pass. Principle 1 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Harvest strategies 1.2.2. Harvest control rules and tools There are well defined and precautionary harvest control rules in place SG60 SG80 SG100 Generally understood harvest control rules are in place that are consistent with the harvest strategy and which act to reduce the exploitation rate as limit reference points are approached. There is some evidence that tools used to implement harvest control rules are appropriate and effective in controlling exploitation. Well defined harvest control rules are in place that are consistent with the harvest strategy and ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. The selection of the harvest control rules takes into account the main uncertainties. Available evidence indicates that the tools in use are appropriate and effective in achieving the exploitation levels required under the harvest control rules. Well defined harvest control rules are in place that are consistent with the harvest strategy and ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced as limit reference points are approached. The design of the harvest control rules take into account a wide range of uncertainties. Evidence clearly shows that the tools in use are effective in achieving the exploitation levels required under the harvest control rules.
to be within biologically based limits or if outside the limits there are measures in place that are expected to ensure that the fishery does not hinder recovery and rebuilding of the depleted species. If the status is poorly known there are measures or practices in place that are expected to result in the fishery not causing the retained species to be outside biologically based limits or hindering recovery. highly likely to be within biologically based limits, or if outside the limits there is a partial strategy of demonstrably effective management measures in place such that the fishery does not hinder recovery and rebuilding. certainty that retained species are within biologically based limits. Target reference points are defined and retained species are at or fluctuating around their target reference points. Lobster traps are highly selective and few other species are known to be retained. Small fish can generally swim freely in and out of the traps, and very few are retained. There is, however, some bycatch of finfish and other invertebrates (e.g., snappers, grunts and crabs) that are on occasion retained in the wooden traps, but these are thought to be relatively minor. The fish are used for self-consumption during the fishing trips. Because of the high value of the lobster resource, fishers will primarily target lobster during the fishing season, and other species retained are incidental catch. Total removals of crabs (unknown species) are not quantified. Stakeholders, however, mentioned that each industrial vessel may catch and retain approximately 1,500 lbs of crabs per year, which are sold in the local market (SC 2010). There was no information available on the actual species retained or their status, but the lobster trap fishery is not likely to pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to the few species that are retained. Crab catches are believed to fall below the 5-10% of the target catch, therefore, it is highly likely that retained species are within biologically based limits, so this indicator receives a pass (green). Principle 2 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Retained species 2.1.2. Management Strategy There is a strategy in place for managing retained species that is designed to ensure the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to retained species. SG60 SG80 SG100
There are measures in place, if necessary, that are expected to maintain the main retained species at levels which are highly likely to be within biologically based limits, or to ensure the fishery does not hinder their recovery and rebuilding. The measures are considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/species). There is a partial strategy in place, if necessary that is expected to maintain the main retained species at levels which are highly likely to be within biologically based limits, or to ensure the fishery does not hinder their recovery and rebuilding. There is some objective basis for confidence that the partial strategy will work, based on some information directly about the fishery and/or species involved. There is some evidence that the partial strategy is being implemented successfully. There is a strategy in place for managing retained species. The strategy is mainly based on information directly about the fishery and/or species involved, and testing supports high confidence that the strategy will work. There is clear evidence that the strategy is being implemented successfully, and intended changes are occurring. There is some evidence that the strategy is achieving its overall objective. Since the fishery does not retain any main species and the amount retained is believed to be small, a management strategy is not deemed necessary and this PI can obtain a pass (green) level score. Principle 2 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Retained species 2.1.3. Information / monitoring Information on the nature and extent of retained species is adequate to determine the risk posed by the fishery and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage retained species. SG60 SG80 SG100 Qualitative information is available on the amount of main Qualitative information and some quantitative information Accurate and verifiable information is available on the
Bycatch 2.2.3. Information / monitoring Information on the nature and amount of bycatch is adequate to determine the risk posed by the fishery and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage bycatch. SG60 SG80 SG100 Qualitative information is available on the amount of main bycatch species affected by the fishery. Information is adequate to broadly understand outcome status with respect to biologically based limits. Information is adequate to support measures to manage bycatch. Qualitative information and some quantitative information are available on the amount of main bycatch species affected by the fishery. Information is sufficient to estimate outcome status with respect to biologically based limits. Information is adequate to support a partial strategy to manage main bycatch species. Sufficient data continue to be collected to detect any increase in risk to main bycatch species (e.g. due to changes in the outcome indicator scores or the operation of the fishery or the effectiveness of the strategy). Accurate and verifiable information is available on the amount of all bycatch and the consequences for the status of affected populations. Information is sufficient to quantitatively estimate outcome status with respect to biologically based limits with a high degree of certainty. Information is adequate to support a comprehensive strategy to manage bycatch, and evaluate with a high degree of certainty whether a strategy is achieving its objective. Monitoring of bycatch data is conducted in sufficient detail to assess ongoing mortalities to all bycatch species. Bycatch species composition and catch amounts are not currently monitored through the catch report form or the sales/purchase records, so only limited information has been collected from onboard observer programs. There was no data on bycatch to inform this assessment but it can be collected in catch reports and in future fisheries-dependent and independent surveys. If the management system requires it, monitoring of bycatch can be improved and must become an essential component of observer programs. Since the risk posed to bycatch species may be significant, but there is no information to understand the status or support measures to manage bycatch, this PI would fail.
