FrameworkAction3underthe St.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.JohnFishery ManagementPlans:
ModificationofStatusDeterminationCriteriaandManagementReference Pointsbasedonthe SEDAR80QueenTriggerfishStockAssessments
SarahStephenson,NMFS-SEROCaribbeanBranch
185th CaribbeanFisheryManagementCouncilMeeting
August13-14,2024
• UndertheSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.JohnFMPs,queentriggerfishismanagedas anindividualstock(i.e.,notmanagedinagroupwithotherspecies).
• IneachFMP,queentriggerfishisclassifiedunderTier4aoftheCouncil’sAcceptable BiologicalCatchControlRule.
o DataLimited:NoAcceptedAssessmentAvailableandrelativelylowvulnerabilitytofishing pressure.
o Sustainableyieldlevelspecifiedastheoverfishinglimitproxy.
• Annualcatchlimits(ACL)arebasedoncommerciallandings,andaccountability measures(AM)applytoallfishing(commercialandrecreational).
o IfACLsareexceeded,AMsareactionsdesignedtoensurethattheACLisnotexceededinthe followingyear.
Table 1.1. Queentriggerfishsustainableyieldlevels(SYL),acceptablebiologicalcatch(ABC), andannualcatchlimits(ACL)undertheSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.JohnFMPs.
• TheSoutheastData,Assessment,andReview(SEDAR)80forSt.CroixandSt. Thomas/St.JohnQueentriggerfishwascompletedin2024.
• ForbothSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.Johnqueentriggerfish,theassessments indicatedthatoverfishingisnotoccurring.
• Thestockassessmentswerenotabletoestimatetheoverfishedstatusfor St.CroixorSt.Thomas/St.Johnqueentriggerfish;thus,theiroverfishstatuswould remainunknown.
• TheCouncil’sScientificandStatisticalCommittee(SSC)reviewedresultsfrom SEDAR80attheApril2024meetingandsupportedthestockassessmentsas providingthebestscientificinformationavailableanddeterminedthateachstock assessmentwassuitableformanagementadvice.
• TheSSCinconsultationwithNOAAFisheries’SoutheastFisheriesScienceCenter (ScienceCenter)supportedthatqueentriggerfishbereclassifiedfromaTier4a stocktoaTier3stock(DataLimited:AcceptedAssessmentAvailable)underthe AcceptableBiologicalCatchControlRule.
• TheSSCcoordinatedwiththeScienceCentertosetoverfishinglimitandacceptable biologicalcatchvaluesforqueentriggerfish,foryears2024to2027.
• TheSSCpresentedacceptablebiologicalcatchrecommendationstotheCouncilat theApril2024Councilmeeting.
• TheCouncilacceptedthoserecommendationsanddirectedstafftodevelopa FrameworkActiontotheSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.JohnFMPstoupdate managementmeasuresforqueentriggerfishbasedonSEDAR80.
• ThroughthisFrameworkAction,theCouncilwouldsetthequeentriggerfishACLs fromtherecommendedacceptablebiologicalcatchvalues,reducedbya managementuncertainty*buffer.
*UncertaintyintheabilityofmanagerstoconstraincatchsotheACLisnotexceeded,andthe uncertaintyinquantifyingthetruecatchamounts(i.e.,estimationerrors).
• Atthismeeting,theCouncilwillreviewthedraftdocument(includedinthemeeting briefingbook)andcanselectapreferredalternativeforsettingtheACLsforqueen triggerfishinSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.John.
• AdifferentalternativecouldbeselectedaspreferredforeachFMP.
• ThepurposeofthisFrameworkActionistoupdatemanagementreferencepoints forthequeentriggerfishstocksundertheSt.Croixand St.Thomas/St.JohnFMPstoaccountfortheSEDAR80stockassessmentsand applicationoftheCouncil’sAcceptableBiologicalCatchControlRule.
• TheneedforthisactionistoupdatemanagementmeasuresfortheSt.CroixandSt. Thomas/St.Johnqueentriggerfishstocksbasedonbestscientificinformation availabletopreventoverfishingandachieveoptimumyield,consistentwiththe requirementsoftheMagnuson-StevensFisheryConservationandManagementAct.
• ThisFrameworkActionincludesoneactionthatwoulddothefollowingunderthe St.CroixFMPandtheSt.Thomas/St.JohnFMP:
o updatemaximumsustainableyieldorproxy,maximumfishingmortalitythreshold,minimum stocksizethresholdbasedonresultsofSEDAR80;
o updatetheoverfishinglimitandacceptablebiologicalcatchvaluesforyears2024-2027(next slide);and
o SetACLsfromtherecommendedacceptablebiologicalcatchforqueentriggerfish.
Table 1.2. Overfishinglimit(OFL)andacceptablebiologicalcatch(ABC)valuesrecommended fortheSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.Johnqueentriggerfishstocksforyears2024-2027,based onresultsoftheacceptedSEDAR80stockassessment.
Year
Valuesareinpoundswholeweight
St. Croix
St. Thomas/St. John
• Alternative 1. NoAction. Referencepointsforthequeentriggerfishstockswould remainasspecifiedundertheSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.JohnFMPs(Table2.1).
