Update on Federal Shrimp Fishery Management in the Southeast Southeast Region David Bernhart NOAA Fisheries American Shrimp Processors Association Meeting Biloxi, MS April 7, 2017
Outline SERO Stock Status Gulf Council Actions Moratorium Minimum Permit Threshold Optimum and Maximum Sustainable Yields ESA Biological Opinion Background TED Compliance Policy Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Stock Status SERO Assessments completed this winter, based on data through 2015. Brown, white, and pink shrimp stock are all healthy Biomass well above overfished thresholds Fishing mortality rates well below overfishing thresholds.
Gulf Shrimp Catch and Effort Total Landings and Effort Landings Effort CPUE 300,000 1400 Effort (24 hours days fished) Landings (lbs x 1,000) 1000 200,000 800 150,000 600 100,000 400 50,000 0 1980 200 1985 1990 1995 2000 Year 2005 2010 2015 0 2020 CPUE (lbs per 24 hr days fished) 1200 250,000
Moratorium: Number of Federal Permits 2007: 1,933 2016: 1,440 Number of Federal Permits 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Moratorium: Council Actions Amendment 17A - Council approved 10-year extension of perrmits moratorium until October 2026 SERO Amendment 17B Council final action at April meeting Aggregate MSY/OY Minimum permit threshold 1,072 permits Reserve pool with review panel at 1,175 permits to evaluate threshold and determine details of pool Transit through federal waters
Minimum Permit Threshold SERO Factors considered: 1. Maintain high landings 2. Maintain high CPUE 3. Maintain effort below sea turtle bycatch threshold 4. Maintain effort below red snapper bycatch threshold Time to 1,072 permits threshold estimated at 24 years based on current rate of terminations (15/year)
The 2012 and 2014 Shrimp Biological Opinions NMFS must analyze the effects of permitted activities on listed species. Biological Opinions are the analytical documents. Biological opinions include estimates of the impacts on the species affected and mandatory conditions to monitor and minimize the impacts. The most recent biological opinions on the Southeast Shrimp Fisheries were issued in 2012 and 2014. The 2012 opinion included the proposed changes to the sea turtle conservation regulations that would have required TEDs in skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets. The 2014 opinion addressed our decision to withdraw that proposed rule and conduct additional testing.
The 2012 and 2014 Shrimp Biological Opinions The 2012 opinion established new ways of monitoring: Direct estimation of turtle impacts with observers considered both impracticable and cost-prohibitive. Alternative impacts monitoring focuses on: Total effort in the shrimp fishery TED compliance rates and overall TED effectiveness Take of sea turtles is considered exceeded and effects on sea turtles are considered greater than analyzed/authorized if: 2009 and/or 2010 effort levels are exceeded (132,900 days fished in the Gulf of Mexico and 14,560 trips in the South Atlantic) Compliance levels are expected to result in TEDs in the fleet having a greater than 12% sea turtle capture rate average.
Turtle Excluder Device Compliance Policy Why a policy? Monitor compliance with TED requirements Set consistent approach and standards Status Final policy completed in September 2016 Draft policies were posted online and coordinated with State and Federal law enforcement Contents of policy Compliance threshold Data collection Sampling periods Closure
Monthly TED Compliance Rates Monthly Compliance Rate 88% Effectiveness Threshold TED Effectiveness Rate 100% 84% Closure Threshold 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Jun-15 Aug-15 Oct-15 Dec-15
Monthly TED Compliance Rates 2016 data is currently being calculated. The delay is related to: Switch from individual vessel to individual net data assessment Online database creation with real-time data and custom query functionality We anticipate 2016 TED compliance data availability by mid-april and a beta version of the online database by June 1
Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking Why a rule? Concern over extent of bycatch of sea turtles, many of them small sea turtles that could pass through standard 4-inch TED bar spacing, in non-otter trawl fisheries Concern over effectiveness of current tow time requirements to address sea turtle bycatch mortality in non-otter trawl fisheries
Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking On March 15, 2016, we announced our intent to prepare a DEIS Five scoping meetings held in April 2016 to solicit public comment DEIS and proposed rule published on December 16, 2016
Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking The proposed rule would require all skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets (excluding the Biscayne Bay, Florida wing net fishery) to fish with TEDs designed to exclude small turtles in their nets top-opening TEDs with deflector bar spacing no more than 3 inches We anticipated this action would affect 5,837 vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic
Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking Six public hearings on the proposed rule were held in January 2017 The public comment period on the DEIS and proposed rule ended on January 30 and February 14, respectively
Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking We received approximately 38,500 comments encompassed in 1,200 submissions during the comment periods We are currently evaluating public comment and submitted information and considering how to proceed
Skimmer Trawl Rulemaking Primary concerns included in public comments: TED costs and loss of catch Impacts on small vessels, including safety Data issues, including applicability to wing nets and pusher-head trawls Sufficiency of existing tow times Timeline For more information: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/sea_turtle_protection_and_shrimp_fisheries/
Southeast Region Questions? David Bernhart Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Region David.Bernhart@noaa.gov (727) 824-5312