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 Draft () Final (X) Type of Action: Administrative (x) Legislative ( ) 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) Agency: HQ Contact: Region Contacts: U.S. Department of Commerce Steve Kokkinakis David Dale NOAA Fisheries NOAA-Strategic Planning (N/SP) (727)570-5317 Southeast Region Building SSMC3, Rm. 15532 David Keys 9721 Executive Center Dr. N 1315 East-West Highway (727)570-5301 Suite 201 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 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 March 2004 Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs Page i ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS ABC acceptable biological catch ADCNR, MRD Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division AFS American Fisheries Society ALARM Automated Landings Assessment for Responsive Management AP advisory panel ASAP Age Structured Assessment Program ATCA Atlantic Tuna Convention Act BRD bycatch reduction device CAGEAN Catch at age analysis CCA Coastal Conservation Association CFD Coastal Fisheries Division CMC Center for Marine Conservation (now Ocean Conservancy) ComFIN Commercial Fisheries Information Network Council Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council CPUE catch per unit effort CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act DEIS draft environmental impact statement DOC U. S. Department of Commerce DOI Department of Interior EA environmental assessment EEC European Economic Community EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EFH Essential Fish Habitat EIS Environmental Impact Statement E.O. Executive Order EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act F instantaneous fishing mortality rate FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act FCZ fishery conservation zone (is now called EEZ) FDEP Florida Department of Environmental Protection FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FFWCC Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FKNMS Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary FL fork length FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FMP fishery management plan FMRI Florida Marine Research Institute FTTS Florida Trip Ticket System GAFF Gulfwide Association of Finfish Fishermen GIS Geographical Information System GLM general linear model March 2004 Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs Page iii GMFMC Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council GOM Gulf of Mexico GSA General Services Administration GSAFF Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation GSMFC Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission HAPC Habitat Areas of Particular Concern HMS Highly Migratory Species HRP Habitat Research Plan HSI Habitat Suitability Index HSM Habitat Suitability Model ICCAT International Commission on Conservation of Atlantic Tunas IFQ Individual Fishing Quotas IVR Inter-active Voice Recognition IRFA initial regulatory flexibility analysis ITQ individual transferable quota KWCBA Key West Charterboatmen’s Association LDWF Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries LOA length overall LEAP Law Enforcement Advisory Panel M instantaneous natural mortality rate MAFAC Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee MAFMC Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council MARFIN Marine Fisheries Initiative MCCF Monroe County Commercial Fishermen, Incorporated MDMR Mississippi Department of Marine Resources MFMT Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold MMA Marine Managed Area MMS Minerals Management Service MP million pounds MPA Marine Protected Area MRFSS Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey M-S Act Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act) MSAP Mackerel Stock Assessment Panel MSST Minimum Stock Size Threshold MSY maximum sustainable yield MYPR maximum yield per recruit NESDIS National Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Service NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NGDC National Geophysical Data Center NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NODC National Oceanographic Data Center NOS National Ocean Service NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System OC Ocean Conservancy (formerly CMC) Page iv Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs March 2004 OFF Organized Fishermen of Florida OMB Office of Management and Budget OY optimum yield PDF Portable Document Format ppt parts per thousand (salinity) RA Regional Administrator of NMFS RecFIN Recreational Fisheries Information Network RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act RIR regulatory impact review RSW running sea water system SAFMC South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SAP stock assessment panel SASI Save America’s Seafood Industry SAV Submerged Aquatic Vegetation SBA Small Business Administration SCRS Standing Committee on Research and Statistics SEAMAP Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program SFA Southeastern Fisheries Association SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center of NMFS SEIS supplemental environmental impact statement SEP Socioeconomic Panel SERO Southeast Regional Office (NMFS) SFA Sustainable Fisheries Act SMZ special management zone SOFA Southern Offshore Fishermen’s Association SOPPs Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures SPL saltwater products license (FL) SPR spawning potential ratio SSB/R spawning stock biomass per recruit SSC Scientific and Statistical Committee TAC total allowable catch TED turtle excluder device TIP trip interview program TL total length TNRIS Texas Natural Resources Information Network TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Division TSA Texas Shrimp Association USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service USGS United States Geological Survey VMS Vessel Monitoring System VPA virtual population analysis WDC/MGG World Data Center/Marine Geology and Geophysics YPR yield per recruit Z instantaneous total mortality rate March 2004 Final EIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs 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