Investigation of Dredging Impacts on Commercial and Recreational Fisheries and Analysis of Available Mitigation Measures to Protect and Preserve Resources
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OCS Study MMS 2006-065 Final Technical Report INVESTIGATION OF DREDGING IMPACTS ON COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERIES AND ANALYSIS OF AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE RESOURCES Prepared by: In cooperation with: Emu Ltd Impact Assessment, Inc. 1, Mill Court The Sawmills Durley Baird & Associates SO32 2EJ UK Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd Prepared for U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Funded under Contract Number: 0104CT34396 September 2007 Statement of Disclaimer This report has been reviewed by the Minerals Management Service and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Service, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Suggested Citation Tomlinson B.N., Petterson, J.S., Glazier E. W., Lewis, J., Selby I., Nairn R., Kenny T., Godde P., Espinasse C.J., Stanley L., Cooke R. L., 2007. Investigation of Dredging Impacts on Commercial and Recreational Fisheries and Analysis of Available Mitigation Mesaures to Protect and Preserve Resources. U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Leasing Division, Marine Minerals Branc, Herndon, VA. OCS Report MMS 2006- 0065. 233 pp. FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT INVESTIGATION OF DREDGING IMPACTS ON COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERIES AND ANALYSIS OF AVAILABLE MITIGATION MEASURES TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE RESOURCES September 2007 Bruce N. Tomlinson Project Manager, Co-Editor (Emu Ltd) John S. Petterson Principal Investigator, Co-Editor (Impact Assessment, Inc.) With Contributions from: J. Lewis, C. Espinasse, R. Cooke (Emu Ltd) E. W. Glazier, P. Goode, L. Stanley (Impact Assessment, Inc.) R. Nairn, T. Kenny (Baird & Associates I. Selby) (Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd) Prepared by: Prepared for: Emu Ltd U.S. Department of the Interior 1 Mill Court, the Sawmills Minerals Management Service Durley, Hampshire 381 Elden Street, MS 2500 SO322EJ Herndon, VA 20270-4817 UK USA In Cooperation with: Impact Assessment, Inc. 2166 Avenida de la Playa, Suite F La Jolla, California 92037 USA Baird & Associates 1145 Hunt Club Rd Suite 500 Ottawa, Ontario Canada Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd Burnley Wharf Marine Parade Southampton, Hampshire SO14 5JF UK Contract Number: 0104CT34396 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Numerous people contributed to the project titled Investigation of Dredging Impacts on Commercial and Recreational Fisheries and Analysis of Available Mitigation Measures to Protect and Preserve Resources. This study was funded by the Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, D.C., under Contract Number 0101CT34396. Mr. Barry S. Drucker provided assistance and direction during the project as the MMS Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative. Dr. Bruce Tomlinson of Emu Ltd served as Project Manager. He was responsible for project coordination and client liaison. He also co-authored Sections 1.0 (Introduction) and 5.0 (Recommendations) and was Co-Editor of the report. Dr. John S. Petterson of Impact Assessment, Inc. (IAI) served as Principal Investigator. He co-authored Sections 1.0 (Introduction), 2.0 (U.S. Survey of Dredging Impacts), 4.0 (Comparison of U.S. and U.K. mitigation measures) and 5.0 (Recommendations), and was Co-Editor of the report. He also undertook ethnographic interviews with fishermen and ethnographic fieldwork on dredging vessels, and was involved in the production of mitigation measures. Other Emu Ltd personnel who participated in the project included J. Lewis who co-authored Sections 3.0 (U.K. Survey of Dredging Impacts), 4.0 (Comparison of U.S. and U.K. Mitigation Measures) and 5.0 (Recommendations). He also co-ordinated the worldwide literature search, was involved in the Government regulation review and the production of mitigation measures, supervised the development of spatial conflict maps and associated conflict ranking system, and participated in the site visits to government, industry and fishing bodies in the U.K. Rebecca Cooke was responsible for the management of spatial data files and conflict mapping. Claire Espinasse co-authored Section 3.0 U.K. Survey of Dredging Impacts, undertook the literature search, participated in the site visits to government, industry and fishing bodies in the U.K. and was responsible for report compilation and editorial assistance during production of the report. Other IAI personnel who contributed to the project included E. W. Glazier, who was involved in the Government regulation review, and participated in the site visits to government, industry and fishing bodies in the U.S. He also undertook ethnographic interviews with fishermen and ethnographic fieldwork on dredging vessels. He co-authored Sections 4.0 (Comparison of U.S. and U.K. Mitigation Measures) and 5.0 (Recommendations). P. Goode was involved in the ethnographic interviews with fishermen, ethnographic fieldwork on dredging vessels and identification of U.S. offshore areas at risk. L. Stanley undertook the literature search and was responsible for editorial assistance during production of the report. R. Nairn and T. Kenny of Baird & Associates (Baird) were also involved in the production of mitigation measures. R. Nairn was responsible for the project liaison with Baird and partners. T. Kenny was the dredging specialist on the Baird project team, providing advice on dredging procedures and activities in the U.S. I. Selby of Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd was acting in an advisory role within the project team and facilitated dredging-based fieldwork and meetings/interviews with the U.K. marine dredging industry. Investigation of Dredging Impacts on U.S. Department of the Interior Commercial and Recreational Fisheries Minerals Management Service and Analysis of Available Mitigation Measures to Protect and Preserve Resources TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Overview of Project ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Research Methods .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Data Collection Techniques ....................................................................................... 6 1.4 Principal Stakeholders.............................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Participants............................................................................................................................... 9 2.0 U.S. SURVEY OF DREDGING IMPACTS....................................................................... 11 2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 11 2.2 An Overview of the U.S. Sand Dredging Industry................................................................. 11 2.3 An Overview of the Current U.S. Commercial and Recreational Fishing Industries............. 13 2.3.1 U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry........................................................................... 13 2.3.2 Spatial Distribution of Commercial Fishing Activity in U.S. Waters...................... 16 2.3.3 U.S. Recreational Fishing Industry .......................................................................... 16 2.3.4 Impacts of Sand Dredging on U.S. Fish Resources and Fisheries ........................... 17 2.4 The Regulatory Environment for Sand Dredging in the U. S................................................. 19 2.4.1 Overview.................................................................................................................. 19 2.4.2 The Role of the Minerals Management Service (MMS).......................................... 26 2.5 Brevard County, Florida......................................................................................................... 30 2.5.1 Sand Mining Activities in Brevard County.............................................................. 31 2.5.2 Overview of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Activities in Brevard County . 33 2.5.2.1 Introduction to Commercial Fishing in Brevard County........................ 33 2.5.2.2 The Crab Fishery.................................................................................... 34 2.5.2.3 The Finfish Fishery ................................................................................ 35 2.5.2.4 The Shrimp Fishery................................................................................ 35 2.5.2.5 Introduction to Recreational Fishing in Brevard County ....................... 36 2.5.3 The Port Canaveral Fishery...................................................................................... 36 2.5.3.1 Commercial Fisheries in Port Canaveral................................................ 37 2.5.3.2 Recreational Fisheries in Port Canaveral ............................................... 40 2.5.4 Brevard County Concerns about Sand Dredging Activities..................................... 41 2.5.4.1 Study Results.......................................................................................... 41 Report No. 06/J/2/06/0051/0666/Final vii September 2007 Investigation of Dredging Impacts on U.S. Department