Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

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Purpose and Need

• June 2008 U.S.V.I. Regulations• 50,000 lb Quota in STX, 50,000 lb Quota in STT/STJ • Trip/Bag Limit• Closed Season

• St. Croix Quota Closure – May 1, 2009

• Federal Regulations• Lang Bank Open October 1 – June 30

• Compatible Regulations

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Background

• Queen Conch FMP• Queen Conch Amendment 1

• Prohibit commercial and recreational harvest, possession of queen conch in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean, with the exception of Lang Bank

• Queen Conch Amendment 2 • Comprehensive ACL Amendment

(Under Development)

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Queen Conch, Strombus gigas

Photo courtesy of: NOAA Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division

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Lang Bank is defined as the area east of 64°34’W bound within the 100 fathom curve.

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Reported Landings

Reported landings of queen conch (lbs). Source: SEFSC.

Year St. Croix

St. Thomas/ St. John

Total U.S.V.I. % St. Croix

% St. Thomas/ St. John

2000 76,999 1,083 78,082 98.6% 1.4%2001 113,444 1,847 115,291 98.4% 1.6%2002 116,492 2,172 118,664 98.2% 1.8%2003 108,174 3,339 111,513 97.0% 3.0%2004 125,258 1,022 126,280 99.2% 0.8%2005 161,452 429 161,881 99.7% 0.3%2006 221,966 3,989 225,955 98.2% 1.8%2007 76,086 1,124 77,210 98.5% 1.5%Average 124,984 1,876 126,859 98.5% 1.5%

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Action 1: Compatible Regulations

• Alternative 1: No Action. Do not establish compatible regulations with U.S. Virgin Islands

• Alternative 2: Establish compatible regulations with U.S. Virgin Islands

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Current Federal Regulations

• Fishing for or possession of queen conch in the EEZ is prohibited, with the exception of Lang Bank, St. Croix, USVI (east of 64°34’W), which is open for harvest during October 1 through June 30

• Size Limit: nine (9) inches total length or 3/8 inch lip thickness measured at the thickest point of the lip

• Trip/Bag Limit: • Commercial: 150 conch per person per day• Recreational: 3 queen conch per day, not to exceed 12 per boat per day

• All queen conch must be landed still attached to the shell.

• Harvest of queen conch at Lang Bank east of St. Croix, USVI, using HOOKAH gear is prohibited.

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Proposed Changes

• Compatible Closure when Territorial Quota is Met

• Closed Season:• July 1 through September 30 June 1 through October 31

• Trip/Bag Limit:• Commercial: 150 per person per day 200 per boat per day• Recreational: 3 per person per day (no more than 12 per boat)

6 per person per day (no more than 24 per boat)

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Action 2: Framework Procedures

Alternative 1: No Action. Do not establish framework measures for Queen Conch FMP

 

Alternative 2: Establish framework procedures for the Queen Conch FMP to provide the Council with a mechanism to independently adjust the following management measures through framework action.

Alternative 3: Establish framework procedures for the Queen Conch FMP to provide the Council with a mechanism to independently adjust a subset of management measures outlined in Alternative 2.

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Quota Requirements

Seasonal Closures

Area Closures

Trip/Bag Limit

Size Limits

Fishing Year

Gear Restrictions or Prohibitions

Implemented and/or Modified through Regulatory Framework Action (Alt 2)

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Permitting Restrictions

Timeframe for Recovery of Overfished Species

Rebuilding Plans

Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Annual Catch Limits (ACLs)

Accountability Measures (AMs)

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

Implemented and/or Modified through Regulatory Framework Action (Alt 2)

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Optimum Yield (OY)

Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST)

Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold (MFMT)

Overfishing Limit (OFL)

Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)

Implemented and/or Modified through Regulatory Framework Action (Alt 2)

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Framework Procedure Steps

1. Recommendations for change are made to the Council (AP, SSC, others)

2. Council holds public hearings to discuss the recommending group’s report

3. Council may convene SSC for advice prior to final action

4. Council advise NMFS of proposed changes in writing of their recommendations accompanied by the group’s report (where appropriate), relevant background material, draft regulations, Regulatory Impact Review, and public comments.

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6. RA reviews Council’s recommendations— If the RA concurs that the recommendations are consistent

with the goals and objectives of the FMP, the national standards and other applicable laws, the RA will recommend that the Secretary publish proposed and final rules in the Federal Register of any changes.

— If the RA rejects the recommendations, he will provide written reasons to the Council for the rejection, and existing regulations will remain in effect until the issue is resolved.

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Implementing Quota Closures

• Authority is granted to the RA to close any fishery once a quota has been filled.

• When such action is necessary, the RA will recommend that the Secretary publish a notice in the Federal Register as soon as possible.

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Questions?

Photo courtesy of: Caribbean Fishery Management Council