MSB Am 16: Deep Sea Corals Range of Alternatives August 14,
2013
Slide 2
Objectives Amendment 16 update Amendment 16 update Review range
of alternatives Review range of alternatives Is this a reasonable
range for public hearings? After approval: may modify options
within this range at later date
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Am16 Progress February 2013 February 2013 Ecosystems and Ocean
Planning Committee meets; reviews draft alternatives Public scoping
process April 2013 April 2013 Spatial alternatives workshop in
Baltimore July 2013 July 2013 Follow up with industry
participants
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April Alternatives Workshop Feb meeting discussion: need to
refine spatial alternatives Feb meeting discussion: need to refine
spatial alternatives April workshop with: Ecosystems Advisory Panel
+ Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory Panel, scientists,
management partners, additional participants April workshop with:
Ecosystems Advisory Panel + Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Advisory
Panel, scientists, management partners, additional participants
Interactive mapping exercise to refine coral zone boundaries in
context of fishing effort and deep sea coral presence Interactive
mapping exercise to refine coral zone boundaries in context of
fishing effort and deep sea coral presence Understanding of
tradeoffs Understanding of tradeoffs
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Workshop Outcomes Informative discussion on fishing behavior
and new deep sea coral research Informative discussion on fishing
behavior and new deep sea coral research Rough maps of fishing
effort and coral areas Rough maps of fishing effort and coral areas
Follow up with industry Follow up with industry July refined set of
boundaries for 3 discrete zone options in small group meeting with
industry
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Letter regarding additional alternatives From several
Ecosystems AP members + representatives from several other orgs.
From several Ecosystems AP members + representatives from several
other orgs. Briefing book Tab 2 Briefing book Tab 2 Suggestions for
additional or modified alternatives Suggestions for additional or
modified alternatives Discussed on FMAT call, incorporated some
suggestions into range Discussed on FMAT call, incorporated some
suggestions into range
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Todays Meeting Range of Alternatives document: is this range
sufficient for public hearings and analysis? Range of Alternatives
document: is this range sufficient for public hearings and
analysis? Full Council review Wed. Aug 14 Full Council review Wed.
Aug 14 Approval of range of alternatives will help inform NEPA
analysis requirements (EA vs. EIS) Approval of range of
alternatives will help inform NEPA analysis requirements (EA vs.
EIS)
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Questions?
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Notes on Alternatives Applicable only to Mid-Atlantic Council
region Applicable only to Mid-Atlantic Council region Applicable to
all relevant federally- managed fisheries 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 Best available science on deep sea
coral distribution rapidly changing FMAT incorporating as much as
possible Framework provision alternatives
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Discretionary Provisions Magnuson-Stevens discretionary
provisions to designate deep sea coral zones Magnuson-Stevens
discretionary provisions to designate deep sea coral zones To
prevent damage to corals from fishing gear or loss or damage to
such gear To prevent damage to corals from fishing gear or loss or
damage to such gear More flexibility to define spatial areas for
coral protection More flexibility to define spatial areas for coral
protection See page 7 of alternatives document See page 7 of
alternatives document
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Alternative Sets 1. Broad coral zones 2. Management measures in
broad zones 3. Discrete coral zones 4. Management measures in
discrete zones 5. Framework provisions 6. VMS requirement for Illex
fishery
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Broad + Discrete Coral Zone Framework Broad Coral Zones Broad
Coral Zones Freeze the footprint Large areas excluding most current
fishing effort Discrete Coral Zones Discrete Coral Zones Smaller
areas Protection for areas of known/likely coral presence
Individual canyons, inter-canyon slope areas *Both could be
implemented simultaneously*
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1. Broad Coral Zones Alt 1A: No Action Alt 1A: No Action Alt
1B: Landward boundary at 200 m depth contour Alt 1B: Landward
boundary at 200 m depth contour Alt 1C: at 300 m depth contour Alt
1C: at 300 m depth contour Alt 1D: at 400 m depth contour Alt 1D:
at 400 m depth contour Alt 1E: at 500 m depth contour Alt 1E: at
500 m depth contour
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Broad Zones
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2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2A: No Action Alt 2A:
No Action Alt 2B: Prohibit bottom-tending gear Alt 2B: Prohibit
bottom-tending gear Alt 2C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear Alt
2C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gear
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2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2D: Require Council
review and approval for fishing within 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 Alt 2E: Exempt red crab
fishery from broad coral zone measures
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2. Management Measures in Broad Zones Alt 2F: Require increased
monitoring for vessels fishing 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
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3. Discrete Coral Zones Alt 3A: No Action/Status Quo Alt 3A: No
Action/Status Quo Alt 3B: Designation of canyons or slope areas
with observed coral presence Alt 3B: Designation of canyons or
slope areas with observed coral presence 3B-1: Original boundaries
3B-2: Modified boundaries
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Baltimore Canyon
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Norfolk Canyon
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Mey-Lindenkohl Slope
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Block Canyon
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3. Discrete Coral Zones 3. Discrete Coral Zones Alt 3C:
Designation of canyons with inferred coral presence Alt 3C:
Designation of canyons with inferred coral presence Emery Canyon
Jones and Babylon Canyons Hudson Canyons Lindenkohl Canyon
Wilmington Canyon Washington Canyon
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Inferred Coral Presence
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4. Management Measures in Discrete Zones Alt 4A: No Action Alt
4A: No Action Alt 4B: Prohibit all bottom-tending gear Alt 4B:
Prohibit all bottom-tending gear Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile
bottom-tending gear Alt 4C: Prohibit mobile bottom-tending
gear
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5. Framework Provisions Alt 5A: No Action Alt 5A: No Action Alt
5B: Option to change boundaries for deep sea coral zones Alt 5B:
Option to change boundaries for deep sea coral zones Alt 5C: Option
to change management measures within 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 Alt 5D: Option to add additional discrete
zones
Slide 27
6. VMS Requirement Alt 6A: No Action Alt 6A: No Action Alt 6B:
Require VMS for Illex squid moratorium vessels Alt 6B: Require VMS
for Illex squid moratorium vessels