1. Bob Trumble, Ph.D Mónica Valle, Ph.D. monica.valle@mragamericas.com CFMC Meeting Fajardo, Puerto Rico Dec.14-15, 2010

2. Magnuson Act – EFH Regulation-Councils and NMFS should periodically review the EFH provisions of FMPs and revise or amend EFH provisions as warranted based on available information. Review EFH information at least once every 5 years. Best available scientific information is used to justify management actions (National Standard 2) NMFS is following NEPA guidance regarding periodic review and update of NEPA documents. Guidelines for 5-Year EFH Information Review

3. Scope of 5-year EFH Information Review: Identification and description of EFH Other measures to conserve EFH, and HAPC Minimization of adverse effects of fishing Consider climate change, lionfish invasions, and use of habitat models. Consider effectiveness of EFH regulations and descriptions

4. Documentation 1. Report summarizing changes in EFH information -Identify considerations that influenced review -Species added/eliminated from FMU -Changes in overfishing/overfished status -Changes in restoration techniques -Errors in existing identifications/ descriptions -New scientific information -New analytical techniques/models -Changes in gear or new gear information - Include description of process used to review -Identify obsolete or new information 2. Letter from NMFS (RO) to Council

5. Approach: Documents/Websites Reviewed Annotated bibliography- Peer reviewed articles and technical reports. Websites: – CFMC – FEIS-EFH, FMPs, FMP Amendments, Comprehensive SFA Amendment, Bajo de Sico Amendment, ACLs and Accountability Measures, Reports – DPNR, USVI – DNER-PR – NOAA/SEFSC- SEDAR Workshops – NOAA/SEAMAP surveys – NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Biogeography Branch- Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Project – Other Councils (New England, Gulf of Mexico, New England, Pacific, North Pacific) – Universities: UPR, UVI, NOVA (NCRI) – UPR/ CCRI (Mesophotic reefs, Habitat Mapping, Coral Monitoring & Research, Spawning Aggregations) – PR- GAP project

6. Outline 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Current EFH Designations/ 1.2 Current HAPC Designations 1.3 Current Measures to Minimize Fishing Impacts to EFH 1.4 Five-Year Review Approach 2.0 Review EFH Descriptions and Designations *3.0 Review Changes in the Biological Environment 4.0 Review Changes in the Human Environment *5.0. Review Changes in the Administrative Environment (data, rules, regulations, ACLs) 6.0 Review Changes and New Information on Fishing Impacts that May Adversely Affect EFH 7.0 Review Changes and New Information on Non-fishing Impacts *8.0 Review of New Mapping Efforts and Alternative Methodologies for use in Essential Fish Habitat Designation in the U.S. Caribbean *9.0 Review Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) Designations 10.0 Recommendations on Updating EFH Information, research and information needs 11.0 References / 12.0 Tables/13.0 Figures

7. 3.0 Review Changes in the Biological Environment 3.1 Species Added or Eliminated from the FMU Documents: Comprehensive Amendment to the FMPs of the US Caribbean (2005) – Moved some species in FMPs to data collection category – Redefined the FMUs for the FMPs – Designated EFH and HAPC areas and minimized adverse impacts on such habitat Amendment 2 to the Queen Conch FMP and Amendment 5 to the Reef Fish FMP (2010) NOAA-SEFC- SEDAR 4 (2004) (Deep water reef fish), SEDAR 8 (2005) (Spiny lobster), SEDAR 14 (2007) (yellowfin grouper, mutton snapper, queen conch)

8. FMP Amendments for FMUs 1. Spiny Lobster FMP - No changes 2. Queen Conch FMP - 8 spp moved to data collection, 4 species removed:Cassis flammea, C. tuberosa, Cittarium pica, Vasum muricatum) 3. Reef Fish FMP 88 species or groups 57 aquarium trade species for data collection purposes only. 2 species removed: cardinal soldierfish (Plectrypops retrospinis) and trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculates) 4. Corals and Reef Associated Invertebrates FMP 99 species or species groups 62 aquarium trade for data collection purposes 1 spp added to FMP: Carijoa riisei 6 spp or spp groups removed: Charonia tritonis, Halimeda spp., Penicillus spp., Caulerpa spp., Ventricaria ventricosa, Udotea spp.

