Issuu

AccountabilityMeasuresAMsfor PelagicStocksundertheIsland-based

FisheryManagementPlans

DraftOptionsPaper

MaríaLópez-Mercer,NMFSSERO

189thCFMCMeeting

St.Croix,USVirginIslands

April2122,2026

RecapfromAugust2025 CFMCMeeting

AMTriggersand CorrectiveActions

● ComparedpelagicAMswith reeffishAMs.

● AMcorrectiveactionsare undefinedwhenanannual catchtargetACT)orannual catchlimitACL)isexceeded.

● ReviewedMagnuson-Stevens ActrequirementsforACLs andAMs.

● DiscussedreplacingtheACT withtheACLasthepelagic AMtrigger.

NewMeasures& PotentialOptions

• Discussedhownew dolphin/wahoosize limitsmighthelp maintainharvestbelow ACT/ACL.

• Exploredadjusting triggersandcorrective actions,suchas seasonalclosuresand sizelimitchanges.

Challenges& PotentialApproach

• DiscussedAMcorrective actionchallengesdueto seasonalityandlowACLs.

• Exploredhowthematrix processcouldimprove federalmanagementand ACLdata.

• AgreedthatAMsmustbe biologicallyappropriatefor eachspecies.

RecapfromDecember2025 CFMCMeeting

Discussion

● Presentedpreliminaryoptionsfor 2actions

1 Triggermodification

a)ReplaceACTwithACLasthe trigger

b)ConsiderBSIAtodetermineif correctiveactionisneeded.

2 AMCorrectiveAction:e.g., Seasonalclosures;triplimits, baglimits,sizelimits,other

● Flexibilityofmanagementtools, datavalidity,andcatchlimit impact.

● IncreasefocusonAMtrigger

● Effectsofdifferentcorrective actions.

NextSteps

● Includeadetailed comparisonofalloptions.

● Reviewthespeciesmatrix todetermineifcertain speciesshouldbe removedfromfederal managementormanaged differently.

● RefineOptions

CurrentAccountabilityMeasuresApplicabletoPelagic Stocks(allislands,allsectors)

TheAMwouldbetriggerediftheapplicablelandings(e.g.,sectorlandings, asavailable)exceedtheapplicableACTforthatstock/stockcomplex.If NMFSestimatesthatlandingshaveexceededtheapplicableACTforastock orstockcomplex,NMFSinconsultationwiththeCouncilwilldetermine appropriatecorrectiveaction.

• ForPuertoRico-whenlandingsforonesectorarenotavailable forcomparisontothatsector'sACLandACT,theACLandACT forthesectorwithavailablelandingsaretheACLandACTfor thestockorstockcomplex.

CurrentAnnualCatchMonitoringProcess

(allislands,allsectors)

Step1. Assoonaslandingsareavailableeachyear,SoutheastRegionalOffice SERO)staffcompareseachpelagicstock/stockcomplex'slandingstothe applicableACT.

➔ Iflandings<ACT,thennofurtheractionisrequired.

➔ Iflandings>ACT,thenNMFSnotifiestheCounciloftheoverage.

Step2. AlthoughnotrequiredbytheAM,SEROstaffsendsasummarymemo listingthosepelagicstockswithACT/ACLoveragestotheSoutheastFisheries ScienceCenterSEFSC)forreview.

Step3. NMFSandtheCouncildiscussanddetermineappropriatecorrective action.

WhyistheCouncilProposingtoModifyPelagicAMs

● MultiplepelagicspeciesexceededACTandACLlimitswithinthefirst threeyearsoffederalmanagement,triggeringtheneedforNMFSand theCounciltodiscussanddetermineappropriatecorrectiveactions.

● CurrentregulationsdonotspecifyAMcorrectiveactionsandthe existingrequirementforNMFSCouncilconsultationpreventstimely implementationofcorrectivemeasures.

● Delaysinlandingsdatapreventin-seasonresponsestoACToverages, necessitatingareviewofwhethertheACTremainsaneffective managementbuffer.

ModifyingPelagicAMs

Goal:Duetotheirpelagicnature,developatriggerthatadequatelyaccountsfor expectedvariabilityincatchrates,andtoexploreactionsthatwouldeffectively correctACLoverages.

● ProposedAction1ModifytheAMtriggertoprovidegreaterconfidencethatcorrective actionisrequired.

● ProposedAction2Defineoneormorecorrectiveactionsthatcouldbeimplementedto confidentlyconstraincatchesinthoseinstanceswhereACLsforpelagicspeciesare exceededandcorrectiveactionisneeded.

ModifyingPelagicAMs

Goal:Duetotheirpelagicnature,developatriggerthatadequatelyaccountsfor expectedvariabilityincatchrates,andtoexploreactionsthatwouldeffectively correctACLoverages.

Specificcorrectiveactionsshouldmeetthefollowingcriteria:

● Minimizesocio-economicimpactsonbothcommercialandrecreationalfishersas muchaspossible.

● Effectivelyconstraincatchtopreventfutureexceedances

● Measuresshouldbeenforceableusingcurrentlyavailableresourcesandnot administrativelyburdensomeorcomplextoensureeffectiveregulatory implementation.

