be placed during the closed season for such species Public Hearing Draft - Action 1 10 AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015

11. Alternative 1. No Action. Do not specify how often the approach chosen should be revisited. Preferred Alternative 2. Revisit the approach selected no longer than 2 years from implementation and every 2 years thereafter. Alternative 3. Revisit the approach selected no longer than 5 years from implementation and every 5 years thereafter. Revisiting the approach that sets the timing for AM closures can involve revisiting the dates selected, criteria for choosing the dates, or any other aspect of the rule. Action 2 : Specify how often the approach to set the timing of AM-based closures selected in Action 1 should be revisited. 11 AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015

12. IPT recommends specifying how the review/revisiting will proceed Content: Oral presentation of closure history over the past two years and verbal discussion by Council members with public comment at a Council meeting? Review needed? (IPT can help determine appropriate vessel to do this. Formal analysis? Written report?) Process: When will revisiting occur? Will changes be made through a plan amendment? Framework action? Action 2 : Specify how often the approach to set the timing of AM-based closures selected in Action 1 should be revisited. 12 AM Based Closures Amendment December 2015

13. Draft Timeline 2015 2016 Today Spring 2016 December 2015 Council discusses outcomes of Public Hearings Council revises alternatives of Action 2 as appropriate Staff to bring final document to Spring Meeting for final action Late Fall 2016 NOAA publishes Amendment/ Final Rule Final Rule Effective Council revises and approves codified text Council approves Amendment for Secretarial Review Summer 2016 Amendment and Proposed Rule Comment Period 13

14. Next Steps: Modify text in Alternatives 2 and 3 of Action 2, if appropriate. Provide additional information for Alternatives 2 and 3 of Action 2 to guide the review process. Direct staff to bring final draft to Spring 2016 meeting for final action 14