• Alternative 2. Updatereferencepointsforthequeentriggerfishstocksbasedon SEDAR80andsettheACL(whichequalsOY) equal to theABCrecommendedby theCouncil’sScientificandStatisticalCommittee(SSC).
• Alternative 3. Updatereferencepointsforthequeentriggerfishstocksbasedon SEDAR80andsettheACL(whichequalsOY) equal to 95% oftheABC recommendedbytheCouncil’sSSC.
• Alternative 4. Updatereferencepointsforthequeentriggerfishstocksbasedon SEDAR80andsettheACL(whichequalsOY) equal to 90% oftheABC recommendedbytheCouncil’sSSC.
Table 2.1. CurrentandproposedACLsforqueentriggerfishinSt.Croixand St.Thomas/St.John.
SeeTable3.3.2inFrameworkAction3documentfor landingsofqueentriggerfishreportedinSt.Croix.
➢ Alternative1: Notbasedonbestscientificinformation. Nochangestocurrentreferencepoints (currentACLexceedstheABCrecommendedbytheSSCbasedonSEDAR80).
➢ Biological/Ecological: Long-termnegativeeffectsfrompotentiallackofsustainability.
➢ Social/Ecological: Noadditionalshort-termeffects(nochangestocurrentlevels),andlong-termnegativeeffects fromdecreasedincomeandfishingopportunitiesforthespeciesfromlackofsustainability.
➢ Administrative: None.
➢ Alternatives2-4: Basedonbestscientificinformation. Updatereferencepoints;decreaseinACL.
➢ Biological/Ecological: Short-termpositiveeffectsfromdecreasedremovals*,andlong-termpositiveeffects frommanagingtothemaximumsustainableyield.(Alternative4ismostconservative)
➢ Social/Economic: Short-termnegativeeffectsfromreducedrevenuesandfishingopportunities**,butlong-term positiveeffectsfromsustainablymanagingthestock.(Alternative4ismostrestrictive)
➢ Administrative:Short-termeffectsfromcreating,administering,andenforcingnewregulationsandfrom additionaloutreacheffortsnotifyingstakeholdersofchanges. (Equaleffectsamongproposedalternatives)
* IffishermenharvesttotheACL.
**NotecurrentcommerciallandingsforqueentriggerfisharewellbelowthecurrentandproposedACLs.
SeeTable3.3.6inFrameworkAction3documentforlandings ofqueentriggerfishreportedinSt.Thomas/St.John.
➢ Alternative1: Notbasedonbestscientificinformation. Nochangestocurrentreferencepoints.
➢ Biological/Ecological: Long-termnegativeeffectsfromlackofpotentialsustainability.
➢ Social/Ecological: Noadditionalshort-termeffects(nochangestocurrentlevels),andlong-termnegativeeffects fromdecreasedincomeandfishingopportunitiesforthespeciesfromlackofsustainability.
➢ Administrative: None.
➢ Alternative2: Basedonbestscientificinformation. Updatereferencepoints;increaseinACL.
➢ Biological/Ecological: Short-termnegativeeffectsfromincreasedremovals*,andlong-termpositiveeffects frommanagingtothemaximumsustainableyield.(Alternative2isleastconservative)
➢ Social/Economic: Short-termpositiveeffectsfromincreasedrevenuesandfishingopportunities**,andlongtermpositiveeffectsfromsustainablymanagingthestock.(Alternative2isleastrestrictive)
➢ Administrative:Short-termeffectsfromcreating,administering,andenforcingnewregulationsandfrom additionaloutreacheffortsnotifyingstakeholdersofchanges.
* IffishermenharvesttotheACL.
**NotecurrentcommerciallandingsforqueentriggerfisharewellbelowthecurrentandproposedACLs.
➢ Alternatives3-4: Basedonbestscientificinformation. Updatereferencepoints;decreaseinACL.
➢ Biological/Ecological: Short-termpositiveeffectsfromdecreasedremovals*,andlong-termpositiveeffects frommanagingtothemaximumsustainableyield.(Alternative4ismostconservative)
➢ Social/Economic: Short-termnegativeeffectsfromreducedrevenuesandfishingopportunities**,butlong-term positiveeffectsfromsustainablymanagingthestock.(Alternative4ismostrestrictive)
➢ Administrative:Short-termeffectsfromcreating,administering,andenforcingnewregulationsandfrom additionaloutreacheffortsnotifyingstakeholdersofchanges.(Equaleffectsamongproposedalternatives)
* IffishermenharvesttotheACL.
**NotecurrentcommerciallandingsforqueentriggerfisharewellbelowthecurrentandproposedACLs.
• Counciltodecideonalternatives.
August 2024
• CouncilselectsapreferredalternativeforSt.CroixandSt.Thomas/St. John(canbethesameordifferent).
Sept.-Nov. 2024
• StaffpreparesfullFrameworkAction3(USVI).
• IPTdevelopsenvironmentalandeconomicanalysesandregulatorytext.
December 2024
• CouncilreviewsfinaldraftFrameworkActionandregulatorytext.
• CouncilapprovesFrameworkAction3(USVI)forsubmissionto SecretaryofCommerce(allowingstafftomakeeditorialchanges).
