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MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives. August 14, 2013. Objectives. Amendment 16 update Review range of alternatives Is this a reasonable range for public hearings? . Am16 Progress. February 2013 Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee meets; reviews draft alternatives
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MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives August 14, 2013
Objectives • Amendment 16 update • Review range of alternatives • Is this a reasonable rangefor public hearings?
Am16 Progress • February 2013 • Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee meets; reviews draft alternatives • Public scoping process • April 2013 • Spatial alternatives workshop in Baltimore • July 2013 • Follow up with industry participants • Letter from several Ecosystems AP members + others
Notes on Alternatives • Applicable only to Mid-Atlantic Council region • Applicable to all relevant federally-managed fisheries • NOT applicable to non-federal fisheries (e.g. lobster) • Best available science on deep sea coral distribution rapidly changing • FMAT incorporating as much as possible • Framework provision alternatives
Discretionary Provisions • Magnuson-Stevens discretionary provisions to designate deep sea coral zones • See page 7 of alternatives document
Alternative Sets • Broad coral zones • Management measures in broad zones • Discrete coral zones • Management measures in discrete zones • Framework provisions • VMS requirement for Illex fishery
Broad + Discrete Coral Zone Framework • Broad Coral Zones • “Freeze the footprint” • Large areas excluding most current fishing effort • Discrete Coral Zones • Smaller areas • Protection for areas of known/likely coral presence • Individual canyons, inter-canyon slope areas *Both could be implemented simultaneously*
1. Broad Coral Zones • Alt 1A: No Action • Alt 1B: Landward boundary at 200 m depth contour • Alt 1C: “ at 300 m depth contour • Alt 1D: “ at 400 m depth contour • Alt 1E: “ at 500 m depth contour
2. Management Measures in Broad Zones • Alt 2A: No Action • Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending gear • Alt 2C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear
2. Management Measures in Broad Zones • Alt 2D: Require Council review and approval for fishing within broad zones • 2D-1: Special access program • 2D-2: Exploratory fishing access program • 2D-3: Research/experimental access program • Alt 2E: Exempt red crab fishery from broad coral zone measures
2. Management Measures in Broad Zones • Alt 2F: Require increased monitoring for vessels fishing in broad zones • 2F-1: Require observer coverage in broad coral zones • 2F-2: Require VMS for vessels fishing in broad coral zones • Alt 2G: Exempt mid-Atlantic golden tilefish fishery from broad zone restrictions.
3. Discrete Coral Zones • Alt 3A: No Action/Status Quo • Alt 3B: Designation of canyons or slope areas with observed coral presence • 3B-1: Original boundaries • 3B-2: Modified boundaries
3. Discrete Coral Zones • Alt 3C: Designation of canyons with inferred coral presence • Emery Canyon • Jones and Babylon Canyons • Hudson Canyon • Accomac Canyon • Wilmington Canyon • Washington Canyon
3. Discrete Coral Zones • Alt 3D: Designation of canyons with possible coral presence, including canyons with insufficient coral presence data to determine whether or not corals are present. • Based on Table 4 of Appendix B, there are 10 such canyons: McMaster Canyon, Ryan Canyon, Uchupi Canyon, Spencer Canyon, South Wilmington Canyon, North Heyes Canyon, South Vries Canyon, Warr Canyon, Phoenix Canyon, and Leonard Canyon.
4. Management Measures in Discrete Zones • Alt 4A: No Action • Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending gear • Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear • Alt 4D: Exempt illex and loligo fisheries from discrete zone restrictions.
5. Framework Provisions • Alt 5A: No Action • Alt 5B: Option to change boundaries for deep sea coral zones • Alt 5C: Option to change management measures within zones • Fishing restrictions, exemptions, special access, monitoring requirements • Alt 5D: Option to add additional discrete zones
6. VMS Requirement • Alt 6A: No Action • Alt 6B: Require VMS for Illex squid moratorium vessels