DSC GOM
Michelle Bachman
Habitat Plan Development Team Chair Habitat Committee March 22, 2016
Outline Existing range of fishing restriction alternatives in the coral amendment
Coral zone measures selected by MAFMC Overlaps between broad and discrete NEFMC zones and fishing effort
Existing range of alternatives - NEFMC Prohibit bottom-tending gears (fixed and mobile) This option would prohibit the use of bottom-tending fishing gears in deepsea coral zones, but would allow the use of gears that do not contact the seabed. Note that the lobster trap fishery, which is managed by ASMFC, would not be subject to this restriction. Suboption: exempt the red crab fishery from bottom-tending gear restrictions (could be applied to a broad zone and possibly also to the discreet zones) Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gears This option would prohibit the use of mobile bottom-tending fishing gears in deep-sea coral zones, but would allow the use of fixed gears and any gears that do not contact the seabed. Document 2, pages 28-29
Existing range of alternatives - NEFMC Framework provisions for deep-sea coral zones These options would allow management measures for coral zones to be developed via
framework action. Note that boundary issues, including creation of new coral zones, modification of the boundaries of existing coral zones, or removal of coral zones, would not be frameworkable.
Option A: Change fishing restrictions This option would include changes to the types of fishing gears restricted from use in deep-
sea coral zones.
Option B: Change exemption fishery requirements This would include changes to management measures associated with exemption programs,
such as permit and observer requirements, and move-along provisions. Document 2, page 29
Existing range of alternatives - NEFMC Special Access Programs, exploratory fishing, and research in coral zones
Document 2, pages 30-36
MAFMC coral zone measures; selected June 2015 For broad and discrete areas, all bottom tending-gear prohibited with an
exemption for the red crab fishery. Prohibition would not apply to the American lobster fishery managed by ASMFC. Transit would be allowed subject to gear stowage requirements. Frameworkable measures: Boundaries of coral zones
Management measures within zones, including fishing restrictions, exemptions, monitoring,
and anchoring New discrete coral zones Special access programs
VMS required for all Illex squid moratorium vessels fishing within and outside
of coral zones
Overlaps with fishing effort Maps of potential coral zones overlaid on fishing effort Multi-colored surface is revenue, based on vessel trip reports, for gear and year indicated
This method* was used to generate data sets for OHA2 analyses Low values filtered out as noted Data shown in quantiles, per 50 m2 grid
Lines are tow tracks for the same year and gear type. The start and end points
are taken from at-sea observer data, with VMS-derived waypoints, when available for that gear type.
Obviously not a census of effort; some gear types poorly represented in observer data *DePiper GS. 2014. Statistically assessing the precision of self-reported VTR fishing locations. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 229; 16 p. doi: 10.7289/V53F4MJN
Bottom longline 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Sink gillnet 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Bottom otter trawl 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $100 of revenue
Loligo squid 2007-2012 • Sum of values over five year period • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Monkfish 2007-2012 • Sum of values over five year period • Filtered out grids with less than $100 of revenue • Revenue from all gear types (including gillnets and otter trawl)
Small mesh multispecies 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Lobster trap 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $100 of revenue (setting this filter any higher eliminates offshore fishery because so much of the fishery’s revenue is generated inshore) • Not a census of revenue: in lobster conservation and management area 3, approximately 80% of dealer landings can be matched to VTRs • Only about one third of Area 3 lobster permit holders are required to report on VTRs • Very few tow tracks from observer data
Jonah crab 2007-2012 • Sum of values over five year period • Filtered out grids with less than $25 of revenue
Red crab 2014 • No data filtered out • Known issues with spatial precision of VTRs – revenue appears very diffuse when effort is in fact very concentrated in a narrow depth range along the slope
Habitat Plan Development Team Chair Habitat Committee March 22, 2016
Outline Existing range of fishing restriction alternatives in the coral amendment
Coral zone measures selected by MAFMC Overlaps between broad and discrete NEFMC zones and fishing effort
Existing range of alternatives - NEFMC Prohibit bottom-tending gears (fixed and mobile) This option would prohibit the use of bottom-tending fishing gears in deepsea coral zones, but would allow the use of gears that do not contact the seabed. Note that the lobster trap fishery, which is managed by ASMFC, would not be subject to this restriction. Suboption: exempt the red crab fishery from bottom-tending gear restrictions (could be applied to a broad zone and possibly also to the discreet zones) Prohibit mobile bottom-tending gears This option would prohibit the use of mobile bottom-tending fishing gears in deep-sea coral zones, but would allow the use of fixed gears and any gears that do not contact the seabed. Document 2, pages 28-29
Existing range of alternatives - NEFMC Framework provisions for deep-sea coral zones These options would allow management measures for coral zones to be developed via
framework action. Note that boundary issues, including creation of new coral zones, modification of the boundaries of existing coral zones, or removal of coral zones, would not be frameworkable.
Option A: Change fishing restrictions This option would include changes to the types of fishing gears restricted from use in deep-
sea coral zones.
Option B: Change exemption fishery requirements This would include changes to management measures associated with exemption programs,
such as permit and observer requirements, and move-along provisions. Document 2, page 29
Existing range of alternatives - NEFMC Special Access Programs, exploratory fishing, and research in coral zones
Document 2, pages 30-36
MAFMC coral zone measures; selected June 2015 For broad and discrete areas, all bottom tending-gear prohibited with an
exemption for the red crab fishery. Prohibition would not apply to the American lobster fishery managed by ASMFC. Transit would be allowed subject to gear stowage requirements. Frameworkable measures: Boundaries of coral zones
Management measures within zones, including fishing restrictions, exemptions, monitoring,
and anchoring New discrete coral zones Special access programs
VMS required for all Illex squid moratorium vessels fishing within and outside
of coral zones
Overlaps with fishing effort Maps of potential coral zones overlaid on fishing effort Multi-colored surface is revenue, based on vessel trip reports, for gear and year indicated
This method* was used to generate data sets for OHA2 analyses Low values filtered out as noted Data shown in quantiles, per 50 m2 grid
Lines are tow tracks for the same year and gear type. The start and end points
are taken from at-sea observer data, with VMS-derived waypoints, when available for that gear type.
Obviously not a census of effort; some gear types poorly represented in observer data *DePiper GS. 2014. Statistically assessing the precision of self-reported VTR fishing locations. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 229; 16 p. doi: 10.7289/V53F4MJN
Bottom longline 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Sink gillnet 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Bottom otter trawl 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $100 of revenue
Loligo squid 2007-2012 • Sum of values over five year period • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Monkfish 2007-2012 • Sum of values over five year period • Filtered out grids with less than $100 of revenue • Revenue from all gear types (including gillnets and otter trawl)
Small mesh multispecies 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $50 of revenue
Lobster trap 2014 • Filtered out grids with less than $100 of revenue (setting this filter any higher eliminates offshore fishery because so much of the fishery’s revenue is generated inshore) • Not a census of revenue: in lobster conservation and management area 3, approximately 80% of dealer landings can be matched to VTRs • Only about one third of Area 3 lobster permit holders are required to report on VTRs • Very few tow tracks from observer data
Jonah crab 2007-2012 • Sum of values over five year period • Filtered out grids with less than $25 of revenue
Red crab 2014 • No data filtered out • Known issues with spatial precision of VTRs – revenue appears very diffuse when effort is in fact very concentrated in a narrow depth range along the slope
