1. Landings, ACLs, AMs, and OFLs
Southeast Regional Office
October 6, 2019

2. Average Landings for ACL Overage Assessment
Assessing for 2015 Fishing Year
Averaging Years = 2011, 2012, 2013
Status of Data Availability:
USVI data available for all three years
PR Recreational data available for all three years
PR Commercial data for 2013 not yet available, analyses delayed accordingly

3. Data and Assessment Timeline

4. St. Thomas/St. John Status
Commercial/Recreational are combined (separate rec landings are not available)
ACLs for three FMUs (angelfish, squirrelfish, wrasses) were exceeded based on average landings
SEFSC/SSC determination was that all three due to enhanced reporting (added to report forms since ACLs established)
No AMs will be implemented
No closures will be necessary for 2015

5. St. Thomas/St. John Averages vs. ACL:
“2010” Species
Average St. Thomas/St. John Commercial Landings
Species
Landings (lbs)
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Conch
870
n/a
Grouper
44,419
51,849
85.7%
Parrotfish
19,389
42,500
45.6%
Snapper
55,563
133,775
41.5%

6. St. Thomas/St. John Averages vs. ACL:
“2011” Species
Average St. Thomas/St. John Commercial Landings
Species
Landings (lbs)
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Angelfish
16,872
7,897
213.7%
Aquarium trade 18
8,155
0.2%
Boxfish
13,012
27,880
46.7%
Goatfishes 17
320
5.4%
Grunts
17,692
37,617
47.0%
Jacks
35,343
52,907
66.8%
Porgies
2,896
21,819
13.3%
Spiny Lobster
83,897
104,199
80.5%
Squirrelfish
8,610
4,241
203.0%
Surgeonfish
15,654
29,249
53.5%
Tilefish
14,642
0.0%
Triggerfish & Filefish
49,384
74,447
66.3%
Wrasses
1,895
585
323.9%

7. St. Croix Status
Commercial/Recreational are combined (separate rec landings are not available)
ACLs for three FMUs (angelfish, squirrelfish, wrasses) were exceeded based on average landings
SEFSC/SSC determination was that all three due to enhanced reporting (added to report forms since ACLs established)
No AMs will be implemented
No closures will be necessary for 2015

8. St. Croix Averages vs. ACL:
“2010” Species
Average St. Croix Commercial Landings
Species
Landings (lbs)
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Conch
37,137
50,000
74.3%
Grouper
27,881
30,435
91.6%
Parrotfish
126,943
240,000
52.9%
Snapper
73,125
102,946
71.0%

9. St. Croix Averages vs. ACL:
“2011” Species
Average St. Croix Commercial Landings
Species
Landings (lbs)
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Angelfish
10,555
305
3460.8%
Aquarium trade
152
8,155
1.9%
Boxfish
2,970
8,433
35.2%
Goatfishes
527
3,766
14.0%
Grunts
25,945
36,881
70.3%
Jacks
11,086
15,489
71.6%
Porgies
860
4,638
18.5%
Spiny Lobster
85,365
107,307
79.6%
Squirrelfish
612
121
505.5%
Surgeonfish
22,023
33,603
65.5%
Tilefish
14,642
0.0%
Triggerfish & Filefish
21,024
24,980
84.2%
Wrasses 25 7
361.9%

10. Puerto Rico Recreational
Separate commercial and recreational data collection in Puerto Rico
No recreational ACLs were exceeded based on average landings
No recreational AMs will be implemented
No recreational closures will be necessary for 2015
Note that spiny lobster and queen conch are not included in the recreational monitoring program

11. Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL:
“2010” Species
Species
Average Annual 2011, 2012, and 2013 Recreational Landings by Two-month Wave*
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Jan-Feb
Mar-Apr
May-Jun
Jul-Aug
Sep-Oct
Nov-Dec
Total Average
Goliath Grouper
n/a
Nassau Grouper 80
147
228
Grouper
987
4,764
1,487
469
2,301
358
10,366
77,213
13.4%
Parrotfish
2,935
2,142
1,510
251
1,056
2,082
9,976
15,263
65.4%
Snapper Unit 1
6,330
10,650
7,887
3,484
4,080
32,431
95,526
34.0%
Snapper Unit 2
2,460
34,810
7.1%
Snapper Unit 3
4,135
7,681
19,159
2,459
2,824
14,465
50,724
83,158
61.0%
Snapper Unit 4
1,126
2,806
2,646
525
233
2,610
9,946
28,509
34.9%

12. Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL:
“2011” Species
Species
Average Annual 2011, 2012, and 2013 Recreational Landings by Two-month Wave*
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Jan-Feb
Mar-Apr
May-Jun
Jul-Aug
Sep-Oct
Nov-Dec
Total Reported
Angelfish
126 56
182
4,492
4.1%
Aquarium trade**
137
426 66
463
1,092
8,155
13.4%
Boxfish
659
270
187 36
150
507
1,808
4,616
39.2%
Goatfishes 46 5 88
140
362
38.6%
Grunts
209
625
469 47
235
557
2,142
5,028
42.6%
Jacks
4,381
10,970
8,659
5,601
4,913
4,924
39,448
51,001
77.3%
Porgies 52
156
116 24
105
782
1,236
2,577
47.9%
Squirelfish 18 77
112
128
381
3,891
9.8%
Surgeonfish
3,590
0.0%
Tilefish** 39 62
178
14,642
1.2%
Triggerfish & Filefish
1,698
2,311
1,458
322
5,788
21,929
26.4%
Wrasses 67
2,041 15 25
981
3,128
5,050
61.9%

13. Puerto Rico Commercial
Commercial landings data for 2013 not yet available
Expected in early 2015 (late January)
Based on that expected delivery date, we will wait to evaluate landings relative to ACLs and establish closures as necessary
Determinations will be made according to following timeline
Also some Expansion Factor issues, but those should be resolved soon

14. Data and Assessment Timeline- Late Data

15. Puerto Rico Commercial- If All Else Fails?
If 2013 PR commercial data do not become available, will use appropriate sequence that includes data through 2012
This essentially results in the same outcomes as last year, although closures may not be identical:
For “2010” species, use 2010, 2011, 2012 data
For “2011” species, use 2011 and 2012 data
When do we “fall back” on previous data? Trade-off between waiting as long as possible for 2013 final data and having enough time to implement potential closures

16. Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL:
“2010” Species
Average Puerto Rico Commercial Landings
Species
Landings (lbs)
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Conch
292,972
n/a
Grouper Total
73,379
177,513
41.3%
Parrotfish
43,211
52,737
81.9%
Snapper Unit 1
197,598
284,685
69.4%
Snapper Unit 2
248,665
145,916
170.4%
Snapper Unit 3
172,160
345,775
49.8%
Snapper Unit 4
183,457
373,295
49.1%

17. Puerto Rico Recreational Averages vs. ACL:
“2011” Species
Average Puerto Rico Commercial Landings
Species
Landings (lbs)
Annual Catch Limit
Percent of ACL
Angelfish
8,984
0.0%
Aquarium trade* 6
8,155
0.1%
Boxfish
39,722
86,115
46.1%
Goatfishes
8,429
17,565
48.0%
Grunts
37,206
182,396
20.4%
Jacks
41,387
86,059
48.1%
Porgies
24,612
24,739
99.5%
Spiny Lobster
309,729
327,920
94.5%
Squirrelfish
6,907
16,663
41.5%
Surgeonfish
7,179
Tilefish*
14,642
Triggerfish & Filefish
55,834
58,475
95.5%
Wrasses
61,638
54,147
113.8%

18. Determining Closure Date
Determine number of pounds by which ACL was exceeded for FMU of interest
Calculate daily rate of landings each month for that FMU using data from most recent available fishing year
For example, to determine a STX closure for 2015, calculate daily fishing rate for each 2013 month from 2013 STX landings
Using that fishing rate, calculate number of days required to remove the necessary poundage
Count back from December 31 for that number of days to establish closure date

19. ACL vs. OFL Overage
OFL = MSYproxy, equivalent to average landings for a set period of years (e.g., for STT/STJ “2010” species)
ACL = OFL x buffer reduction
For “2010” species, generally (not always) a 15% reduction
For “2011” species, generally (not always) a 10% reduction
Exceeding the ACL is based upon a three-year average of landings
Exceeding the OFL is based on the most recent year of landings only, because overfishing is an annual event
Thus, it is possible to exceed the OFL without exceeding the ACL, and in fact that was the case for the 2014 calendar year

20. Case Studies for 2014 Calendar Year
PR Snapper Unit 2 (queen and cardinal snapper)
Exceeded ACL but not OFL
Because rate of fishing for most recent data year (2012) had decreased relative to average, no closure was implemented
PR Wrasses (hogfish, Spanish hogfish, puddingwife)
Exceeded ACL and OFL
Because rate of fishing for most recent data year (2012) was equal to or greater than average, AM closure implemented on October 20, Council notified by letter of overfishing condition
PR Scups & Porgies (sheepshead, jolthead and pluma porgy, sea bream)
Exceeded OFL but not ACL
No closure was implemented, but Council notified by letter of overfishing condition