Final Master Document Draft EFH EIS Gulf

Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the following fishery management plans of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): SHRIMP FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO RED DRUM FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO REEF FISH FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO STONE CRAB FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO CORAL AND CORAL REEF FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO SPINY LOBSTER FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SOUTH ATLANTIC COASTAL MIGRATORY PELAGIC RESOURCES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SOUTH ATLANTIC VOLUME 1: TEXT March 2004 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council The Commons at Rivergate 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000 Tampa, Florida 33619-2266 Tel: 813-228-2815 (toll-free 888-833-1844), FAX: 813-225-7015 E-mail: [email protected] This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17FC1052. COVER SHEET Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the fishery management plans of the Gulf of Mexico <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Draft () </li><li style="flex:1">Final (X) </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Type of Action: </li><li style="flex:1">Administrative (x) </li><li style="flex:1">Legislative ( ) </li></ul>Area of Potential Impact: Areas of tidally influenced waters and substrates of the Gulf of Mexico and its estuaries in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida extending out to the limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Agency: </li><li style="flex:1">HQ Contact: </li><li style="flex:1">Region Contacts: </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">David Dale </li><li style="flex:1">U.S. Department of Commerce </li></ul>NOAA Fisheries Steve Kokkinakis NOAA-Strategic Planning (N/SP) (727)570-5317 Southeast Region 9721 Executive Center Dr. N Suite 201 Building SSMC3, Rm. 15532 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 David Keys (727)570-5301 St. Petersburg, FL 33702 ABSTRACT This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzes within each fishery a range of potential alternatives to: (1) describe and identify Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for the fishery, (2) identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement such EFH, and (3) identify measures to minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on such EFH. The EIS contains the scientific methodology and data used in the analyses, background information on the physical, biological, human, and administrative environments, and a description of the fishing and non-fishing threats to EFH. Additional copies of this EIS may be obtained by contacting the Regional Contacts (above) or at the address below. Roy E. Crabtree, Ph.D. Regional Administrator NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region 9721 Executive Center Drive North St. Petersburg, Florida <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li></ul>Page i ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">ABC </li><li style="flex:1">acceptable biological catch </li></ul>ADCNR, MRD Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">AFS </li><li style="flex:1">American Fisheries Society </li></ul>ALARM AP Automated Landings Assessment for Responsive Management advisory panel ASAP ATCA BRD CAGEAN CCA CFD Age Structured Assessment Program Atlantic Tuna Convention Act bycatch reduction device Catch at age analysis Coastal Conservation Association Coastal Fisheries Division CMC ComFIN Council CPUE CZMA DEIS DOC DOI Center for Marine Conservation (now Ocean Conservancy) Commercial Fisheries Information Network Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council catch per unit effort Coastal Zone Management Act draft environmental impact statement U. S. Department of Commerce Department of Interior <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">EA </li><li style="flex:1">environmental assessment </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">EEC </li><li style="flex:1">European Economic Community </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">EEZ </li><li style="flex:1">Exclusive Economic Zone </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">EFH </li><li style="flex:1">Essential Fish Habitat </li></ul>EIS E.O. Environmental Impact Statement Executive Order <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">EPA </li><li style="flex:1">Environmental Protection Agency </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">ESA </li><li style="flex:1">Endangered Species Act </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">F</li><li style="flex:1">instantaneous fishing mortality rate </li></ul>Federal Advisory Committee Act fishery conservation zone (is now called EEZ) Florida Department of Environmental Protection Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary fork length FACA FCZ FDEP FERC FFWCC FKNMS FL <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">FAO </li><li style="flex:1">Food and Agriculture Organization </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">FMP </li><li style="flex:1">fishery management plan </li></ul>FMRI FTTS GAFF GIS Florida Marine Research Institute Florida Trip Ticket System Gulfwide Association of Finfish Fishermen Geographical Information