Regulatory Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S
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Kojis Regulatory Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Parrotfish Minimum Size Limits Including Environmental Assessment, Fishery Impact Statement, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis June 2013 Abbreviations and Acronyms ACL annual catch limit Magnuson-Stevens Act Magnuson-Stevens Fishery AM accountability measure Conservation and Management Act APA Administrative Procedures Act MPA Marine Mammal Protection Act BVI British Virgin Islands MSY maximum sustainable yield CEA cumulative effects analysis NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service CEQ Council on Environmental Quality NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration CFMC Caribbean Fishery Management OMB Office of Management and Budget Council CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act OY optimum yield DPNR Department of Planning and Natural PAR photosynthetically active radiation Resources of the USVI EA environmental assessment PRA Paperwork Reduction Act EC ecosystem component species PSU practical salinity units EEZ exclusive economic zone RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act EFH essential fish habitat RIR Regulatory Impact Review ESA Endangered Species Act SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center FEIS final environmental impact SEIS supplemental environmental impact statement statement FIS Fishery Impact Statement SERO Southeast Regional Office FMP fishery management plan USVI United States Virgin Islands FMU fishery management unit HAPC habitat area of particular concern II Regulatory Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Proposed actions: Establish commercial and recreational minimum size limits for parrotfish harvest in the U.S. Caribbean Lead agencies: Caribbean Fishery Management Council National Marine Fisheries Service For Further Information Contact: Miguel A. Rolón Caribbean Fishery Management Council 270 Muñoz Rivera Ave., Suite 401 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-1903 (787) 766-5926 Phil Steele National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Region 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 824-5305 What is a Regulatory Amendment? The 2010 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment (CFMC 2011a) established framework procedures to provide for timely adjustments to the management program for the reef fish fishery management plan. Regulatory amendments are implemented in a shorter period than plan amendments because the procedural requirements are less extensive than for the full plan amendment process. The framework procedure is designed to streamline review of repetitive or pre-identified management measures to facilitate a more rapid response to identified issues. III Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 What Actions Are Being Proposed? .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Who is Proposing the Action? ........................................................................................... 1 1.3 Where is the Project Located? ........................................................................................... 2 1.4 Why is the Caribbean Council Considering Action (Purpose and Need)? ........................ 2 1.5 History of Management ..................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2. Proposed Actions and Alternatives .............................................................................. 6 2.1 Action 1: Alternatives for Parrotfish Commercial Size Limits ......................................... 6 2.2 Action 2: Alternatives for Parrotfish Recreational Size Limits ........................................ 8 Chapter 3. Affected Environment ................................................................................................ 11 3.1 Physical Environment ...................................................................................................... 11 3.1.1 Geology ..................................................................................................................... 12 3.1.2 Oceanography and Climate ....................................................................................... 13 3.1.3 Major Habitat Types .................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Biological/Ecological Environment ................................................................................ 15 3.2.1 Parrotfish, Family Scaridae ...................................................................................... 15 3.2.2 Protected Species ....................................................................................................... 21 3.3 Human Environment........................................................................................................ 25 3.3.1 Economic Description of the Fishery ........................................................................ 25 3.3.2 Economic and Social Environments of USVI ........................................................... 39 3.3.3 Economic and Social Environments of Puerto Rico ................................................. 93 3.3.4 Social and Cultural Environment ............................................................................ 112 3.3.5 Environmental Justice Considerations .................................................................... 117 3.4 Administrative Environment ......................................................................................... 120 3.4.1 Federal Fishery Management .................................................................................. 120 3.4.2 Commonwealth and Territory Fishery Management ................................................ 122 Chapter 4. Environmental Effects .............................................................................................. 124 4.1 Biological/Ecological Effects ........................................................................................ 124 4.2 Economic Effects ........................................................................................................... 129 4.2.1 Action 1: Commercial Minimum Size Limits ........................................................ 130 4.2.2 Action 2: Recreational Minimum Size Limits ....................................................... 133 4.3 Social Effects ................................................................................................................. 135 4.3.1 Action 1: Commercial Minimum Size Limits ........................................................ 135 4.3.2 Action 2: Recreational Minimum Size Limits ....................................................... 139 4.4 Administrative Effects ................................................................................................... 141 4.5 Cumulative Effects Analysis ......................................................................................... 141 4.6 Council Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 148 Chapter 5. Regulatory Impact Review ....................................................................................... 150 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 150 5.2 Problems and objectives ................................................................................................... 150 5.3 Methodology and framework for analysis ....................................................................... 150 5.4 Description of the fishery ................................................................................................. 150 5.5 Economic Impacts of Management Measures ................................................................. 151 5.5.1 Action 1 ..................................................................................................................... 151 5.5.2 Action 2 ..................................................................................................................... 153 IV 5.5.3 Total economic impact .............................................................................................. 154 5.6 Private and public costs ................................................................................................... 155 5.7 Determination of significant action ................................................................................. 155 Chapter 6. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis ................................................................................ 157 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 157 6.2 Statement of need for, objectives of, the rule................................................................. 157 6.3 Significant issues raised by public comments in response to the IRFA. ....................... 157 6.4 Description and estimate of small entities to which the rule will apply. ....................... 158 6.5 Description and estimate of compliance requirements and costs. ................................. 158 6.6 Steps taken to minimize significant economic impacts on small entities ...................... 160 6.8 Economic impacts of management measures