FMP for the St. Croix EEZ and Environmental Assessment
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Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone Including Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Fishery Impact Statement Final Version December 2019 Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone and Environmental Assessment Proposed Action: Establish a new Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the St. Croix exclusive economic zone (St. Croix FMP) prepared by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council and repeal the existing U.S. Caribbean-wide FMPs with respect measures applicable within the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone. The action would also modify the composition of the stocks to be managed under the St. Croix FMP, organize those stocks for effective management, establish status determination criteria and management reference points for managed stocks, establish accountability measures, identify essential fish habitat for stocks new to management, and establish framework measures. Responsible Agencies and Contact Persons: National Marine Fisheries Service, Caribbean Fishery Management Council Southeast Regional Office 270 Muñoz Rivera Ave., Suite 401 263 13th Avenue South San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-1903 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (787) 766-5926 (727) 824-5305 Contact Person: Contact Person: Graciela García-Moliner, Bill Arnold, [email protected] [email protected] St/ Croix FMP/EA II Table of Contents for the Environmental Assessment Note to readers: This document is an integrated Fishery Management Plan (FMP)/ Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA evaluates seven actions within the St. Croix FMP. Table of Contents for the St. Croix FMP IV Statement of Purpose and Need 4 Chapter 2. Proposed Actions and Alternatives 18 Chapter 3. Affected Environment 110 Chapter 4. Environmental Consequences 194 List of Preparers 309 List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Consulted 310 St. Croix FMP/EA Table of Contents for the EA III Table of Contents for the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone and Environmental Assessment ............................................................................................................. II Table of Contents for the Environmental Assessment .................................................................. III Table of Contents for the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan .................................................... IV List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... XII List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ XVI Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in this Document ............................................................. XVIII Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 What Action is Being Proposed? ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 Why is the Action Being Proposed? ................................................................................ 2 1.3 Who is Proposing the Action? .......................................................................................... 3 1.4 Statement of Purpose and Need ....................................................................................... 4 1.5 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Regional Fisheries Management ...................................................................................... 6 1.6.1 Federal Fisheries Management ................................................................................. 7 1.6.2 Territorial Fisheries Management ........................................................................... 10 1.6.3 International Fisheries Management Pertaining to the U.S. Caribbean .................. 11 1.6.4 Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management ............................................................... 13 1.7 History of Federal Fisheries Management ..................................................................... 15 1.8 Goals and Objectives of the St. Croix FMP ................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. Creating a St. Croix Fishery Management Plan (FMP) - Proposed Actions and Alternatives 18 2.1 Action 1: Transition Fisheries Management in the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from a U.S. Caribbean-wide Approach to an Island-based Approach ........................... 19 2.1.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 1......................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Discussion of Action 1 Alternatives ....................................................................... 19 2.2 Action 2: Identify Stocks in Need of Federal Conservation and Management .............. 22 2.2.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 2......................................................................... 23 St. Croix FMP/EA Table of Contents IV 2.2.2 Discussion of Action 2 Alternatives ....................................................................... 30 2.3 Action 3: Compose Stock Complexes and Identify Indicator Stocks ............................ 36 2.3.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 3......................................................................... 36 2.3.2 Discussion of Action 3 Alternatives ....................................................................... 37 2.4 Action 4: Establish Status Determination Criteria and Management Reference Points 61 2.4.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 4......................................................................... 62 2.4.2 Discussion of Action 4 Alternatives ....................................................................... 66 2.5 Action 5: Establish Accountability Measures for Stocks and Stock Complexes ........... 77 2.5.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 5......................................................................... 77 2.5.2 Discussion of Action 5 Alternatives ....................................................................... 79 2.6 Action 6: Describe and Identify EFH for Species not Previously Managed in the St. Croix EEZ ................................................................................................................................. 88 2.6.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 6......................................................................... 88 2.6.2 Discussion of Action 6 Alternatives ....................................................................... 89 2.7 Action 7: Establish Framework Procedures for the St. Croix FMP ............................... 95 2.7.1 Proposed Alternatives for Action 7......................................................................... 96 2.7.2 Discussion of Action 7 Alternatives ..................................................................... 101 Chapter 3. Affected Environment – Description of the St. Croix Management Area ............ 110 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 110 3.2 Physical/Habitat Environment...................................................................................... 110 3.2.1 Geography and Geology ....................................................................................... 110 3.2.2 Oceanography and Climatology ........................................................................... 112 3.2.3 Coastal and Marine Habitats ................................................................................. 114 3.3 Biological and Ecological Characteristics.................................................................... 123 3.3.1 Protected Species and Critical Habitat .................................................................. 123 3.4 Description of the Socio-economic Characteristics of the St. Croix Management Area 135 3.5 Description of the St. Croix Fishery............................................................................. 151 3.5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 151 3.5.2 Commercial Fishing Activity ................................................................................ 152 3.5.3 Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................. 161 St. Croix FMP/EA Table of Contents V 3.5.4 Subsistence Fishing ............................................................................................... 166 3.5.5 Foreign Fishing ..................................................................................................... 166 3.5.6 Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing ....................................................... 167 3.5.7 Tribal Fishing Rights ............................................................................................ 167 3.5.8 Economic Characteristics of the St. Croix Fishery ............................................... 167 3.5.9 Social and Cultural Characteristics of the St. Croix Fishery ................................ 177 3.5.10 Environmental Justice (EJ) Considerations .......................................................... 189 3.5.11 Impacts of Recent Hurricanes ..............................................................................