System <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">general linear model </li><li style="flex:1">GLM </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li></ul>Page iii GMFMC GOM GSA GSAFF GSMFC HAPC HMS Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Gulf of Mexico General Services Administration Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Habitat Areas of Particular Concern Highly Migratory Species <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">HRP </li><li style="flex:1">Habitat Research Plan </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">HSI </li><li style="flex:1">Habitat Suitability Index </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">HSM </li><li style="flex:1">Habitat Suitability Model </li></ul>ICCAT IFQ International Commission on Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Individual Fishing Quotas <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">IVR </li><li style="flex:1">Inter-active Voice Recognition </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">IRFA </li><li style="flex:1">initial regulatory flexibility analysis </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">ITQ </li><li style="flex:1">individual transferable quota </li></ul>KWCBA LDWF LOA Key West Charterboatmen’s Association Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries length overall LEAP M Law Enforcement Advisory Panel instantaneous natural mortality rate Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Marine Fisheries Initiative Monroe County Commercial Fishermen, Incorporated Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold Marine Managed Area MAFAC MAFMC MARFIN MCCF MDMR MFMT MMA <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">MMS </li><li style="flex:1">Minerals Management Service </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">MP </li><li style="flex:1">million pounds </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">MPA </li><li style="flex:1">Marine Protected Area </li></ul>MRFSS M-S Act Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act) MSAP MSST MSY Mackerel Stock Assessment Panel Minimum Stock Size Threshold maximum sustainable yield MYPR NESDIS NEPA NGDC NMFS NOAA NODC NOS maximum yield per recruit National Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Service National Environmental Policy Act National Geophysical Data Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanographic Data Center National Ocean Service NPDES OC National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Ocean Conservancy (formerly CMC) Page iv <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li></ul>OFF OMB OY Organized Fishermen of Florida Office of Management and Budget optimum yield <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">PDF </li><li style="flex:1">Portable Document Format </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">ppt </li><li style="flex:1">parts per thousand (salinity) </li></ul>RA RecFIN RFA Regional Administrator of NMFS Recreational Fisheries Information Network Regulatory Flexibility Act <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">RIR </li><li style="flex:1">regulatory impact review </li></ul>RSW SAFMC SAP running sea water system South Atlantic Fishery Management Council stock assessment panel SASI SAV SBA SCRS SEAMAP SFA SEFSC SEIS SEP Save America’s Seafood Industry Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Small Business Administration Standing Committee on Research and Statistics Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program Southeastern Fisheries Association Southeast Fisheries Science Center of NMFS supplemental environmental impact statement Socioeconomic Panel <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">SERO </li><li style="flex:1">Southeast Regional Office (NMFS) </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">SFA </li><li style="flex:1">Sustainable Fisheries Act </li></ul>SMZ SOFA SOPPs SPL special management zone Southern Offshore Fishermen’s Association Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures saltwater products license (FL) <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">spawning potential ratio </li><li style="flex:1">SPR </li></ul>SSB/R SSC TAC spawning stock biomass per recruit Scientific and Statistical Committee total allowable catch <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">TED </li><li style="flex:1">turtle excluder device </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">TIP </li><li style="flex:1">trip interview program </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">TL </li><li style="flex:1">total length </li></ul>TNRIS TPWD TSA Texas Natural Resources Information Network Texas Parks and Wildlife Division Texas Shrimp Association USFWS USGS VMS VPA WDC/MGG YPR United States Fish and Wildlife Service United States Geological Survey Vessel Monitoring System virtual population analysis World Data Center/Marine Geology and Geophysics yield per recruit <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Z</li><li style="flex:1">instantaneous total mortality rate </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li></ul>Page v GLOSSARY ALGAE - A collective, or general name, applied to a number of primarily aquatic, photosynthetic groups (taxa) of plants and plant_like protists. They range in size from single cells to large, multicellular forms like the giant kelps. They are the foodbase for