Transcript Slide 1

Preferred Management Options for
Spotted Seatrout in North Carolina
Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting
Raleigh
May 13, 2010
Committee Reviews & Public Meetings
Southeast Regional Advisory Committee
Inland Regional Advisory Committee
Central Regional Advisory Committee
Finfish Advisory Committee
Habitat Advisory Committee
Northeast Regional Advisory Committee
April 14, 2010
April 15, 2010
April 19, 2010
April 20, 2010
April 21, 2010
April 22, 2010
Review of Committee and Public Input
Spotted Seatrout Advisory Committee
Marine Fisheries Commission
April 28, 2010
May 13, 2010
Issues Addressed in the FMP
• Achieving sustainable harvest
• Enforcement of size, creel limit and gear
regulations in Joint, Coastal or Inland Fishing
Waters
• Management measures to address user group
competition
• Impacts of cold stun events on the population
• Closing gig fishery from December-March
Sustainable Harvest
Background
• 2009 stock assessment indicated the stock in NC/VA has
been overfished and overfishing has been occurring
throughout the 18-year time series.
Issue
• Establish harvest reductions that achieve sustainable
harvest by rebuilding the spawning stock biomass above the
threshold level and end overfishing within 10 years.
Spawning Stock Biomass
Overfished Status
Threshold (F20%)
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Spawning Stock Biomass (lb)
SSB
Year
Year
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
Average Fishing Mortality
Fishing Mortality
Overfishing Status
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Sustainable Harvest
END OVERFISHING IMMEDIATELY
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
Size
Bag Limit Trip Limit
REDUCTION
REQUIRED
14 "
2 fish
50 lbs
57%
14-24 "
2 fish
50 lbs
53%
Sustainable Harvest
1/2 REDUCTION NEEDED TO END
OVERFISHING - ASSESS IN 5 YRS
COMMERCIAL FISHERY
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
REDUCTION
Minimum Size (TL)
REQUIRED
14 "
28.5%
RECREATIONAL FISHERY
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
REDUCTION
Minimum Size (TL)
REQUIRED
14 "
28.5%
Commercial Suite of Options
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE HARVEST
Commercial Fishery
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
14-inch minimum size limit and:
• 150 lbs/day/operation
• 200 lbs/day/operation
• Seasonal closures:
December 1 - January 31
February 1- August 31
• Annual Commercial Quota/All Gear:
All Gear Combined, 173,981 lbs
% REDUCTION
32.0%
26.3%
29.9%
31.8%
28.5%
Commercial Suite of Options
(continued)
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE HARVEST
Commercial Fishery
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
14-inch minimum size limit and:
• Annual Commercial Quotas/high volume gear:
% REDUCTION
28.5%
Stop Nets-4,595 lbs; Beach Seines-5,139 lbs;
Long Haul Seines/Swipe Nets-22,930 lbs; and
All other gear: 100 lbs/operation/day or 200 lbs/person/week
• Annual Trip Limits/high volume gear:
Stop Nets: >500 lbs/operation/day or 2,100 lbs/person/week
Beach Seines: 150 lbs/operation/day or 300 lbs/person/week
Long Haul Seines/Swipe Nets: 350 lbs/operation/day or 700 lbs/person/week
All other gear: 100 lbs/operation/day or 200 lbs/person/week
28.5%
Suite of Options (continued)
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE HARVEST
Commercial Fishery
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
14-inch minimum size limit and:
• Gill Net Weekly Trip Limit; 200 lbs/person/week
% REDUCTION
28.5%
High Volume Fisheries: Annual quota or Trip Limit option
All other gear: 100 lbs/person/week
• Gill Net Seasonal Trip Limit:
28.5%
March-October: 25 lbs/operation/day
November-February: 300 lbs/operation/day
High Volume Fisheries: Annual quota or Trip Limit option
All other gear: 100 lbs/person/week
• Weekend Closure- no possession on weekends
November-February: all gear out of water (including RCGL)
29.7%
Commercial Recommendations
AC
Southeast
Central
Northeast
Inland
Finfish
SST AC
RECOMMENDATION
end overfishing ½ way
with 14-inch minimum
size AND:
• May 1 – Sept 30 closure
• Weekend closure
• Dec 1 – Jan 31 closure
• 150 lbs/operation/day
• Weekend closure
%
Reduction
VOTE
22.5
9 in favor
(unanimous)
29.7
5 in favor
chair abstained
1.8
6 in favor,
1 opposed,
chair abstained
29.9
5 in favor,
1 opposed
32.0
4 in favor,
1 opposed,
chair abstained
29.7
4 in favor,
2 opposed,
chair abstained
Recommendation for Sustainable Harvest
Commercial Fishery
SST AC & DMF Recommendation
 Take ½ reduction to end overfishing; 14-inch minimum size and
weekend closure (no possession 5 p.m. Friday- 5 p.m. Sunday)
• March-October: gear may be in the water
• November-February: no commercial gear (RCGL gear included) in water
 Option agreement: SST AC, DMF, Central AC
DMF Recommendation clarification “no commercial gear”:
• No long hauls, no beach seines, no gill nets (includes drift nets, set nets,
run around gill nets), no RCGL gear.
