Modifications to Greater Amberjack Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan
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Tab B, No. 4a 7/26/17 Modifications to Greater Amberjack Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan Draft Framework Action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico August 2017 This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA15NMF44100111. This page intentionally blank ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COVER SHEET Name of Action Modifications to Greater Amberjack Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan Responsible Agencies and Contact Persons Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) 813-348-1630 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100 813-348-1711 (fax) Tampa, Florida 33607 John Froeschke ([email protected]) http://www.gulfcouncil.org National Marine Fisheries Service (Lead Agency) 727-824-5305 Southeast Regional Office 727-824-5308 (fax) 263 13th Avenue South http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Kelli O'Donnell ([email protected]) Rich Malinowski ([email protected]) Type of Action ( ) Administrative ( ) Legislative (X) Draft ( ) Final Modifications to Greater Amberjack i Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT ABC Acceptable biological catch ACL Annual catch limit ACT Annual catch target ALS accumulated landings system AMs Accountability measures Bmsy stock biomass level capable of producing an equilibrium yield of MSY BP British Petroleum CFR Code of Federal Regulations Council Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council CS consumer surplus CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 DPS distinct population segment EA Environmental Assessment EEZ exclusive economic zone EFH essential fish habitat EIS Environmental Impact Statement E.O. Executive Order EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act FL fork length FMP Fishery Management Plan FMSY fishing mortality rate corresponding to an equilibrium yield of MSY FTE full-time equivalent GSAD Gulf and South Atlantic Dealer Gulf Gulf of Mexico HAPC Habitat Area of Particular Concern IFQ Individual Fishing Quota IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IRFA Initial regulatory flexibility analysis LCL lower confidence limits M Instantaneous rate of natural mortality Magnuson-Steven Act Magnuson-Steven Fishery Conservation and Management Act MFMT Maximum fishing mortality threshold MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act MRFSS Marine Recreational Fisheries Survey and Statistics MRIP Marine Recreational Information Program MSST Minimum stock size threshold MSY Maximum sustainable yield NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NOR net operating revenue Modifications to Greater Amberjack ii Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan NPV net present values NRFCC National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council OFL Overfishing level OY Optimum yield PAH polyaromatic hydrocarbons PIMS Permit Information Management System PS producer surplus RA Regional Administrator RF Gulf reef fish RIR Regulatory impact review RQ regional quotient Secretary Secretary of Commerce SEDAR Southeast Data, Assessment and Review SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center SERO Southeast Regional Office SPR Spawning potential ratio SRHS Southeast Region Headboat Survey SSB spawning stock biomass SSBR Spawning stock biomass per recruit SSC Scientific and Statistical Committee TAC Total allowable catch TL total length TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Department UCL upper confidence limits USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service VOC volatile organic compounds ww whole weight Modifications to Greater Amberjack iii Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Environmental Assessment Cover Sheet ......................................................................................... i Abbreviations Used In This Document........................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................. 8 1.3 History of Management ........................................................................................................ 8 Chapter 2. Management Alternatives .......................................................................................... 11 2.1 Action 1 – Modify the Greater Amberjack Rebuilding Time Period, Annual Catch Limits (ACL), and Annual Catch Targets (ACT) .......................................................................... 11 2.2 Action 2 – Modify the Recreational Fishing Season for Greater Amberjack .................... 15 Chapter 3. Affected Environment ................................................................................................ 18 3.1 Description of the Fishery ................................................................................................. 18 3.1.1 Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................ 18 3.1.2 Recreational Fishery ............................................................................................... 19 3.2 Description of the Physical Environment .......................................................................... 21 3.3 Description of the Biological/Ecological Environment .................................................... 25 3.4 Description of the Economic Environment ....................................................................... 32 3.4.1 Commercial Sector.................................................................................................. 32 3.4.2 Recreational Sector ................................................................................................. 35 3.5 Description of the Social Environment .............................................................................. 40 3.5.1 Landings by State .................................................................................................... 40 3.5.2 Fishing Communities .............................................................................................. 41 3.5.3 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................. 44 3.6 Description of the Administrative Environment ................................................................ 46 3.6.1 Federal Fishery Management .................................................................................. 46 3.6.2 State Fishery Management ...................................................................................... 47 Chapter 4. Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 49 4.1 Action 1 - Modifications to the Greater Amberjack Annual Catch Limits and Annual Catch Targets ...................................................................................................................... 49 Modifications to Greater Amberjack iv Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan 4.1.1 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Physical Environment ....................................... 49 4.1.2 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Biological Environment .................................... 51 4.1.3 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Economic Environment .................................... 51 4.1.4 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Social Environment .......................................... 55 4.1.5 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Administrative Environment ............................ 56 4.2 Action 2 – Modify Recreational Season for Greater Amberjack ....................................... 57 4.2.1 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Physical Environment ....................................... 57 4.2.2 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Biological Environment .................................... 57 4.2.3 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Economic Environment .................................... 58 4.2.4 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Social Environment .......................................... 61 4.2.5 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Administrative Environment ............................ 62 4.3 Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................................. 63 Chapter 5. Regulatory Impact Review ......................................................................................... 65 Chapter 6. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis ........................................................................... 66 Chapter 7. List of Agencies and Persons Consulted .................................................................... 67 Chapter 8. References .................................................................................................................