Draft Document for Public Comment. DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Fishery Management Report of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Omnibus Amendment to the Interstate Fishery Management Plans For Spanish Mackerel, Spot, and Spotted Seatrout Prepared for Public Comment April 4, 2011 Draft Document for Public Comment. Draft Document for Public Comment. DRAFT Omnibus Amendment to the Interstate Fishery Management Plans for Spanish Mackerel, Spot, and Spotted Seatrout (Spanish Mackerel Amendment 1, Spot Amendment 1, Spotted Seatrout Amendment 2) Prepared by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Omnibus Amendment Plan Development Team Plan Development Team Members: Nichola Meserve, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Danielle Brzezinski, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Beth Burns, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Randy Gregory, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Chris McDonough, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Pearse Webster, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Chris Kalinowsky, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Aaron Podey, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Gregg Waugh, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council This document was prepared under the guidance of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board, Chaired by Louis Daniel of North Carolina. Assistance was provided by the Spanish Mackerel, Spot, and Spotted Seatrout Plan Review Teams, and the South Atlantic Species Advisory Panel. This is a report of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission pursuant to U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award Nos. NA05NMF4741025 and NA10NMF4740016. Draft Document for Public Comment. Draft Document for Public Comment. AMENDMENT PROCESS AND PROPOSED TIMELINE In October 2008, the South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board initiated the development of an amendment to the Spanish Mackerel Fishery Management Plan. In August 2009, the Management Board decided to expand the amendment into an Omnibus Amendment to also revise the fishery management plans for spot and spotted seatrout. The diagram below depicts the amendment development process. The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the Omnibus Amendment. The final date that comments on the Draft Omnibus Amendment will be accepted is July 20, 2011. Comments may be submitted by mail, email, or fax. If you have any questions or would like to submit comment, please use the contact information below. Mail: Danielle Brzezinski Email: [email protected] Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (subject line: Omnibus Amendment) 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200A-N Phone: (703) 842-0740 Arlington, VA 22201 Fax: (703) 842-0741 August 2009 Management Board Decides Need for Omnibus Amendment Fall 2009 Public Information Document (PID) Developed November 2009 Management Board Approves PID for Public Comment Winter 2009/2010 Public Information Meetings & Comment Period on PID Management Board Reviews PID Comment & Provides May 2010 Direction for Development of Draft Omnibus Amendment Summer/Fall 2010 First Draft of Omnibus Amendment Developed Management Board Reviews Draft Amendment & March 2011 Considers Approval for Public Comment Spring/Summer 2011 Public Hearings & Comment Period August 2011 Management Board Reviews Public Comment & Considers Approval of Options and Omnibus Amendment Full Commission Reviews & Considers Approval August 2011 of Omnibus Amendment Early Fall 2011 Final Omnibus Amendment Produced ii Draft Document for Public Comment. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... ix 1. INRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background Information ............................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 2 1.2.1. Benefits of Implementation .................................................................................... 2 1.2.1.1. Ecological Benefits ........................................................................................... 2 1.2.1.2. Social and Economic Benefits ......................................................................... 3 1.3. Description of the Resources ......................................................................................... 3 1.3.1. Life History .............................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2. Stock Assessment Summary ................................................................................... 6 1.3.3. Stock Status ............................................................................................................. 7 1.4. Description of the Fisheries ........................................................................................... 9 1.4.1. Commercial Fishery ................................................................................................ 9 1.4.2. Recreational Fishery ............................................................................................. 12 1.4.3. Subsistence Fishery ............................................................................................... 13 1.4.4. Non-Consumptive Factors.................................................................................... 14 1.4.5. Interactions with Other Fisheries, Species, or Users ......................................... 15 1.5. Habitat Considerations ................................................................................................ 17 1.5.1. Description of the Habitat .................................................................................... 17 1.5.1.1. Spawning Habitat .......................................................................................... 18 1.5.1.2. Egg and Larval Habitat ................................................................................ 19 1.5.1.3. Juvenile Habitat ............................................................................................. 20 1.5.1.4. Adult Habitat ................................................................................................. 21 1.5.2. Identification and Distribution of Habitat and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern ................................................................................................................................ 22 1.5.3. Present Condition of Habitats and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern ...... 23 1.6. Impacts of the Fishery Management Program .......................................................... 24 1.6.1. Biological and Environmental Impacts ............................................................... 25 1.6.2. Social Impacts........................................................................................................ 25 1.6.3. Economic Impacts ................................................................................................. 26 1.6.3.1. Commercial Fisheries .................................................................................... 26 1.6.3.2. Recreational Fisheries ................................................................................... 27 1.7. Location of Technical Documentation for Omnibus Amendment........................... 30 iii Draft Document for Public Comment. 1.7.1. Stock Assessment Documents .............................................................................. 30 1.7.2. Law Enforcement Assessment Documents ......................................................... 30 2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................ 30 2.1. History and Purpose of the Plan ................................................................................. 30 2.1.1. History and Prior Management Actions ............................................................. 30 2.1.2. Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................... 32 2.2. Goal ................................................................................................................................ 32 2.3. Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 32 2.4. Specification of Management Unit.............................................................................. 34 2.4.1. Management Areas ............................................................................................... 34 2.5. Definition of Overfished and Overfishing .................................................................. 34 2.5.1. Fishing Mortality Threshold and Target ............................................................ 34 2.5.2. Stock Biomass Threshold and Target ................................................................. 35 2.6. Stock Rebuilding Program .......................................................................................... 36 2.6.1. Stock Rebuilding Targets and Schedules ...........................................................