• Stop nets may be set, but no hauls or strikes may be made on weekends
• Exemptions: Albemarle Sound & Currituck Sound
Sustainable Harvest
1/2 REDUCTION NEEDED TO END
OVERFISHING - ASSESS IN 5 YRS
RECREATIONAL FISHERY
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
REDUCTION
Bag Limit
Size
REQUIRED
14 "
6 fish
28.5%
REDUCTION
ACHIEVED
29.0%
Recreational Recommendations
AC
RECOMMENDATION
end overfishing ½ way with:
• 14-inch minimum, 10 fish bag,
May 1-Sept 30 closure
Southeast • Promote the use of barbless hooks
Central
Northeast
• 12-inch minimum, 4 fish bag,
May-June closure
• 14-inch minimum, 5 fish bag
• 14-inch minimum, 6 fish bag
Inland
Finfish
• Promote the use of circle hooks &
natural baits
• 14-inch minimum, 6 fish bag
• 14-inch minimum, 6 fish bag
SST AC
• Promote the use of barbless hooks
%
Reduction
47.1
-
VOTE
9 in favor
(unanimous)
consensus
31.5
4 in favor,
1 opposed,
chair abstained
33.5
6 in favor,
1 opposed,
chair abstained
29.0
6 in favor,
(unanimous)
-
consensus
29.0
7 in favor,
(unanimous)
29.0
6 in favor,
chair abstained
-
consensus
Recommendation for Sustainable Harvest
Recreational Fishery
SST AC & DMF Recommendation
 End overfishing ½ way; 14-inch minimum size and 6 fish
bag limit
 Agreement: SST AC, DMF, Inland, Finfish
Sustainable Harvest
Adaptive Management
DMF proposes an adaptive management framework
Given uncertainty in the actual level of harvest reductions that will be realized
once these measures are put in place, and the continuing evolution of fishing
restrictions from the Endangered Species Act:
 DMF/MFC may consider new information brought forward and revise the
FMP sustainability measures accordingly; examples
• “sea turtle settlement” results in quantifiable reductions in commercial
harvest
• weekend closures may not be as effective as anticipated due to
recoupment
 Possible actions: changes in bag/trip limits, season/area closures
Enforcement
Background
• MFC is responsible for managing, protecting,
preserving and enhancing marine and estuarine
resources, while WRC is responsible for
regulating fishing activities in Inland Waters.
Issue
• Improving compliance with and agency
enforcement of management measures in Joint
and Coastal or Inland Fishing Waters.
Enforcement
AC Recommendation (original)
 Marine Patrol officers be given general police authority
 Develop mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine
Patrol and WRC Wildlife Enforcement officers for Inland
Fishing Waters.
DMF Recommendation
 Develop mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine
Patrol and WRC Wildlife Enforcement officers for Inland
Fishing Waters.
Enforcement
SST AC & DMF Recommendation (final)
 Develop mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine
Patrol and WRC Wildlife Enforcement officers for Inland
Fishing Waters.
Enforcement Recommendations
AC
RECOMMENDATION
VOTE
Southeast
• Endorsed AC original recommendation
for general police authority &
• Endorsed DMF recommendation
Mutual Aid Agreement
Central
• Endorsed DMF recommendation
Mutual Aid Agreement
6 in favor,
chair
abstained
Northeast
• Endorsed DMF recommendation
Mutual Aid Agreement
7 in favor,
chair
abstained
Inland
• Endorsed DMF recommendation
Mutual Aid Agreement
6 in favor
(unanimous)
Finfish
• Endorsed DMF recommendation
Mutual Aid Agreement
5 in favor,
1 opposed,
chair
abstained
SST AC
• Endorsed DMF recommendation
Mutual Aid Agreement
5 in favor,
2 abstained
9 in favor
(unanimous)
Enforcement
 Agreement: SST AC, DMF, Northeast, Central, Inland,
& Finfish
User Group Competition
Background
• Commercial gill net and recreational hook and line
fishermen have been in competition for seatrout, and in
some instances, competition has escalated to conflict.