almost all marine animals. Important taxa are the dinoflagellates (division Pyrrophyta), diatoms (div., Chrysophyta), green algae (div. Chlorophyta), brown algae (div. Phaeophyta), and red algae (div. Rhodophyta). Cyanobacteria are often called blue-green algae, although blue-green bacteria is a preferable term. ANTHROPOGENIC - Refers to the effects of human activities. BATHYMETRIC-A depth measurement. Also refers to a migration from waters of one depth to another. BENTHIC-Pertaining to the bottom of an ocean, lake, or river. Also refers to sessile and crawling animals which reside in or on the bottom. BIOGENIC-Features built by or consisting of liviving organisms. BIOMASS-The total mass of living tissues (wet or dried) of an organism or collection or organisms of a species or trophic level, from a defined area or volume. CALCAREOUS-Composed of calcium or calcium carbonate. CONTINENTAL SHELF-The submerged continental land mass, not usually deeper than 200 m. The shelf may extend from a few miles off the coastline to several hundred miles. CONTINENTAL SLOPE-The steeply sloping seabed that connects the continental shelf and continental rise. CORAL REEF-Coral communities exist under a variety of water depths, bottom types, water quality, wave energy and currents. Well-developed active coral reefs usually occur in tropical and subtropical waters of low turbidity, low terrestrial runoff, and low levels of suspended sediment. Some of the best developed reefs in Puerto Rico are those which receive the lowest levels of terrigenous inputs (Turgeon et al. 2002). The percentage of live coral cover generally increases with distance from shore. Corals may occur scattered in patches attached to hard substrates. Corals in the Caribbean are formed by the major reef-building (hermatypic) coral genera Acropora, Montastrea, Porites, Diploria, Siderastrea and Agaricia (Tetra Tech, 1992). CRUSTACEA-A large class of over 26,000 species of mostly aquatic arthropods having five pairs of head appendages, including laterally opposed jaw_like mandibles and two pairs of antennae. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li></ul>Page vii DEMERSAL-Refers to swimming animals that live near the bottom of an ocean, river, or lake. Often refers to eggs that are denser than water and sink to the bottom after being laid. DISTRIBUTION-1) A species distribution is the spatial pattern of its population or populations over its geographic range. See RANGE. (2) A population age distribution is the proportions of individuals in various age classes. (4) Within a population, individuals may be distributed evenly, randomly, or in groups throughout suitable habitat. ECOSYSTEM ENGINEER-Organisms that build biogenic structure or modify subtrates in or on which they live. ESCARPMENT-A steep slope in topography, as in a cliff or along the continental slope. ESTUARY-A semi-enclosed body of water with an openconnection to the sea. Typically there is a mixing of sea and fresh water, and the influx of nutrients form both sources results in high productivity. FOOD WEB (CHAIN)-The feeding relationships of several to many species within a community in a given area during a particular time period. Two broad types are recognized: (1) grazing webs involving producers (e.g., algae), herbivores (e.g., copepods), and various combinations of carnivores and omnivores; and, (2) detritus webs involving scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers that feed on the dead remains or organisms from the grazing webs, as well as on their own dead. A food chain refers to organisms on different trophic levels, while a food web refers to a network of interconnected food chains. See TROPHIC LEVEL. FRINGING REEFS-Emergent reefs extending directly from shore and often extensions of headlands or points, or separated from the shore by an open lagoon. HABITAT - The particular type of place where an organism lives within a more extensive area or range. The habitat is characterized by its biological components and/or physical features (e.g., sandy bottom of the littoral zone, or on kept blades within 10 m of the water surface). HABITAT SUITABILITY INDEX - (HSI) An index of the suitability of one or more habitat characteristics (e.g. depth, substrate) for a species. HSIs are used in habitat suitability models. HABITAT SUITABILITY MODEL - Habitat suitability modeling (HSM) is a tool for predicting the quality or suitability of habitat for a given species based on known affinities with habitat characteristics, such as depth and substrate type. This information is combined with maps of those same habitat characteristics to produce maps of expected distributions of species and life stages. HABITAT USE DATABASE – The relational database of habitat preferences and functional relationships between fish species and their habitat created for the EFH analysis. HERBIVORE-An animal that feeds on plants (phytoplankton, large algae, or higher plants). Page viii <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li></ul>INSULAR-Of or pertaining to an island or its characteristics (i.e., isolated). INTERTIDAL-The ocean of estuarine shore zone exposed between high and low tides. ISOBATH-A contour mapping line that indicates a specified constant depth. ISOTHERM-A contour line connecting points of equal mean temperature for a given sampling period. LAGOON-A shallow pond or channel linked to the ocean, but often separated by a reef or sandbar. LARVAE-An early