Transcript Document

Summer Flounder
Amendment
Review of Revised Draft Scoping Document
August 13, 2014
Washington, DC
Objectives
 Joint
Council/Board review of
revised draft scoping
document/Public Information
Document
 Approval
hearings
for public scoping
Council Motion – December 2013

I move that the Council, prioritize, pursuant
to its strategic plan, the development of an
amendment to the FMP for Summer
Flounder that will review and update the
goals and objectives of the plan and reexamine the fishery management strategies
for the commercial and recreational
fisheries.
– Nolan/McMurray (12/0/0); Motion carries
June Council Meeting

Council reviewed draft scoping
document
– Revisions suggested
– Plan for Council/Commission coordination

Following June meeting:
– Collaborated to revise draft document
Scoping



Scoping is an "Early and open process for
determining scope of issues to be addressed
and for identifying the significant issues
related to a proposed action“
Public input process to inform development
of range of alternatives
Written comment period, scoping hearings
Document
Commission: Public
Information Document
Council: scoping
document
Major Revisions Since June



Document follows Commission PID
format
Added background on management,
stock status, fisheries
Split potential amendment topics into
issues with public comment trigger
questions
Areas of Difference
 Public
comment instructions
 Slight
differences in Introduction
and Purpose
 Amendment
process and
timeline description
Amendment Development
 Fishery
(FMAT)
Management Action Team
–Council staff, Commission staff,
GARFO, NEFSC
 Working
groups
–Issue-specific
–Broader range of expertise
Timeline
December 2013
Council initiates amendment
April-June 2014
Draft action plan developed; Fishery
Management Action Team (FMAT)
formed
June 2014
August 2014
Fall 2014
Council’s Demersal Committee meets
to discuss scoping process
Council/Board review of draft
joint scoping document
Scoping hearings and public comment
period
Timeline (Continued)
Winter 2014/2015
Spring/Summer
2015
Fall 2015/ Winter
2016
Spring/Summer
2016
Council and Board identify priority
issues for inclusion in the amendment;
Issue-specific working groups established;
initial development of options
Continued development of options
(FMAT/working groups); meetings of the
FMAT, working groups, Council/Board,
Advisory Panel
Management Board/Council reviews FMAT
and working group recommendations for
options
Range of options refined and approved
Timeline (Continued)
Fall 2016
Winter 2016/
Spring 2017
DEIS finalized; Board/Council, selects
preferred options; public hearings
Management Board/Council considers public
comments; final action; rulemaking and
comment periods (5-7 months)
Amendment Purpose



1) Perform a comprehensive review of all
aspects of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and
Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) related to summer flounder
2) Update the FMP goals and objectives for
summer flounder management
3) Modify management strategies and
measures as necessary to achieve those
goals and objectives.
Potential Amendment Issues



List is not limiting – exists to solicit
public comment
Not all listed items will necessarily be
addressed in amendment
Priority issues for further development
to be identified by Council/Board after
scoping period
Issue 1: FMP Goals & Objectives
Current goals and objectives:
1.
Reduce fishing mortality in the summer flounder fishery to
assure that overfishing does not occur.
2.
Reduce fishing mortality on immature summer flounder to
increase spawning stock biomass.
3.
Improve the yield from the fishery.
4.
Promote compatible management regulations between
State and Federal jurisdictions.
5.
Promote uniform and effective enforcement of regulations.
6.
Minimize regulations to achieve the management objectives
stated above.
Issue 2: Commercial/Rec Allocation

Is current split appropriate?
–60% of Total Allowable Landings to
commercial fishery and 40% to
recreational fishery

If not, how should current allocations
be revised?
Issue 3: Commercial Management
Potentially including:

Commercial gear requirements

Minimum fish size requirements

Possession limit and trigger requirements

Time/area closures and exemption programs

Licensing

Commercial quota allocation strategies

Landings flexibility (regional, coastwide, other)
Issue 4: Recreational Management
Potentially including:

Recreational bag, size, season requirements

Gear requirements and restrictions



Inter-jurisdictional
management/Conservation Equivalency
Measures specific to party/charter or private
angler sectors
Recreational quota allocation strategies
Other Issues


Issue 5: Discards in the recreational
and commercial fisheries
“Other issues”
–Ecosystem, habitat, bycatch, and
protected resources issues
–Data collection requirements and
protocols
From Council and Board
 Move
forward
with document
for public
scoping process?
© Michael Eversmier
Questions?
© Michael Eversmier