9. FMP Amendments Stock Complexes Management stock complexes defined in the Comprehensive Amendment (FR 2005) Modified in the Draft Amendment 2 to the FMP for Queen Conch and Amendment 5 of the Reef Fish FMP (CFMC and NOAA, 2010). – Changes to Snapper Units 1-4 – Grouper Units 1-5 – Parrotfish Units 1-2 Review if proposed changes to FMUs affect designations of EFH.

10. 3.0 Review Changes in the Biological Environment 3.2. Changes to the Status of Managed Species SPECIESSTATUSREFERENCE Nassau grouperUndergoing overfishingCFMC and NOAA 2009 Caribbean spiny lobsterData insufficientSEFSC 2005 Caribbean yellowtail snapper Data insufficientSEFSC 2005 Yellowfin grouper Undergoing overfishing/Stock not rebuilt but stock assessment results were inconclusive SEFSC 2007a Mutton snapper Not overfished and not undergoing overfishing Insufficient information for stock assessment analysis SEFSC 2007b Queen conchOverfished and undergoing overfishing SEFSC 2007c

11. 3.3 New Information about Species or Life Stage Distribution, Abundance, Density, Productivity, or Habitat Associations SEAMAP surveys- spatial and temporal variations in abundance of lobster pueruli, queen conch, whelk, reef fishes, limited info on habitat use. Characterization of shallow water, moderate depth, and deep reefs and associated marine communities from PR and the USVI Include assessment of geographic distribution, bathymetric features, benthic habitat assessments, taxonomic inventory of species, species-habitat utilization, distribution and abundance by habitat and life-history stage Geo-physical, hydrographic and biological information was geo- referenced and included on a GIS maps. Studies : SEAMAP (DPNR-USVI, DNER-PR), Garcia-Sais et al., Nemeth et al., Appeldoorn et al., CCRI, NOAA/NOS/Biogeography Locations: La Parguera, PR, Hind Bank MCD (St Thomas), Bajo de Sico, PR; Isla Desecheo, PR; St John MPAs

12. Source: Garcia-Sais (2005)

16. Isla Desecheo (Garcia-Sais, 2010)

17. Source: Nemeth et al. 2008. Characterization of Deep Water Reef Communities of the St. Thomas Marine Conservation District

18. Acanthuridae Abundance Scaridae Abundance Haemulidae Abundance Source: Nemeth et al (2008) Maps of % coverage of corals, gorgonians, macroalgae, dead coral, non-living substrata (sediment, sand, stone, rubble, etc).

19. Acanthuridae Abundance Scaridae Abundance Haemulidae Abundance Source: Nemeth et al (2008) Maps of % coverage of corals, gorgonians, macroalgae, dead coral, non-living substrata (sediment, sand, stone, rubble, etc).

21. Source: Friedlander and Monaco (2007) Acoustic Tracking of Reef Fishes to Elucidate Habitat Utilization Patterns and Residence Times Inside and Outside Marine Protected Areas Around the Island of St. John, USVI

22. Source: Pittman et al (2007). Predictive mapping of fish species richness across shallow-water seascapes in the Caribbean

23. 4.0. Review Changes in the Human Environment- ? 5.0 Changes in the Administrative Environment 5.1. Comprehensive SFA Amendment 5.2. ACL Revised Alternatives July 15 th, 2009) 5.3. Draft Amendment to Queen Conch FMP and Amendment 5 to the Reef Fish FMP 5.4. Final Rule and Final Regulatory Amendment to Modify the Seasonal Closure of Bajo de Sico in the U.S. Caribbean (November 2, 2010) 5.5. New Fishing Regulations for PR 5.6. New seasonal area restrictions (red hind) and prohibitions (black, blackfin, vermilion, and silk snapper) 5.7. Data (new sources, data improvement project)

