Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

National Standard 10 states that conservation and management measures shall, to the extentpracticable, promote the safety of human life at sea.The measures in this FEP are consistent with National Standard 10 because they do not requireor promote any changes to current fishing practices or increase risks to fishery participants.8.3 Essential Fish HabitatNone of the measures in this FEP are expected to cause adverse impacts to EFH or HAPC forspecies managed under the Fishery Ecosystem Plans for Pacific Pelagics, the American SamoaArchipelago, the Hawaii Archipelago, the Mariana Archipelago, or the Pacific Remote IslandAreas (Table 39). Implementation of the FEPs is not expected to significantly affect the fishingoperations or catches of any fisheries, rather it would replace the FMPs with geographicallydefined ecosystem plans containing identical fishery regulations. Furthermore, the FEPs are notlikely to lead to substantial physical, chemical, or biological alterations to the oceanic and coastalhabitat, or result in any alteration to waters and substrate necessary for spawning, breeding,feeding, and growth of harvested species or their prey.The predominant fishing gear types (hook-and-line, troll, traps) used in the western Pacificfisheries included in this FEP cause few fishing-related impacts to the benthic habitat ofbottomfish, crustaceans, coral reefs, and precious corals. The current management regimeprotects habitat through prohibitions on the use of bottom-set nets, bottom trawls, explosives,and poisons. None of the measures in the FEP will result in a change in fishing gear or strategy,therefore, EFH and HAPC maintain the same level of protection.Table 39: EFH and HAPC for MUS of the Western Pacific RegionAll areas are bounded by the shoreline, and the seaward boundary of the EEZ, unless otherwiseindicated.MUSEFH(Juveniles and Adults)EFH(Eggs and Larvae)HAPCPelagicWater column down to1,000 mWater column downto 200 mWater column down to1,000 m that lies aboveseamounts and banksBottomfishWater column and bottomhabitat down to 400 mWater column downto 400 mAll escarpments andslopes between 40–280m and three knownareas of juvenileopakapaka habitatSeamountGroundfishWater column and bottomfrom 80 to 600 m, boundedby 29° E–35° E N and 171E E –179° E W (adultsonly)Epipelagic zone (0–200 nm) bounded by29° E–35° E N and171° E E -179° E W(includes juveniles)Not identified227