"F/PI: Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Spiny Lobster Fisheries in Fishing Years 2015 through 2018. (August 12, 2015). New 3-year FONSI (for 2016, 2017, 2018) for RIN 0648-XE587."

Overview

ID #

13246076

Document Type

Environmental Assessment

NOAA Office

National Marine Fisheries Service - Pacific Islands Region

Document Status

Complete

Last Updated

06/28/2019

Summary

NMFS proposes to specify multi-year annual catch limits (ACL) for spiny lobster and coral reef ecosystem fisheries in federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), and for non-Deep 7 bottomfish fisheries in federal waters of the EEZ around the MHI. For each fishery, NMFS also proposes an accountability measure (AM) to correct or mitigate any overages of an ACL. Unless modified by NMFS, the ACLs and AMs would be specified for fishing years 2015 through 2018 (January 1 – December 31 each year). The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended the ACLs and AMs and developed its recommendations in accordance with the ACL process approved by NMFS, and in consideration of the best available scientific, commercial, and other information. The proposed action is needed in to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and provisions of the fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for American Samoa, the Mariana Archipelago, and Hawaii which require NMFS specify ACL and AMs for all stocks of fish harvested in these fisheries.

Fishery catch data are available to NMFS after six months past the end of the fishing year. Therefore, in-season monitoring of catch, and in-season AMs applied in federal waters to prevent an ACL from being exceeded (e.g. fishery closures in the EEZ) are not possible in any island area; only post-season AMs are possible. Specifically, after the end of any fishing year, if NMFS and the Council determine that the average annual catch from the most recent three year period exceeds a specified ACL, NMFS proposes to reduce that ACL in the subsequent fishing years by the amount of the overage. Prior to implementing a reduced ACL, NMFS would conduct additional environmental analyses, if necessary, and the public would have the opportunity to provide input and comment on the ACL specification at that time. If an ACL is exceeded more than once in a four-year period, the Council is required to re-evaluate the ACL process, and adjust the system, as necessary, to improve its performance and effectiveness.

NMFS prepared three separate environmental assessments (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impact of the proposed ACL and AM specifications. The preliminary analyses indicates that even without in-season AMs to prevent an ACL from being exceeded, the proposed action would not change the conduct of any fishery, or result in large beneficial or adverse effects on target, non-target, or bycatch species, protected species or marine habitats. This is because the proposed action would not limit or constrain catch or fishing for spiny lobsters, coral reef ecosystem resources or MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish in any way. All fisheries will continue to be monitored annually. Estimated catches of spiny lobsters, coral reef ecosystem resources and MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish are expected to remain below the proposed ACLs and be sustainable.