24. 6.0 Review Changes and New Information on Fishing Impacts that May Adversely Affect EFH - 1 study on anchor damage, ? 7.0 Review Changes and New Information on Non- fishing Impacts 7.1. Review of other impacts (pollution, diseases, grazing, bleaching, hurricanes, etc)- ? 7.2 Review of Likely Climate Change Impacts to Habitat 7.3. Review of Likely Impacts of Lionfish Invasions

25. 7.2. Climate change impacts Declines in fish production Species/ecological shifts Distribution changes Reduced reproductive capacity Local extinctions Coral bleaching and mortality Increased sea levels

26. 7.3. Lionfish Invasions Native to tropical coral reefs in waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans In the Atlantic Ocean beginning in 1992 Bermuda and the Bahamas in early 2000s Expand southward through Mexican, Central, and South American waters Voracious predators w/o native predators Vegetation overgrowing coral

28. 8.0 New mapping efforts and alternative methodologies for EFH Designation 8.1. New mapping efforts- Studies by: Jose Rivera, Ron Hill, Martha Prada, NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA- Biogeography Branch, Garcia-Sais et al.

29. SSS Habitat Mapping of the Cabo Rojo Shelf Source: Rivera (2006)

32. 8.2. New Habitat Association Models Habitat suitability model for PFMC/NWRO – Identified habitat distribution and usage – Model determined probability that any parcel is EFH Evaluate other potentially appropriate models used by other Councils Determine which, if any, model would work for US Caribbean

34. 34 AdultJuvenileLarvae HSP Contour Plots: Arrowtooth Flounder

35. Figure 4. Fish habitat modeling in Florida estuaries (Source: FWC, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2010).

36. Figure 1. (a) Fitted polynomial regressions to mean CPUE across environmental gradients. (b) Habitat layers and seasonal distribution map by species life stage (Source: FWC, 2010)

37. 9.0 Review HAPC Designations New information from SPAGs and MPAs: Bajo de Sico, PR- Red Hind (Nemeth et al.) La Parguera, PR- Red Hind (Ojeda-Serrano) Mona, Desecheo, Culebra, Vieques, PR- Epinephelus spp, Micperoterca spp, Lutjanus spp (Ojeda-Serrano) Mona Island – Yellowfin grouper STT- Hind Bank MCD STX- Mutton snapper

38. MPAs in the US Caribbean

39. MPAs for St Thomas and St John Source: U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Resources and Fisheries Strategic and Comprehensive Conservation Plan – 2005

40. MPAs for St. Croix Source: U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Resources and Fisheries Strategic and Comprehensive Conservation Plan – 2005

41. THANK YOU!

43. EXTRA Slides

44. Progress Report Outline 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Current EFH Designations/ 1.2 Current HAPC Designations 1.3 Current Measures to Minimize Fishing Impacts to EFH 1.4 Five-Year Review Approach 2.0 Review EFH Descriptions and Designations 3.0 Review Changes in the Biological Environment 3.1 Species Added or Eliminated from the Fishery Management Unit 3.2 Changes to the Status of Managed Species (overfishing, overfished or rebuilt) 3.3 New Information about Species or Life Stage Distribution, Abundance, Density, Productivity, or Habitat Associations 3.3.1 Spiny Lobster 3.3.2 Queen Conch 3.3.3 Reef Fish 3.3.4 Corals 3.3.5. Community/Ecosystem

45. 4.0. Review Changes in the Human Environment 5.0. Review Changes in the Administrative Environment (data, rules, regulations, catch limits) 5.1. Comprehensive Amendment 5.2. ACL Revised Alternatives 5.3. Data (new sources, data improvement project) 5.4. Draft Amendment to Queen Conch FMP and Amendment 5 to the Reef Fish FMP 6.0 Review Changes and New Information on Fishing Impacts that May Adversely Affect EFH 7.0 Review Changes and New Information on Non-fishing Impacts 7.1. Review of other impacts (pollution, etc) 7.2 Review of Likely Climate Change Impacts to Habitat 7.3. Review of Likely Impacts of Lionfish Invasions