Issue
• Determine management measures to reduce conflicts
between recreational and gill net fisheries.
User Group Competition
Recommendations
AC
RECOMMENDATION
VOTE
• Mediation policy process to resolve conflict
9 in favor,
(unanimous)
Central
• Mediation policy process to resolve conflict
6 in favor,
chair abstained
Northeast
• Mediation policy process to resolve conflict
7 in favor,
chair abstained
Inland
• Mediation policy process to resolve conflict
6 in favor
(unanimous)
• Mediation policy process to resolve conflict
7 in favor
(unanimous)
• Mediation policy process to resolve conflict
6 in favor
chair abstained
Southeast
Finfish
SST AC
User Group Competition
Recommendations
SST AC & DMF Recommendation:
 Move forward with the mediation policy process to
resolve conflict
 Agreement: DMF, SST AC, Southeast, Central,
Northeast , Inland , Finfish
Cold Stun Events
Background
• Death of large numbers of spotted seatrout following severe cold
spells has been well documented. Periodic increases in mortality
associated with cold stuns should be considered when implementing
management measures.
Issue
• Periodic increases in mortality associated with cold stun events can
have a negative impact on population size. Should information and
quantification of cold stun events be considered for incorporation
into fisheries models and/or management decisions?
Cold Stun Recommendations
SST AC Recommendation (original)
A. Status quo with the assumption the director will intervene in
case of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in
terms of temporary closures by water body. The
proclamation needs to be an informed decision based on
quantifiable data and outcome needs to be quantified postclosure.
B. DMF research on cold stun events
DMF Recommendation
A. Give sustainable harvest options the opportunity to work in
rebuilding stock to 20% SPR so the SSB is large enough
to recover more easily from cold stun events.
B. Research on cold stun events
Cold Stun Recommendations
SST AC Recommendation (final)
A. Status quo with the assumption the director will intervene in
case of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in
terms of temporary closures by water body. The
proclamation needs to be an informed decision based on
quantifiable data and outcome needs to be quantified postclosure.
B. Research on cold stun events
DMF Recommendation
A. Give sustainable harvest options the opportunity to work in
rebuilding stock to 20% SPR so the SSB is large enough
to recover more easily from cold stun events.
B. Research on cold stun events
Cold Stun Recommendations
AC
RECOMMENDATION
VOTE
Southeast
• SST AC’s original recommendation, status quo,
Director’s proclamation authority
Central
• SST AC’s original recommendation, status quo,
Director’s proclamation authority, but to delete the
word “assumption”
6 in favor,
chair abstained
Northeast
• SST AC’s original recommendation, status quo,
Director’s proclamation authority
7 in favor,
chair abstained
Inland
• SST AC’s original recommendation, status quo,
Director’s proclamation authority
6 in favor
(unanimous)
Finfish
• SST AC’s original recommendation, status quo,
Director’s proclamation authority
7 in favor
(unanimous)
Habitat
• DMF’s recommendation to give sustainable harvest
options the opportunity to work
• More research on the habitat requirements of sst
7 in favor,
one opposed
9 in favor,
(unanimous)
Cold Stun Recommendations
SST AC
A
RECOMMENDATION
VOTE
• SST AC’s original recommendation, status quo,
Director’s proclamation authority
6 in favor,
1 opposed,
chair abstained
• SST AC’s final recommendation (same), status
quo, Director’s proclamation authority
consensus
• SST AC’s original recommendation, DMF research
7 in favor,
chair abstained
• SST AC’s final recommendation, research
6 in favor,
chair abstained
B
Cold Stun Recommendations
 Agreement A: SSTAC, Southeast, Central,
Northeast, Inland, Finfish
 Agreement A: DMF, Habitat
 Agreement B: Southeast, Central,
Northeast, Inland, Finfish
 Agreement B: SST AC, DMF, Habitat
Closing the Gig Fishery
December 1st –March 31st
Background
• Operates in areas where water is clear during
the cold winter months and fish are lethargic
Issue
• AC recommended a closure of the gig fishery
December 1 – March 31
Gig Fishery
AC Recommendation (original)
 No gigging from December 1 through March 31, annually
