Bob Trumble, Ph.D
Mónica Valle, Ph.D.
monica.valle@mragamericas.com
CFMC Meeting
Fajardo, Puerto Rico Dec.14-15, 2010
Guidelines for 5-Year EFH Information Review
• 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.
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
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
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
1.0 Introduction
Outline
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
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)
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.
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.
3.0
Review Changes in the Biological Environment
3.2. Changes to the Status of Managed Species
SPECIES
STATUS
REFERENCE
Nassau grouper
Undergoing overfishing
CFMC and NOAA 2009
Caribbean spiny lobster Data insufficient
SEFSC 2005
Caribbean yellowtail
snapper
Yellowfin grouper
SEFSC 2005
Mutton snapper
Queen conch
Data insufficient
Undergoing
SEFSC 2007a
overfishing/Stock not rebuilt
but stock assessment results
were inconclusive
Not overfished and not
SEFSC 2007b
undergoing overfishing
Insufficient information for
stock assessment analysis
Overfished and undergoing
overfishing
SEFSC 2007c
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 georeferenced 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
Source: Garcia-Sais (2005)
Isla Desecheo (Garcia-Sais, 2010)
Source: Nemeth et al. 2008.
Characterization of Deep Water
Reef Communities of the St.
Thomas Marine Conservation
District
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).
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).
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
Source: Pittman et al (2007). Predictive mapping of fish species richness across
shallow-water seascapes in the Caribbean
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 15th, 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)
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 Nonfishing 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
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
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
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/CCMABiogeography Branch, Garcia-Sais et al.
SSS Habitat Mapping of the Cabo Rojo Shelf
Source: Rivera (2006)
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
HSP Contour Plots: Arrowtooth Flounder
Adult
Juvenile
Larvae
34
Figure 4. Fish habitat modeling in Florida estuaries (Source: FWC, Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2010).
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)
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
MPAs in the US Caribbean
MPAs for St Thomas and St John
Source: U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Resources and Fisheries Strategic and Comprehensive Conservation Plan – 2005
MPAs for St. Croix
Source: U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Resources and Fisheries Strategic and Comprehensive Conservation Plan – 2005
THANK YOU!
EXTRA Slides
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
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
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
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
Scientific name
Common name
Strombus gigas
Queen conch
Included for data collection purposes only
Charonia variegata
Atlantic triton's trumpet
Cassis madagascarensis
Cameo helmet
Astrea tuber
Green star shell
Strombus raninus
Hawkwing conch
Strombus costatus
Milk conch
Strombus gallus
Roostertail conch
Strombus pugilis
West Indian fighting conch
Fasciolaria tulipa
True tulip
• 4 species removed:
muricatum
Cassis flammea, C. tuberosa, Cittarium pica, Vasum
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.
Complex
Snapper Unit 1
Current
Silk
Black
Blackfin
Vermilion
Snapper Unit 2
Queen
Wenchman
Gray
Lane
Mutton
Dog
Schoolmaster
Mahogany
Yellowtail
Nassau
Goliath
Red hind
Coney
Rock hind
Graysby
Creole-fish
Snapper Unit 3
Snapper Unit 4
Grouper Unit 1
Grouper Unit 2
Grouper Unit 3
Proposed
Silk
Black
Blackfin
Vermilion
Wenchman
Queen
Cardinal
No changes
No change
No change
No change
Remove creole-fish
and move it to a
monitoring only
category.
Grouper Unit 4
Yellowfin
Red
Tiger
Yellowedge
Misty
Grouper Unit 5
Parrotfish
Parrotfish Unit 2
Blue
Midnight
Princess
Queen
Rainbow
Redfin
Redtail
Stoplight
Redband
Striped
Yellowfin
Red
Tiger
Black
Yellowedge
Misty
Princess
Queen
Redfin
Redtail
Stoplight
Redband
Striped
Blue
Midnight
Rainbow
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.
Complex
Snapper Unit 1
Current
Silk
Black
Blackfin
Vermilion
Snapper Unit 2
Queen
Wenchman
Gray
Lane
Mutton
Dog
Schoolmaster
Mahogany
Yellowtail
Nassau
Goliath
Red hind
Coney
Rock hind
Graysby
Creole-fish
Snapper Unit 3
Snapper Unit 4
Grouper Unit 1
Grouper Unit 2
Grouper Unit 3
Proposed
Silk
Black
Blackfin
Vermilion
Wenchman
Queen
Cardinal
No changes
No change
No change
No change
Remove creole-fish
and move it to a
monitoring only
category.
Grouper Unit 4
Yellowfin
Red
Tiger
Yellowedge
Misty
Grouper Unit 5
Parrotfish
Parrotfish Unit 2
Blue
Midnight
Princess
Queen
Rainbow
Redfin
Redtail
Stoplight
Redband
Striped
Yellowfin
Red
Tiger
Black
Yellowedge
Misty
Princess
Queen
Redfin
Redtail
Stoplight
Redband
Striped
Blue
Midnight
Rainbow
3.0
Review Changes in the Biological Environment
3.2. Changes to the Status of Managed Species
SPECIES
STATUS
REFERENCE
Nassau grouper
Undergoing overfishing
CFMC and NOAA 2009
Caribbean spiny lobster Data insufficient
SEFSC 2005
Caribbean yellowtail
snapper
Yellowfin grouper
SEFSC 2005
Mutton snapper
Queen conch
Data insufficient
Undergoing
SEFSC 2007a
overfishing/Stock not rebuilt
but stock assessment results
were inconclusive
Not overfished and not
SEFSC 2007b
undergoing overfishing
Insufficient information for
stock assessment analysis
Overfished and undergoing
overfishing
SEFSC 2007c