Regulatory Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region Special Management Zone (SMZ) Framework Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis, and Regulatory Impact Review August 10, 2020 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 4055 Faber Place Drive; Suite 201 North Charleston, SC 29405 Award Number FNA15NMF4410010 Regulatory Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region Proposed actions: Designate artificial reefs as Special Management Zones in federal waters off North Carolina and South Carolina. Responsible Agencies and Contact Persons South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 843-571-4366 4055 Faber Place, Suite 201 843-769-4520 (fax) North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 www.safmc.net IPT lead: Myra Brouwer [email protected] National Marine Fisheries Service 727-824-5305 Southeast Regional Office 727-824-5308 (fax) 263 13th Avenue South NMFS SERO St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 IPT lead: Rick DeVictor [email protected] II Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. III List of Appendices ............................................................................................................. V List of Tables .................................................................................................................... VI List of Figures ................................................................................................................ VIII Summary .......................................................................................................................... S-1 Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 What actions are being proposed in this framework amendment? ................... 1 1.2 Who is proposing the framework amendment? ................................................ 1 1.3 Where is the project located? ............................................................................ 2 1.4 Why is the Council considering action (Purpose and need statement) ............. 3 1.5 What is the history of management for the Snapper Grouper fishery? ............. 4 Chapter 2. Proposed Actions and Alternatives .................................................................. 6 2.1 Action 1. Designate 30 artificial reefs in the exclusive economic zone off North Carolina as Special Management Zones ................................................. 6 2.2 Action 2. Designate additional artificial reefs in the exclusive economic zone off South Carolina as Special Management Zones ......................................... 11 Chapter 3. Affected Environment .................................................................................... 15 3.1 Habitat Environment ....................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 Artificial Reefs ............................................................................................. 15 3.1.2 Essential Fish Habitat .................................................................................. 16 3.1.3 Habitat Areas of Particular Concern ........................................................... 17 3.2 Biological and Ecological Environment ......................................................... 17 3.2.1 Fish Populations Affected by this Amendment ........................................... 18 3.2.2 Bycatch and Discards .................................................................................. 19 3.2.3 Protected Species ......................................................................................... 19 3.3 Economic Environment .................................................................................. 21 3.3.2 Economic Description of the Recreational Sector ....................................... 28 3.4 Social Environment ......................................................................................... 32 3.4.1 Permits by State ........................................................................................... 33 3.4.2 Fishing Communities ................................................................................... 34 3.4.4 Environmental Justice .................................................................................. 38 3.5 Administrative Environment ........................................................................... 40 3.5.1 Federal Fishery Management ....................................................................... 40 3.5.2 State Fishery Management ........................................................................... 41 3.5.3 Enforcement ................................................................................................. 42 Chapter 4. Environmental Effects and Comparison of Alternatives ................................ 43 4.1 Action 1. Designate 30 artificial reefs in the exclusive economic zone off North Carolina as Special Management Zones ............................................... 43 4.2 Action 2. Designate additional artificial reefs in the exclusive economic zone off South Carolina as Special Management Zones ......................................... 49 Chapter 5. South Atlantic Council’s Rationale for the Preferred Alternatives ................ 55 5.1 Action 1. Designate 30 artificial reefs in the exclusive economic zone off North Carolina as Special Management Zones ............................................... 55 III 5.1.1 Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) Comments and Recommendations 55 5.1.2 Law Enforcement AP Comments and Recommendations ........................... 56 5.1.3 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Comments and Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 57 5.1.4 Public Comments and Recommendations ................................................... 58 5.1.5 South Atlantic Council’s Conclusion........................................................... 58 5.1.6 How is this Action Addressing the Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery?........................ ............................................................................................. 60 5.2 Action 2. Designate additional artificial reefs in the exclusive economic zone off South Carolina as Special Management Zones ......................................... 61 5.2.1 Snapper Grouper AP Comments and Recommendations ............................ 61 5.2.2 Law Enforcement AP Comments and Recommendations ........................... 61 5.2.3 SSC Comments and Recommendations....................................................... 61 5.2.4 Public Comments and Recommendations ................................................... 61 5.2.5 South Atlantic Council’s Conclusion........................................................... 61 5.2.6 How is this Action Addressing the Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery?...................... ............................................................................................... 62 Chapter 6. Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................... 63 6.1 Affected Area .................................................................................................. 63 6.2 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Impacting the Affected Area…………………. .................................................................................... 63 6.3 Consideration of Climate Change and Other Non-Fishery Related Issues ..... 66 6.4 Overall Impacts Expected from Past, Present, and Future Actions ................ 68 6.5 Monitoring and Mitigation .............................................................................. 68 Chapter 7. List of Interdisciplinary Plan Team (IPT) Members ...................................... 69 Chapter 8. Agencies and Persons Consulted.................................................................... 70 Chapter 9. References ...................................................................................................... 71 Appendix A. Regulatory Impact Review ....................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis ................................................................ B-1 Appendix C. Other Applicable Laws ............................................................................. C-1 Appendix D. Detailed maps and tables for proposed Special Management Zones off North Carolina .......................................................................................................... D-1 Appendix E. Detailed maps and tables for proposed Special Management Zones off South Carolina ........................................................................................................... E-1 Appendix F. Monitoring Team Report ........................................................................... F-1 IV List of Appendices Appendix A. Regulatory Impact Review Appendix B. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Appendix C. Other Applicable Law Appendix D. Detailed maps and tables for proposed Special Management Zones off North Carolina Appendix E. Detailed maps and tables for proposed Special Management