DMF Recommendation
 Status quo. DMF to continue to track contributions of gigs to
overall landings
Gig Fishery Recommendations
SST AC & DMF Recommendation (final)
 Status quo. DMF to continue to track contributions of gigs to
overall landings
Gig Fishery Recommendation
AC
Southeast
RECOMMENDATION
• SST AC’s original recommendation:
No gigging Dec 1st-March 31st
VOTE
4 in favor,
3 opposed,
1abstained
Central
• DMF’s recommendation: status quo
6 in favor,
chair abstained
Northeast
• DMF’S recommendation: status quo
7 in favor,
chair abstained
Inland
• DMF’s recommendation: status quo
6 in favor
(unanimous)
Finfish
• DMF’s recommendation: status quo
7 in favor
(unanimous)
• SST AC’s original recommendation:
No gigging Dec 1st-March 31st
4 in favor,
1 opposed,
3 abstained
• SST AC’s final recommendation:
DMF’S recommendation: status quo
4 in favor,
1 opposed,
2 abstained
SST AC
Gig Fishery Recommendations
SST AC & DMF Recommendation
 Agreement: SST AC, DMF, Central, Northeast,
Inland & Finfish
Research Recommendations
Habitat AC:
 Research to improve the juvenile index
 Research to relate habitat quality to spawning success
Preferred Management Options
Needed for the Following Issues:
• Achieving sustainable harvest (commercial & recreational)
• Enforcement of size, creel limit and gear regulations in
Joint, Coastal or Inland Fishing Waters
• Management measures to address user group competition
• Impacts of cold stun events on the population
• Closing gig fishery from December-March
Sustainable Harvest
DMF
SST AC
• ½ reduction
needed, 6 fish
bag, 14-inch
minimum size,
and weekend
closure for
commercial gears
(no possession
on weekends),
gear will need to
be removed on
weekends,
NovemberFebruary
• Same as
DMF
(commercial &
recreational)
• Western
Albemarle Sound
and Currituck
Sound exempt
from weekend
gear removal
SOUTHEAST CENTRAL NORTHEAST INLAND
• ½ reduction
needed, 10 fish
bag, 14-inch
minimum size,
and May• Promote the September
use of
closure
barbless
hooks
• Promote the use
of barbless hooks
• No use of gill
nets as RCGL
gear to
harvest
spotted
seatrout
• Commercial: • Commercial:
same as DMF ½ reduction
needed, 14-inch
• Recreational: minimum size
½ reduction
needed, 12• Recreational: ½
inch minimum reduction needed,
size,
5 fish bag, 14-inch
4 fish bag,
minimum size
May-June
closure
• ½ reduction
needed, 6
fish bag, 14inch
minimum
size, and
DecemberJanuary
closure for
commercial
gears
•Promote the
use of circle
hooks and
natural baits
Sustainable Harvest (cont)
DMF
• Regulations
need to be in
place for a
minimum of 3
years to assess
their
effectiveness.
The 5 year FMP
review schedule
needs to
be adhered to
SST AC
• The matter
should be
revisited
within 3 years
due to
problems with
the stock
assessment
model
SOUTHEAST CENTRAL NORTHEAST INLAND
-
-
-
-
Enforcement
DMF
SST AC
SOUTHEAST CENTRAL NORTHEAST
INLAND
• Development of
a mutual aid
agreement
between DMF &
WRC for inland
fishing waters
• Same as
DMF
• Same as DMF
• Endorsed SST
AC original
recommendation
for general police
authority
• Same as
DMF
• Same as
DMF
• Same as DMF
User Group Competition
DMF
SST AC
SOUTHEAST
CENTRAL
NORTHEAST
INLAND
• Move forward with
the mediation policy
process to resolve
conflict between
spotted seatrout
fishermen
• Same as DMF
• Same as DMF
• Same as DMF
• Same as DMF
• Same as DMF
Cold Stun (A)
DMF
• Give the
sustainable
harvest options
the opportunity
to work in
rebuilding the
stock to 20%
SPR
SST AC
• Status quo
with the
assumption
that the
Director will
intervene in
the event of a
catastrophic
event and do
what is
necessary in
terms of
temporary
closures by
water body, but
the Director’s
proclamation
needs to be an
informed
decision based
on quantifiable
data and the
outcome
needs to be
quantified post
the closure
SOUTHEAST CENTRAL NORTHEAST INLAND HABITAT
• Same as
SST AC
• Same as
SST AC
• Same as
SST AC
• Same as
SST AC
• Same as
DMF
Cold Stun (B)
DMF
SST AC
• More
extensive
research on
cold stun
events (DMF,
Universities,
etc)
• Same as
DMF
SOUTHEAST CENTRAL NORTHEAST INLAND HABITAT
• Same as
DMF
• Same as
DMF
• Same as
DMF
• Same as
DMF
• Same as
DMF
Gig Fishery
DMF
SST AC
SOUTHEAST CENTRAL NORTHEAST
• Status quo. DMF • Same as DMF • No gigging
to continue to track
December-March
contributions of gigs
to overall landings
• Same as DMF
• Same as DMF
INLAND
• Same as DMF