Amendment 3 to the PR, STX, and STT/STJ FMPs: Management Measures for Dolphin and Wahoo

Page 1

Amendment3tothe PuertoRico,St.Croix,and St.Thomas/St.John

FisheryManagementPlans: NewManagementMeasuresfor DolphinandWahoo

SarahStephenson,NMFSSoutheastRegionalOffice

184thCaribbeanFisheryManagementCouncilMeeting

April23-24,2024

ActionsinAmendment3

• Establishaminimumsizelimitfor dolphin infederalwatersaroundPuerto Rico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.

• Establishaminimumsizelimitfor wahoo infederalwatersaroundPuertoRico, St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.

• Establisharecreationalbaglimitfor dolphin infederalwatersaroundPuerto Rico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.

• Establisharecreationalbagfor wahoo infederalwatersaroundPuertoRico,St. Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 2

PurposeandNeedStatements

• ThepurposeofAmendment3istoestablishsizelimitsandrecreationalbag limitsfordolphinandwahoounderthePuertoRicoFisheryManagement Plan,theSt.CroixFisheryManagementPlan,andtheSt.Thomas/St.John FisheryManagementPlan.

• TheneedforAmendment3istodevelopconservationandmanagement measuresfordolphinandwahootoensureundersizedindividualshave adequatetimetomatureandreproduceandtotakeaprecautionary approachtomanagementtoprotectagainstoverfishingforresourceswith limitedmanagementstructure.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 3

SummaryofPreferredAlternatives

Management Measure

Dolphinminimum sizelimit

Wahoominimum sizelimit

Dolphin recreationalbag limit

Wahoo recreationalbag limit

Puerto Rico St. Croix St. Thomas/St. John

Alternative 3 -Establisha24”forklengthminimumsizelimitforthecommercial andrecreationalharvestofdolphininfederalwaters

Alternative 2

-Establisha32”forklengthminimumsizelimitforthecommercial andrecreationalharvestofwahooinfederalwaters

Alternative 3 -Establishabag limitinfederalwatersof5 dolphin/person/day,notto exceed15dolphin/vessel/day, whicheverisless.

Alternative 2 -Establishabag limitinfederalwatersof5 wahoo/person/day,nottoexceed 10wahoo/vessel/day,whichever isless.

Alternative 2 -Establishabaglimitinfederal watersof10dolphin/person/day,nottoexceed 32dolphin/vessel/day,whicheverisless.

Alternative 3 -Establishabaglimitinfederal watersof2wahoo/person/day,nottoexceed10 wahoo/vessel/day,whicheverisless.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 4

DolphinMinimumSizeLimitAlternatives*

Alternative Biological Effects

Alt.1–Nosizelimit

Alt.2–20”forklength

minimum

Allsizescouldbe removedfrom population

Juvenilefishprotected; halfthefemaleshave timetoreproduce; somediscardsexpected

Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects

Alt. 3 - 24” fork length

minimum

Juvenilefishprotected; allfemaleshavetimeto reproduce;more discardsexpected

Commercialand recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual

Short-termcostsdueto restrictedfishing;longtermbenefitsthrua moresustainable population

Short-termcostswould begreaterbecauseofthe more-restrictive size limit

Noneweffects

Requireregulations; addedtime/laborfor enforcementofficials andforoutreach& education

SameasAlt.2

*Appliestoallthreemanagementareas: PuertoRico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 5

WahooMinimumSizeLimitAlternatives*

Alternative Biological Effects

Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects

Alt.1–Nosizelimit

Alt. 2 – 32” fork length

minimum

Allsizescouldbe removedfrom population

Juvenilefishprotected; 1/4th thefemaleshave timetoreproduce; somediscardsexpected

Commercialand recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual

Short-termcostsdueto restrictedfishing;longtermbenefitsthruamore sustainablepopulation

Noneweffects

Alt.3-40”forklength

minimum

Juvenilefishprotected; allfemaleshavetimeto reproduce;more discardsexpected

Short-termcostswouldbe greaterbecauseofthe more-restrictive sizelimit

Requireregulations; addedtime/laborfor enforcementofficials andforoutreach& education

SameasAlt.2

*Appliestoallthreemanagementareas: PuertoRico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 6

DolphinRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–

PuertoRico

Alternative Biological Effects

Socio-Economic Effects

Administrative Effects

Alt.1-Nobag limit

Alt.2–10/30

Allfishcaughtcould bekept

Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards

Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual

Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Noneweffects

Alt. 3 – 5/15

Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards

Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education

CompatiblewithcurrentDNER baglimit

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 7

DolphinRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–

St.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.John

Alternative Biological Effects

Alt.1-Nobag limit

Allfishcaughtcould bekept

Alt. 2 – 10/32 Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards

Socio-Economic Effects

Administrative Effects

Alt.3–5/15

Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards

Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual

Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Noneweffects

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education

CompatiblewithDPNRbaglimit*

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance

*TheDPNRregulationswerenotimplementedatthetimethisamendmentwasprepared.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 8

WahooRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–

PuertoRico

Alternative Biological Effects

Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects

Alt.1-Nobag limit

Alt. 2 – 5/10

Allfishcaughtcould bekept

Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards

Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual

Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Noneweffects

Alt.3–2/6

Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards

Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education

CompatiblewithcurrentDNER baglimit

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 9

WahooRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–St.

CroixandSt.Thomas/St.John

Alternative Biological Effects

Alt.1-Nobag limit

Allfishcaughtcould bekept

Alt.2–4/20 Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards

Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects

Alt. 3 – 2/10 Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards

Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual

Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population

Noneweffects

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education

CompatiblewithDPNRbaglimit*

Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance

*TheDPNRregulationswerenotimplementedatthetimethisamendmentwasprepared.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 10

CombinedeffectsofAmendment3

Commercial Fishers Recreational Fishers

Wouldneedtocomplywith minimumsizelimitforany dolphinorwahoocaughtin federalwaters. Thisincludes fisherswhotargetotherspecies (e.g.,HMS)andland dolphin/wahooasbycatch.

Wouldneedtocomplywith minimumsizelimit and daily baglimitforanydolphinor wahoocaughtinfederalwaters.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 11

ActionItemsandNextSteps

• Councilreviewsfinaldraftamendmentanddraftcodifiedtext

April 2024

• CouncilapprovesAmendment3forsubmissiontoSecretary ofCommerce(allowingstafftomakeeditorialedits)

May 2024

• StaffmakeeditorialeditsandsendstoCouncilChairfor review

• CouncilsubmitsamendmenttoSecretaryofCommerce

June-July 2024

• NMFSbeginsrulemakingprocess

• Requestforpubliccommentsontheamendmentandthe proposedrule

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 12
ThankYou

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