Final AMENDMENT 13A TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SNAPPER GROUPER FISHERY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION INCLUDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS, REGULATORY IMPACT REVIEW AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT/ FISHERY IMPACT STATEMENT October 2003 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 1 Southpark Circle, Suite 306 Charleston, South Carolina 29407-4699 (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. NA03NMF4410030 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................i LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................vi PROPOSED ACTION AND PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE............................................. viii ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT .....................................................................................ix REGULATORY IMPACT REVIEW........................................................................................x SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT/FISHERY IMPACT STATEMENT.............................xiv 1.0 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................1 1.1 Background.....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose and Need for Action.....................................................................................6 1.2.1 Purpose...............................................................................................................6 1.2.2 Need for Action..................................................................................................6 1.3 Scoping, Environmental Documentation and Key Issues Associated with the Proposed Action.........................................................................................................8 1.3.1 Scoping...............................................................................................................8 1.3.2 Environmental Documenation ...........................................................................8 1.3.3 Key Issues ..........................................................................................................9 1.3.4 The Scope of Alternatives..................................................................................9 1.4 Management Objectives of the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan.........10 1.5 History of Management ...........................................................................................12 2.0 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION.......................................26 2.1 Features of Alternatives Considered in Detail...............................................................26 2.2 Comparison of the Impacts Between Alternatives 1-5 and the No Action Alternative.27 2.3 Comparison of the Impacts Between Alternatives 1-5 ..................................................28 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................29 3.1 Description of the Fishery/Affected Environment...................................................29 3.1.1 Physical Environment ......................................................................................29 3.1.1.1 Geological Environment ..........................................................................29 3.1.1.2 Oceanographic Environment....................................................................31 3.1.2 Biological Environment...................................................................................32 3.1.2.1 Habitat......................................................................................................32 3.1.2.2 Species in the Snapper Grouper FMU .....................................................35 3.1.2.2.1 Snappers, Lutjanidae..........................................................................37 3.1.2.2.1.1 Vermilion Snapper.....................................................................37 3.1.2.2.1.2 Silk Snapper...............................................................................38 3.1.2.2.1.3 Red Snapper...............................................................................39 3.1.2.2.1.4 Blackfin Snapper .......................................................................40 3.1.2.2.1.5 Queen Snapper...........................................................................40 i Snapper Grouper Amendment 13A 3.1.2.2.2 Grouper, Hinds, and Sea Basses, Serranidae.....................................41 3.1.2.2.2.1 Groupers ....................................................................................41 3.1.2.2.2.1.1 Gag Grouper ......................................................................41 3.1.2.2.2.1.2 Scamp ................................................................................42 3.1.2.2.2.1.3 Snowy Grouper..................................................................43 3.1.2.2.2.1.4 Yellowedge Grouper..........................................................44 3.1.2.2.2.1.5 Warsaw Grouper................................................................45 3.1.2.2.2.1.6 Speckled Hind....................................................................45 3.1.2.2.2.1.7 Misty Grouper....................................................................46 3.1.2.2.2.2 Sea Basses..................................................................................47 3.1.2.2.2.2.1 Black Sea Bass...................................................................47 3.1.2.2.2.2.2 Bank Sea Bass....................................................................48 3.1.2.2.3 Tilefish, Malacanthidae .....................................................................48 3.1.2.2.3.1 Golden Tilefish..........................................................................48 3.1.2.2.3.2 Blueline Tilefish ........................................................................49 3.1.2.2.4 Jack, Carangidae................................................................................49 3.1.2.2.4.1 Greater Amberjack.....................................................................49 3.1.2.2.4.2 Lesser Amberjack......................................................................50 3.1.2.2.4.3 Almaco Jack...............................................................................50 3.1.2.2.4.4 Crevalle Jack..............................................................................51 3.1.2.2.5 Porgies, Sparidae ...............................................................................51 3.1.2.2.5.1 Red Porgy ..................................................................................52 3.1.2.2.5.2 Jolthead Porgy ...........................................................................52 3.1.2.2.5.3 Knobbed Porgy..........................................................................53 3.1.2.3 Other Affected Species ............................................................................53 3.1.2.3.1 Finfish and Invertebrates not Included in the Snapper Grouper FMU .............................................................................................53 3.1.2.3.2 Protected and Candidate Species..................................................54 3.1.2.3.2.1 Whales .......................................................................................54 3.1.2.3.2.2 Turtles........................................................................................54 3.1.2.3.2.3 Candidate Species......................................................................54 3.1.2.4 Administrative Environment....................................................................55 3.1.2.4.1 The Fishery Management Process and Applicable Laws..................55 3.1.2.4.1.1 Federal Fishery Management ....................................................55 3.1.2.4.1.2 State Fishery Management ........................................................55 3.1.2.4.2 Enforcement.......................................................................................56 3.1.2.4.3 Science Underlying the Management of Snapper Grouper Species and the Establishment of the Oculina Experimental Closed Area....57 3.1.2.4.4 Data Collection and Research in the Oculina Experimental Closed Area...................................................................................................59 3.2 Description of the Fishery........................................................................................67 3.2.1 Fishing Methods...............................................................................................67 3.2.1.1 Recreational Fishery ................................................................................67 3.2.1.2 For-Hire Fishery.......................................................................................67 3.2.1.3 Commercial Fishery.................................................................................68 3.2.2 Economic Description of the Fishery...............................................................70 3.2.2.1 Description of the Economic Benefits .....................................................70