July 31, 2013 Collaborative Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Proposal: Protecting Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat While Balancing Fishing Opportunities in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, South of Año Nuevo Rosy rockfish (Sebastes rosaceus) Phylum Porifera and Class Crinoidea Contact: Karen Grimmer Resource Protection Coordinator Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 99 Pacific Avenue, Suite 455a Monterey, CA 93940 MBNMS Groundfish EFH Proposal TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... 8 I. Proposal ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 10 3a. Proposal Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 14 3c. Overview of New Information .................................................................................................. 18 4. Proposed Actions ........................................................................................................................... 18 4a. Spatial Changes ....................................................................................................................... 19 4b. Gear regulation changes ........................................................................................................... 21 4c. Changes to the description and identification of groundfish EFH and its components. ............... 21 4d. Other changes .......................................................................................................................... 21 Relevant and Applicable Characteristics Information ......................................................................... 23 Biogenic Components ............................................................................................................... 23 Groundfish Components ........................................................................................................... 25 Socioeconomic Characteristics (All Areas Combined) ................................................................... 32 Area 1 - Expansion of the Monterey Bay/Canyon Conservation Areato include the Año Nuevo and Ascension Canyon Complex .......................................................................................................... 34 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 34 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 35 Area 2 – Add New Conservation Area – “South of Davenport” ...................................................... 37 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 37 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 38 Area 3 –Re-Open an Area of the Monterey Bay/CanyonConservation Area in Lower Cabrillo Canyon .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 40 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 40 Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................................................................. 40 Area 4 - Expansion of the Monterey Bay/Canyon Conservation Area to Include an Area West of Soquel Canyon .............................................................................................................................. 40 Page 2 of 78 MBNMS Groundfish EFH Proposal 5a. Biological Characteristics .................................................................................................... 42 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 42 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 43 Spatial and Geographical Characteristics ................................................................................... 45 Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................................................................. 45 Area 5 - Expansion of the Monterey Bay/Canyon Conservation Area To Include an Area Southwest of Smooth Ridge ............................................................................................................................ 45 Biological Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 46 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 46 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 47 Spatial and Geological Characteristics ...................................................................................... 47 Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................................................................. 48 Area 6 – Re-Open an Area of the Monterey Bay/Canyon Conservation AreaSouth of the MBARI’s MARS Cable ................................................................................................................................. 49 Biological Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 49 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 49 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 49 Spatial and Geological Characteristics ...................................................................................... 49 Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................................................................. 49 Area 7 – Re-Open an Area of the Monterey Bay/Canyon Conservation AreaWest of Carmel Canyon ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 Biological Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 50 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 50 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 50 Spatial and Geological Characteristics ...................................................................................... 50 Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................................................................. 51 Area 8 – Expand the Point Sur Deep Conservation AreaNorth to Include an Area West of Sobranes Point .............................................................................................................................................. 51 Biological Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 51 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 51 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 51 Spatial and Geological Characteristics ...................................................................................... 52 Page 3 of 78 MBNMS Groundfish EFH Proposal Socioeconomic Data ................................................................................................................. 52 Area 9 – Re-Open an Area East of the Point Sur Deep Conservation Area ...................................... 52 Biological Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 52 Biogenic Components ........................................................................................................... 52 Groundfish Components ....................................................................................................... 53 Spatial and Geological Characteristics ...................................................................................... 53 Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................................................................. 53 Area 10 – Expand the Big Sur Coast/Port San Luis Conservation Areaby Adding a Small Area South of Surveyors Knoll .......................................................................................................................