developmental stage of an organism that is morphologically different from the juvenile or adult form. LITTORAL-The shore area between the mean low and high tide levels. Water zones in this area include the littoral pelagic zone and the littoral benthic zone. LIVE-ROCK-Live-Rock or Live-bottom is a special term used by aquarists and the marine aquarium industry to describe hard substrate colonized by sessile marine invertebrates and plants (Wheaton 1989). NERITIC-An oceanic zone extending from the mean low tide level to the edge of the continental shelf. NICHE-The fundamental niche is the full range of abiotic and biotic factors under which a species can live and reproduce. The realized niche is the set of actual conditions under which a species or a population of a species exists, and is largely determined by interactions with other species. OCEANIC-Living in or produced by the ocean. PATCH REEFS-Small irregular shaped reefs that rise from the bottom and are separated from other reef sections. Patch reefs are diverse coral communities typified by the presence of hermatypic (reef-building) and ahermatypic species. Typically, patch reefs form on coralline rock or another suitable substrate such as coral rubble (Marszalek, et al. 1977). PELAGIC-Pertaining to the water column, or to organisms that live in the water column. PISCIVOROUS-Refers to a carnivorous animal that eats fish. PRECAUTIONARY-The precautionary approach involves the application of prudent foresight. Taking account of the uncertainties in fisheries systems and the need to take action with incomplete knowledge, it requires, inter alia: consideration of the needs of future generations and avoidance of changes that are not potentially reversible; prior identification of undesirable outcomes and of measures that will avoid them or correct them promptly; that any necessary <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li></ul>Page ix corrective measures are initiated without delay, and that they should achieve their purpose promptly, on a timescale not exceeding two or three decades; that where the likely impact of resource use is uncertain, priority should be given to conserving the productive capacity of the resource; that harvesting and processing capacity should be commensurate with estimated sustainable levels of resource, and that increases in capacity should be further contained when resource productivity is highly uncertain; all fishing activities must have prior management authorization and be subject to periodic review; an established legal and institutional framework for fishery management, within which management plans that implement the above points are instituted for each fishery, and appropriate placement of the burden of proof by adhering to the requirements above. PRODUCTION-Gross primary production is the amount of light energy converted to chemical energy in the form of organic compounds by autotrophs like algae. The amount left after respiration is net primary production and is usually expressed as biomass or calories/unit area/unit time. Net production for herbivores and carnivores is based on the same concept, except that chemical energy from food, not light, is used and partially stored for life processes. Efficiency of energy transfers between trophic levels ranges from 10_65% (depending on the organism and trophic level). Organisms at high trophic levels have only a fraction of the energy available to them that was stored in plant biomass. After respiration loss, net production goes into growth and reproduction, and some is passed to the next trophic level. See FOOD WEB and TROPHIC LEVEL. RANGE-(1) The geographic range is the entire area where a species is known to occur or to have occurred (historical range). The range of a species may be continuous, or it may have unoccupied gaps between populations (discontinuous distribution). (2) Some populations, or the entire species, may have different seasonal ranges, These may be overlapping, or they may be widely separated with intervening areas that are at most briefly occupied during passage on relatively narrow migration routes. (3) Home range refers to the local area that an individual or group uses for a long period of life. REEF FISH-Fish species that live on or near coral reef or hard bottom with biogenic structure. RISK AVERSE-Philosophy or measures intended to minimize likely adverse impacts or proposed activities. SETTLEMENT-The act of or state of making a permanent residency. Often refers to the period when fish and invertebrate larvae change from a planktonic to a benthic existence. SOLITARY CORALS-Individual coral colonies found in bottom communities where corals are a minor component of biotic diversity. Although these solitary corals contribute benthic relief and habitat to communities throughout the fishery conservation zone, they apparently comprise a minor percentage of the total coral stocks in the management area. SPAWN-The release of eggs and sperm during mating. Also, the bearing of offspring by species with internal fertilization. Page x <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs </li><li style="flex:1">March 2004 </li></ul>SPECIES-(1) A fundamental taxonomic group ranking after a genus. (2) A group of organisms recognized as distinct from other groups, whose members can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Final Master Document Draft EFH EIS Gulf

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