ProposedAction1ModifytheAMtrigger

Option1Noaction):RetainCurrentAMtrigger: Evaluatelandingsrelativetothe applicableACTbasedonamovingmulti-yearaverageoflandings,asdescribedinthe FMP. IfNMFSestimatesthatlandingshaveexceededtheapplicableACT,NMFSin consultationwiththeCouncilwilldetermineappropriatecorrectiveaction.

Option2EvaluatelandingsrelativetotheapplicableACLbasedonamovingthree-year averageoflandings. Ifaveragelandings,asestimatedbyNMFS,exceedtheACL,apply theAM.

Option3EvaluatelandingsrelativetotheapplicableACLbasedonamovingthree-year averageoflandings.Ifaveragelandings,asestimatedbyNMFS,exceedtheACL,NMFS willconsiderlandingstrendsandanyotherbestscientificinformationavailableBSIA)in determiningifcorrectiveactionisnecessarytopreventanotheroverage.

SummaryofPotentialOptionsforAction1

1.NoAction

AnnualCatchTarget ACT

2.Evaluatelandings againstACL

NMFSreview)

3.Evaluatelandings againstACL

NMFSreview)

AnnualCatchLimitACL

Noadministrative changes;Flexibilityfor case-specificcorrective actions

MonitoringbasedonACL

MonitoringbasedonACT (notACL)isineffective; Delayedimplementation ofcorrectiveactions.

Increasedlikelihoodof mandatorycorrective actionduetolackoftrend evaluation;Administrative changesneeded.

AnnualCatchLimitACL

MonitoringbasedonACL; Flexibilitytoconsider additionaldatabefore triggeringaction; Flexibilityfor case-specificcorrective actions.

Administrativechanges needed;Delayed implementationofneeded correctiveactions.

ProposedAction2SpecifyAMCorrectiveAction

Optioncouldbeselectedforallspeciesorvarybyspecies.

Option1Noaction):RetainthecurrentAM,whichdoesnotspecifyacorrectiveaction.

Option2SeasonalClosure):IntheyearfollowingadeterminationthattheACLhasbeen exceededandcorrectiveactionisnecessary,reducethefishingseasonforallsectorsby theamountnecessarytoconstraincatchtotheACL. Anyfishingseasonreductions wouldapplyonlyduringtheyearfollowinganACLoverage.

Sub-optionsFixedStartDate/VariableDuration):Implementaclosureofvariable lengthbasedontheoverageamount,startingonafixeddate(e.g.endonDec31,end onSep30,startonJan1.

ProposedAction2SpecifyAMCorrectiveAction

Option3BagLimitsandTripLimits):Adjustorestablishrecreationaldailybaglimitsand implementcommercialtriplimitsDolphin/WahooinPRand/orUSVI;allotherspeciesinPR toconstraincatchtotheACLfollowingadetermination.Anymeasureswouldapplyonly duringtheyearfollowinganACLoverage.

Sub-option3a:Modifyrecreationalbaglimitsandimplementcommercialtriplimitsfor Dolphinand/orWahoo(applicabletoPRandUSVI.

Sub-option3b:Implementrecreationalbaglimitsandcommercialtriplimitsforother pelagicspeciesmanagedunderthePuertoRicoFMP.

ProposedAction2SpecifyAMCorrectiveAction

Option4SizeLimits): Adjustexistingsizelimitsorimplementnewonestoconstraincatch totheACLfortheyearfollowingadetermination.Anyadjusted/implementedsizelimitwould applyonlyduringtheyearfollowinganACLoverage.

Sub-option4a:Modifysizelimitsfordolphinand/orwahoo(forPRandUSVI.

Sub-option4b:Implementsizelimitsforthepelagicspeciesthatdonotcurrentlyhave one(i.e.,greatbarracuda,blackfintuna,littletunny,kingmackerel,ceromackerel,tripletail) PuertoRicoonly).

SummaryofCorrectiveActionOptionsforAction2

Criteria

StockProtection

High(stopsall mortality)

Data&Monitoring

Nonerequired

Socio-economic

Impact

Enforcement

Lowerimpact(canbe plannedaround)

High(easyat-sea possessioncheck)

Low(limitsharvest, increasesdiscards)

High(requiresrobust catchestimation)

Highimpacts(affects year-roundvalue)

Low(difficult dockside/at-sea check)

Low(slowsharvest only)

High(requires real-timedata)

Mayaffectmarket orders

Low(onlyreduces undersizedcatch)

High(requiresongoing lengthmonitoring)

Shorttermloss,long termgain

Low(difficult, requiresportagents) Requiresdockside intercepts

NextSteps

● Discussiononoptionspresented

● ConsiderongoingprocessessuchasMatrix(stock evaluation)andnewmanagementmeasuresfordolphin andwahoofordecidingwhentofurtherdevelopthe action.

● Ifmovingforward,IPTtodevelopandraft amendment/publichearingdrafttotheFMPsfor Aug/Dec2026meetings.