This Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP), developed by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council as an FMP in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other national legislation and standards (including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act), concerns ecosystem approaches to fishery management in the Hawaiian Archipelago. In general, the Council is moving towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management and is restructuring its management framework from species-based FMPs to place-based FEPs. This approach covers a range of issues including biological and trophic relationships, ecosystem indicators and models, and the ecological effects of non-fishing activities on the marine environment. The FEP establishes the framework under which the Council will manage fishery resources, and begin the integration and implementation of ecosystem approaches to management in the Hawaii Archipelago. It does not establish any new fishery management regulations at this time, but rather consolidates existing fishery regulations for demersal species. Specifically, the FEP identifies as management unit species those current management unit species known to be present in waters around the Hawaii Archipelago and incorporates all of the management provisions of the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish FMP, the Crustaceans FMP, the Precious Corals FMP, and the Coral Reef Ecosystems FMP that are applicable to the area. The overall goal of the FEP is to establish a framework under which the Council will improve its abilities to realize the goals of the MSA through the incorporation of ecosystem science and principles. To achieve this goal, the Council has adopted the following ten objectives, which include, amongst others: To maintain biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems and foster the long-term sustainable use of marine resources in an ecologically and culturally sensitive manner through the use of a science-based ecosystem approach to resource management; to provide flexible and adaptive management systems that can rapidly address new scientific information and changes in environmental conditions or human use patterns; to encourage and provide for the sustained and substantive participation of local communities in the exploration, development, conservation, and management of marine resources; to minimize fishery bycatch and waste to the extent practicable; to manage and co-manage protected species, protected habitats, and protected areas. Management unit species (MUS) are those species that are managed under each FEP (formerly under the FMPs). The primary impact of inclusion of species in an MUS list is that the species (i.e., the fishery targeting that species) can be directly managed. Under the adaptive approach that utilizes the best available scientific information, the Council, in coordination with NMFS, will continue to develop and refine estimates or proxies of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for managed species when sufficient data are available. Topics in ecosystem approaches to management include, among others: precautionary approach, adaptive management, ecological effects of fishing and non-fishing activities, ocean zoning, community-based management, and community participation and development. Management measures concern, among other things, gear restrictions, bycatch, at-sea observer coverage, closed seasons and areas, quotas, protection of coral reef and marine protected areas, seal protective measures, protection of non-ESA species, designation of habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs), overfishing criteria, permit and reporting requirements and an indigenous program.
United States of America · 2009-09-24