46. 8.0 Review of New Mapping Efforts and Alternative Methodologies for use in Essential Fish Habitat Designation in the U.S. Caribbean 8.1. Review of new mapping efforts and new species/habitat association methodologies 8.2. Review of Alternative Methodologies for use in EFH Designation in the U.S. Caribbean (including Habitat Suitability Models) 9.0 Review Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) Designations 9.1 Addition or Removal of HAPCs in the U.S. Caribbean 9.2 HAPC Recommendations 10.0 Recommendations on Updating EFH Information, research and information needs 11.0 References 12.0 Tables 13.0 Figures

47. FMP Amendments for FMUs 1. Spiny Lobster FMP - No changes- Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus ), Spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus ), Smoothtail spiny lobster (Panulirus laevicauda) 2. Queen Conch FMP - 8 spp moved to data collection 4 species removed: Cassis flammea, C. tuberosa, Cittarium pica, Vasum muricatum

48. FMP Amendments Stock Complexes Management stock complexes defined in the Comprehensive Amendment (FR 2005) Modified in the Draft Amendment 2 to the FMP for Queen Conch and Amendment 5 of the Reef Fish FMP (CFMC and NOAA, 2010). Review if proposed changes to FMUs affect designations of EFH.

49. ComplexCurrentProposed Snapper Unit 1Silk Black Blackfin Vermilion Silk Black Blackfin Vermilion Wenchman Snapper Unit 2Queen Wenchman Queen Cardinal Snapper Unit 3Gray Lane Mutton Dog Schoolmaster Mahogany No changes Snapper Unit 4YellowtailNo change Grouper Unit 1NassauNo change Grouper Unit 2GoliathNo change Grouper Unit 3Red hind Coney Rock hind Graysby Creole-fish Remove creole-fish and move it to a monitoring only category.

50. Grouper Unit 4Yellowfin Red Tiger Yellowedge Misty Yellowfin Red Tiger Black Grouper Unit 5Yellowedge Misty ParrotfishBlue Midnight Princess Queen Rainbow Redfin Redtail Stoplight Redband Striped Princess Queen Redfin Redtail Stoplight Redband Striped Parrotfish Unit 2Blue Midnight Rainbow

51. FMP Amendments Stock Complexes Management stock complexes defined in the Comprehensive Amendment (FR 2005) Modified in the Draft Amendment 2 to the FMP for Queen Conch and Amendment 5 of the Reef Fish FMP (CFMC and NOAA, 2010). Review if proposed changes to FMUs affect designations of EFH.

52. ComplexCurrentProposed Snapper Unit 1Silk Black Blackfin Vermilion Silk Black Blackfin Vermilion Wenchman Snapper Unit 2Queen Wenchman Queen Cardinal Snapper Unit 3Gray Lane Mutton Dog Schoolmaster Mahogany No changes Snapper Unit 4YellowtailNo change Grouper Unit 1NassauNo change Grouper Unit 2GoliathNo change Grouper Unit 3Red hind Coney Rock hind Graysby Creole-fish Remove creole-fish and move it to a monitoring only category.

53. Grouper Unit 4Yellowfin Red Tiger Yellowedge Misty Yellowfin Red Tiger Black Grouper Unit 5Yellowedge Misty ParrotfishBlue Midnight Princess Queen Rainbow Redfin Redtail Stoplight Redband Striped Princess Queen Redfin Redtail Stoplight Redband Striped Parrotfish Unit 2Blue Midnight Rainbow

54. 3.0 Review Changes in the Biological Environment 3.2. Changes to the Status of Managed Species SPECIESSTATUSREFERENCE Nassau grouperUndergoing overfishingCFMC and NOAA 2009 Caribbean spiny lobsterData insufficientSEFSC 2005 Caribbean yellowtail snapper Data insufficientSEFSC 2005 Yellowfin grouper Undergoing overfishing/Stock not rebuilt but stock assessment results were inconclusive SEFSC 2007a Mutton snapper Not overfished and not undergoing overfishing Insufficient information for stock assessment analysis SEFSC 2007b Queen conchOverfished and undergoing overfishing SEFSC 2007c