Modifying The Bajo Modifying The Bajo de Sico Seasonal de Sico Seasonal

ClosureClosure Comparison of Management Comparison of Management

AlternativesAlternatives

Britni TokotchNOAA Fisheries ServiceSoutheast Regional Office

Action 1: Extend the Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Closed Season for Bajo de

Sico Sico Alternative 1:Alternative 1: No Action - do not No Action - do not

extend the seasonal closure of Bajo extend the seasonal closure of Bajo de Sico.de Sico.

Alternative 2:Alternative 2: Establish a 6 month closure Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – March 31 of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – March 31 in order to provide better protection for in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat.and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. Option a:Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including Prohibit fishing for all species, including

HMS HMS Option b:Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all Prohibit fishing for and possession of all

species, including HMSspecies, including HMS Option c:Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed Prohibit fishing for council managed

species species Option d:Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of Prohibit fishing for and possession of

council managed species council managed species

Action 1: Extend the Closed Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico Season for Bajo de Sico

Alternative 3:Alternative 3: Establish a 6 month closure Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from December 1 – May 31 of Bajo de Sico from December 1 – May 31 in order to provide better protection for in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. Option a:Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including Prohibit fishing for all species, including

HMS HMS Option b:Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all Prohibit fishing for and possession of all

species, including HMSspecies, including HMS Option c:Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed Prohibit fishing for council managed

species species Option d:Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of Prohibit fishing for and possession of

council managed species council managed species

Action 1: Extend the Closed Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico Season for Bajo de Sico

Alternative 4:Alternative 4: Extend closure of Bajo de Sico Extend closure of Bajo de Sico to 12 months in order to provide full to 12 months in order to provide full protection for spawning aggregations of large protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat. habitat. Option a:Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including Prohibit fishing for all species, including

HMSHMS Option b:Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all Prohibit fishing for and possession of all

species, including HMSspecies, including HMS Option c:Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species Prohibit fishing for council managed species Option d:Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of Prohibit fishing for and possession of

council managed species council managed species

Action 1: Extend the Closed Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico Season for Bajo de Sico

Action 1: Extend the Closed Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de SicoSeason for Bajo de Sico

Dec-Dec-FebFebNo No ActionAction

Oct-Oct-MarMar

Dec-Dec-MayMay

Jan-DecJan-Dec

No FISHING No FISHING ALLALL sp + sp + HMSHMS

Alt. 1Alt. 1(Status (Status quo)quo)

Alt. 2aAlt. 2a Alt. 3aAlt. 3a Alt. 4aAlt. 4a

No FISHING No FISHING No No PossessionPossessionALLALL sp + sp + HMSHMS

Alt. 2bAlt. 2b Alt. 3bAlt. 3b Alt. 4bAlt. 4bMost Most restrictiverestrictive

No Fishing No Fishing FMP sp.FMP sp.

Alt. 2cAlt. 2c Alt. 3cAlt. 3c Alt. 4cAlt. 4c

No Fishing No Fishing No No Possession Possession FMP sp.FMP sp.

Alt. 2dAlt. 2d Alt. 3dAlt. 3d Alt. 4dAlt. 4d

Action 2: Prohibit Action 2: Prohibit Anchoring by Fishing Anchoring by Fishing

Vessels.Vessels. Alternative 1:Alternative 1: No Action - do not No Action - do not

prohibit anchoring by fishing vessels.prohibit anchoring by fishing vessels. Alternative 2:Alternative 2: Prohibit anchoring for Prohibit anchoring for

6 months. The 6-month closure will 6 months. The 6-month closure will coincide with the closure period coincide with the closure period chosen in Action 1.chosen in Action 1.

Alternative 3:Alternative 3: Prohibit anchoring Prohibit anchoring year-round.year-round.

Questions?

Alt 1: December 1 through Alt 1: December 1 through End of FebruaryEnd of February

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef FishReef Fish HMSHMS Spiny LobsterSpiny Lobster Other SpeciesOther Species Bottom-Tending GearBottom-Tending Gear TrollingTrolling Other GearOther Gear

Permitted:Permitted: Transit with Fish on Transit with Fish on

BoardBoard

Alt 2: October 1 through Alt 2: October 1 through March 31March 31

Option a:Option a: ProhibitedProhibited: Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, : Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species,

Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other GearBottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear Permitted:Permitted: Transit with Fish on Board Transit with Fish on Board

Option b:Option b: Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species,

Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear, Transit with Fish on Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear, Transit with Fish on BoardBoard

Permitted:Permitted: None None Option c:Option c:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear Permitted:Permitted: HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear, HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear,

Transit with Fish on BoardTransit with Fish on Board Option d:Option d:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear, Transit Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear, Transit with Fish on Boardwith Fish on Board

Permitted:Permitted: HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear

Alt 3: December 1 through Alt 3: December 1 through May 31May 31

Option a:Option a: Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species,

Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other GearBottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear Permitted:Permitted: Transit Transit

Option b:Option b: Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species,

Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear, TransitBottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear, Transit Permitted:Permitted: None None

Option c:Option c: Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear Permitted:Permitted: HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear, HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear,

TransitTransit Option d:Option d:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear, Transit Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear, Transit Permitted:Permitted: HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear

Alt 4: Year-RoundAlt 4: Year-Round Option a:Option a:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other GearBottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear

Permitted:Permitted: Transit Transit Option b:Option b:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Reef Fish, HMS, Spiny Lobster, Other Species, Bottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear, TransitBottom Gear, Trolling, Other Gear, Transit

Permitted:Permitted: None None Option c:Option c:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear Permitted:Permitted: HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear, HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear,

TransitTransit Option d:Option d:

Prohibited:Prohibited: Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear, Transit Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Bottom Gear, Transit Permitted:Permitted: HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear HMS, Other Species, Trolling, Other Gear