FISHERY ECOSYSTEM PLAN OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION VOLUME IV: THREATS TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ECOSYSTEM AND RECOMMENDATIONS April 2009 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201 North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 (843) 571-4366 / FAX (843) 769-4520 Toll Free (866) SAFMC-10 Email: [email protected] THIS IS A PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL PURSUANT TO National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. FNA05NMF4410004 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ABC Acceptable Biological Catch ACCSP Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program ACE Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve APA Administrative Procedures Act AUV Autonomous Underwater Vehicle B A measure of stock biomass either in weight or other appropriate unit BMSYB The stock biomass expected to exist under equilibrium conditions when fishing at FMSY BOYB The stock biomass expected to exist under equilibrium conditions when fishing at FOY BCURRB The current stock biomass CEA Cumulative Effects Analysis CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFMC Caribbean Fishery Management Council CPUE Catch per unit effort CRP Cooperative Research Program CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement EA Environmental Assessment EBM Ecosystem-Based Management EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EFH Essential Fish Habitat EFH-HAPC Essential Fish Habitat - Habitat Area of Particular Concern EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPAP Ecosystem Principles Advisory Panel ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973 F A measure of the instantaneous rate of fishing mortality F30%SPR Fishing mortality that will produce a static SPR = 30%. F45%SPR Fishing mortality that will produce a static SPR = 45%. FCURR The current instantaneous rate of fishing mortality FMP Fishery Management Plan FMSY The rate of fishing mortality expected to achieve MSY under equilibrium conditions and a corresponding biomass of BMSY FOY The rate of fishing mortality expected to achieve OY under equilibrium conditions and a corresponding biomass of BOY FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement FMU Fishery Management Unit FONSI Finding Of No Significant Impact GOOS Global Ocean Observing System GFMC Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council IFQ Individual fishing quota IMS Internet Mapping Server IOOS Integrated Ocean Observing System M Natural mortality rate ii Fishery Ecosystem Plan of the South Atlantic Region Volume IV Threats and Recommendations MARMAP Marine Resources Monitoring Assessment and Prediction Program MARFIN Marine Fisheries Initiative MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act MFMT Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1973 MRFSS Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey MSA Magnuson-Stevens Act MSST Minimum Stock Size Threshold MSY Maximum Sustainable Yield NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NMSA National Marine Sanctuary Act NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRC National Research Council OY Optimum Yield POC Pew Oceans Commission R Recruitment RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act RIR Regulatory Impact Review SAFE Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report SAFMC South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SEDAR Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center SERO Southeast Regional Office SDDP Supplementary Discard Data Program SFA Sustainable Fisheries Act SIA Social Impact Assessment SSC Scientific and Statistical Committee TAC Total allowable catch TMIN The length of time in which a stock could rebuild to BMSY in the absence of fishing mortality USCG U.S. Coast Guard USCOP U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy VMS Vessel Monitoring System iii Fishery Ecosystem Plan of the South Atlantic Region Volume IV Threats and Recommendations Table of Contents Table of Contents............................................................................................................... iv List of Figures................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................viii Table 7.2-1. EFH-HAPC and Criteria Evaluation, Penaeid Shrimp 155 .....................viii Table 7.2-2. EFH-HAPC and Criteria Evaluation, Snapper Grouper 157 ...................viii Table 7.2-4. EFH-HAPC and Criteria Evaluation, Spiny Lobster 161........................viii Table 7.2-6. EFH-HAPC and Criteria Evaluation, Dolphin Wahoo 164.....................viii 6.0 Threats to the South Atlantic Ecosystem.................................................................... 10 6.1 Adverse impacts of non-fishing activities............................................................... 10 6.1.1 Freshwater/estuarine/inshore processes........................................................... 11 6.1.1.1 Agriculture ................................................................................................ 12 6.1.1.2 Aquaculture............................................................................................... 18 6.1.1.3 Silviculture................................................................................................ 20 6.1.1.4 Urban/Suburban Development.................................................................. 23 6.1.1.5 Transportation........................................................................................... 28 6.1.1.6 Industrial/Commercial Activities.............................................................. 29 6.1.1.7 Navigation................................................................................................. 31 6.1.1.8 Inshore Mining.......................................................................................... 39 6.1.1.9 Hydrologic Modifications......................................................................... 40 6.1.1.10 Dams, Impoundments, and Other Barriers to Fish Passage.................... 42 6.1.1.11 Other sources of nonpoint-source pollution............................................ 46 6.1.1.12 Non-native or nuisance species............................................................... 48 6.1.2 Marine/offshore processes ............................................................................... 49 6.1.2.1 Navigation................................................................................................. 49 6.1.2.2 Dumping ................................................................................................... 52 6.1.2.3 Marine Debris ........................................................................................... 57 6.1.2.4 Offshore Sand and Mineral Mining and Beach Fill.................................. 58 6.1.2.5 Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Transportation.................... 63 6.1.2.6 Commercial and Industrial Activities ....................................................... 68 6.1.2.7 Artificial Reefs.......................................................................................... 70 6.1.2.8 Alternative Energy Technologies ............................................................. 72 6.1.2.9 Non-native or nuisance species................................................................. 78 6.1.3 Natural Events and Climate Change................................................................ 83 6.2 Adverse impacts of fishing activities under South Atlantic Council Fishery Management Plans.........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2.1 Fishing Gear Regulations under Council FMPsError! Bookmark not defined. 6.2.2 Gear Descriptions..............................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2.2.1 Mobile Gear ..............................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2.2.2 Static Gear......................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2.2.3 Other Gear......................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. iv Fishery Ecosystem Plan of the South Atlantic Region Volume IV Threats and Recommendations 6.3 Cumulative impacts of fishing and non-fishing activities ..... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.0 Essential Fish Habitat Evaluation and Recommendations......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1 Conservation and restoration ...................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1.1 Estuarine Marshes.............................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1.2 Mangroves.........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1.3 Seagrass.............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1.4 Oyster reefs and shell banks .............................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2 Description and use of EFH, EFH-HAPCs and Coral HAPCs.....Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.1 Penaeid and deepwater shrimp..........................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.1.1 Essential Fish Habitat ................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.1.2 Essential Fish Habitat-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern..............Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.2 Snapper Grouper ...............................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.2.1 Essential Fish Habitat ................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.2.2 Essential Fish Habitat-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern..............Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2.3 Coastal Migratory