Modifications to Charter Vessel and Headboat Reporting Requirements
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5/23/2017 Modifications to Charter Vessel and Headboat Reporting Requirements Final Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region Including Environmental Assessment, Fishery Impact Statement, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis May 2017 This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA15NMF4410011. This page intentionally left blank. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COVER SHEET Name of Action Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region: Modifications to Charter Vessel and Headboat Reporting Requirements including Environmental Assessment, Fishery Impact Statement, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis Responsible Agencies and Contact Persons Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 813-348-1630 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100 813-348-1711 (fax) Tampa, Florida 33607 [email protected] John Froeschke ([email protected]) http://www.gulfcouncil.org National Marine Fisheries Service 727-824-5305 Southeast Regional Office 727-824-5308 (fax) 263 13th Avenue South http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Rich Malinowski ([email protected]) Type of Action ( ) Administrative ( ) Legislative ( ) Draft (X) Final Modifications to Federally-Permitted i For-Hire Reporting Requirements ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT ACL annual catch limit ACCSP Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program AM Accountability Measure AP Advisory Panel APAIS Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey COI Certificate of Inspection Committee Data Collection Technical Committee Council Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council CMP Coastal Migratory Pelagic CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act DPS distinct population segment DWH Deepwater Horizon MC252 EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EFH Essential Fish Habitat EFP Exempted Fishing Permit EIS Environmental Impact Statement EJ Environmental Justice E.O. Executive Order ESA Endangered Species Act FIS fishery impact statement FWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service FMP Fishery Management Plan GARFO Greater Atlantic Regional Fishery Office GMFMC Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council GSMFC Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Gulf Gulf of Mexico GulfFIN Gulf Fisheries Information Network HAPC Habitat Area of Particular Concern HBC Headboat Collaborative HMS highly migratory species IFQ individual fishing quota IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IVR Interactive Voice Response System Magnuson-Stevens Act Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act MOU memorandum of understanding MRIP Marine Recreational Information Program NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NRFCC National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOR net operating revenue OFL overfishing limit Modifications to Federally-Permitted ii For-Hire Reporting Requirements OLE Office of Law Enforcement OY Optimum Yield PAH polyaromatic hydrocarbons ppt parts per thousand PS producer surplus RA Regional Administrator RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act RFAA Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis RIR Regulatory Impact Review SAFMC South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SBA Small Business Administration Secretary Secretary of Commerce SEDAR Southeast Data Assessment and Review SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center SERO Southeast Regional Office SL standard length South Atlantic Council South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SRD Science and Research Director SRHS Southeast Region Headboat Survey SSC Science and Statistical Committee TL total length TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Department USCG United States Coast Guard VMS vessel monitoring system VOC volatile organic compounds Modifications to Federally-Permitted iii For-Hire Reporting Requirements TABLE OF CONTENTS Environmental Assessment Cover Sheet ......................................................................................... i Abbreviations Used in this Document ............................................................................................ ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii Fishery Impact Statement .............................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 History of Management ....................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2. Management Alternatives ............................................................................................ 7 2.1 Action 1: Modify Frequency and Mechanism of Data Reporting for Charter Vessels ...... 7 2.2 Action 2: Modify Frequency and Mechanism of Data Reporting for Headboats ............. 12 2.3 Action 3: Trip Notification and Reporting Requirements ................................................ 16 2.4 Action 4: Hardware/Software Requirements for Reporting ............................................. 19 Chapter 3. Affected Environment ................................................................................................ 22 3.1 Description of the Physical Environment .......................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Reef Fish ..................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.2 Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Species ................................................................. 23 3.1.3 Environmental Sites of Special Interest ...................................................................... 24 3.1.4 Climate Change ........................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Description of the Biological/Ecological Environment ..................................................... 27 3.2.1 Reef Fish ..................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 Coastal Migratory Pelagics ......................................................................................... 31 3.2.3 Protected Species ........................................................................................................ 33 3.2.4 Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone .................................................................... 39 3.2.5 Deepwater Horizon MC252 (DWH) Oil Spill ............................................................ 39 3.3 Description of the Economic Environment........................................................................ 41 3.3.1 Commercial Sector...................................................................................................... 41 3.3.2 Recreational Sector ..................................................................................................... 42 3.4 Description of the Social Environment .............................................................................. 45 3.4.1. Environmental Justice Considerations ....................................................................... 50 3.5 Description of the Administrative Environment ................................................................ 51 Modifications to Federally-Permitted iv For-Hire Reporting Requirements 3.5.1 Federal Fishery Management ...................................................................................... 51 3.5.2 State Fishery Management .......................................................................................... 52 3.5.3 Enforcement ................................................................................................................ 52 3.6 Description of the Fishery .................................................................................................. 53 Chapter 4. Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 54 4.1 Action 1: Modify Frequency and Mechanism of Data Reporting for Charter Vessels .... 54 4.1.1 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Physical/Biological/Ecological Environments ..... 54 4.1.2 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Economic Environment ........................................ 55 4.1.3 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Social Environment .............................................. 56 4.1.4 Direct and Indirect Effects on the Administrative Environment ...............................