March 2005 EFH Amendment 3
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FINAL Generic Amendment Number 3 for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, United States Waters Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerels) in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico Spiny Lobster in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000 Tampa, Florida 33619-2266 813-228-2815 March 2005 This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA03NMF4410028. Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in this Document..............................................................iii Fishery Impact Statement/Social Impact Assessment............................................................... 5 1 Executive Summary.............................................................................................................. 8 1.1 PROPOSED DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT .................................................................................8 1.2 PROPOSED DETERMINATION OF HABITAT AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ................................................8 1.3 PROPOSED MEASURES TO ADDRESS ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FISHING ON ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ................9 2 Purpose of and Need for Action......................................................................................... 11 3 History of Management...................................................................................................... 13 4 Proposed Actions................................................................................................................. 14 4.1 DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH) ...................................................................................14 4.1.1 Proposed Action...................................................................................................................................14 4.1.2 Discussion and Rationale ....................................................................................................................15 4.1.3 Biological impacts ...............................................................................................................................16 4.1.4 Economic impacts................................................................................................................................17 4.1.5 Social impacts......................................................................................................................................19 4.2 HABITAT AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN .............................................................................................19 4.2.1 Proposed Action...................................................................................................................................19 4.2.2 Discussion and Rationale ....................................................................................................................20 4.2.3 Biological impacts ...............................................................................................................................22 4.2.4 Economic impacts................................................................................................................................22 4.2.5 Social impacts......................................................................................................................................23 4.3 MINIMIZING ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FISHING ON EFH................................................................................23 4.3.1 Proposed Action...................................................................................................................................23 4.3.2 Discussion and Rationale ....................................................................................................................24 4.3.3 Biological impacts ...............................................................................................................................26 4.3.4 Economic impacts................................................................................................................................27 4.3.5 Social impacts......................................................................................................................................30 4.3.6 Practicability .......................................................................................................................................30 5 Regulatory Impact Review................................................................................................. 32 5.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................32 5.2 PROBLEMS AND OBJECTIVES .....................................................................................................................33 5.3 METHODOLOGY AND FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS ...................................................................................33 5.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHERIES ................................................................................................................33 5.4.1 Commercial Fisheries..........................................................................................................................34 5.4.2 Dealers and Processors.......................................................................................................................35 5.4.3 Recreational Fisheries.........................................................................................................................35 5.4.4 Fishing Communities ...........................................................................................................................36 5.5 ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF MANAGEMENT MEASURES ..................................................................................37 5.6 PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COSTS.....................................................................................................................43 5.7 DETERMINATION OF A SIGNIFICANT REGULATORY ACTION......................................................................44 6 Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis................................................................................... 44 6.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................44 6.2 NEED, OBJECTIVES, AND LEGAL BASIS FOR THE RULE................................................................................45 March 2005 Final Gulf Council EFH Amendment Page i 6.3 FEDERAL RULES WHICH MAY DUPLICATE, OVERLAP OR CONFLICT WITH THE RULE ...................................45 6.4 NUMBER OF SMALL ENTITIES TO WHICH THE RULE APPLIES.......................................................................45 6.5 PROJECTED REPORTING, RECORD-KEEPING AND OTHER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS ..............................48 6.6 DESCRIPTION OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON SMALL ENTITIES ......................................................................48 6.7 DESCRIPTION OF SIGNIFICANT ALTERNATIVES..........................................................................................49 7 Other Applicable Law ........................................................................................................ 49 7.1 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.........................................................................................................49 7.2 DATA QUALITY ACT .................................................................................................................................49 7.3 PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT...................................................................................................................50 7.4 THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION ACT (16 U.S.C. 661, 666C) ......................................................50 7.5 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT (16 U.S.C. SECTION 1456(C))..........................................................51 7.6 ENDANGERED SPECIES (16 U.S.C. SECTION 1531 ET SEQ.) .......................................................................52 7.7 MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT (16 U.S.C. 1361 ET SEQ.) ...............................................................52 7.8 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT................................................................................................53 7.9 EXECUTIVE ORDERS..................................................................................................................................54 7.9.1 E.O.12612: Federalism........................................................................................................................54 7.9.2 E.O.12630: Takings .............................................................................................................................54 7.9.3 E.O.12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations............................................................................................................................................55 7.9.4 E.O. 12962: Recreational Fisheries ....................................................................................................55