Principle 2 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator ETP Species 2.3.2. Management Strategy The fishery has in place precautionary management strategies designed to: - meet national and international requirements; - ensure the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to ETP species; - ensure the fishery does not hinder recovery of ETP species; and - minimise mortality of ETP species. SG60 SG80 SG100 There are measures in place that minimise mortality, and are expected to be highly likely to achieve national and international requirements for the protection of ETP species. The measures are considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g. general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/species). There is a strategy in place for managing the fishery’s impact on ETP species, including measures to minimise mortality that is designed to be highly likely to achieve national and international requirements for the protection of ETP species. There is an objective basis for confidence that the strategy will work, based on some information directly about the fishery and/or the species involved. There is evidence that the strategy is being implemented successfully. There is a comprehensive strategy in place for managing the fishery’s impact on ETP species, including measures to minimise mortality that is designed to achieve above national and international requirements for the protection of ETP species. The strategy is mainly based on information directly about the fishery and/or species involved, and a quantitative analysis supports high confidence that the strategy will work. There is clear evidence that the strategy is being implemented successfully, and intended changes are occurring. There is evidence that the strategy is achieving its objective. International agreements and national laws and regulations applied in Honduras have prescriptions for the protection and conservation of ETP species. Furthermore, the lobster fishery in Honduras currently operates with regulated gear types that are known to have no impact on ETP species. Information to assess this PI was only available from stakeholder consultation. Therefore, a management strategy is not deemed necessary and the fishery meets the green (pass) scoring level.
Principle 2 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Ecosystem 2.5.2. Management Strategy There are measures in place to ensure the fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to ecosystem structure and function. SG60 SG80 SG100 There are measures in place, if necessary, that take into account potential impacts of the fishery on key elements of the ecosystem. The measures are considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/ ecosystems). There is a partial strategy in place, if necessary, that takes into account available information and is expected to restrain impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem so as to achieve the Ecosystem Outcome 80 level of performance. The partial strategy is considered likely to work, based on plausible argument (e.g., general experience, theory or comparison with similar fisheries/ ecosystems). There is some evidence that the measures comprising the partial strategy are being implemented successfully. There is a strategy that consists of a plan, containing measures to address all main impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem, and at least some of these measures are in place. The plan and measures are based on well-understood functional relationships between the fishery and the Components and elements of the ecosystem. This plan provides for development of a full strategy that restrains impacts on the ecosystem to ensure the fishery does not cause serious or irreversible harm. The measures are considered likely to work based on prior experience, plausible argument or information directly from the fishery/ecosystems involved. There is evidence that the measures are being implemented successfully.
Principle 3 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Fishery- specific management system 3.2.1. Fishery- specific objectives The fishery has clear, specific objectives designed to achieve the outcomes expressed by MSC’s Principles 1 and 2. SG60 SG80 SG100 Objectives, which are broadly consistent with achieving the outcomes expressed by MSC’s Principles 1 and 2, are implicit within the fishery’s management system. Short and long term objectives, which are consistent with achieving the outcomes expressed by MSC’s Principles 1 and 2, are explicit within the fishery’s management system. Well defined and measurable short and long term objectives, which are demonstrably consistent with achieving the outcomes expressed by MSC’s Principles 1 and 2, are explicit within the fishery’s management system. The “Regulations for the Regional Management of the Spiny Lobster Fishery” harmonize the minimum size limit, the number of traps per vessel, the length and time of the seasonal closure, the prohibition to harvest gravid females, and the size of the escape panel. The main general objective of this regional policy is to attain sustainable lobster fisheries in Central America. While clearly, the national policy in Honduras subscribes to this regional framework, there isn´t a management plan in place that lays out the short and long term objectives of the fishery. Although they are implicit in the management system, there are no clear specific objectives outlined for the lobster fishery, therefore this indicator receives a conditional pass (yellow). Principle 3 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Fishery- specific management system 3.2.2. processes The fishery-specific management system includes effective decision-making processes that result in measures and strategies to achieve the objectives. SG60 SG80 SG100 There are informal processes that result in measures and strategies to achieve the fishery-specific There are established processes that result in measures and strategies to achieve the fishery-specific There are established processes that result in measures and strategies to achieve the fishery-specific making
Principle 3 Component Performance Indicator Category Draft Performance Indicator Fishery- specific management system 3.2.3. Compliance and enforcement Monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms ensure the fishery’s management measures are enforced and complied with. SG60 SG80 SG100 Monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms exist, are implemented in the fishery under assessment and there is a reasonable expectation that they are effective. Sanctions to deal with exist and there is some evidence that they are applied. Fishers are generally thought to comply with the management system for the fishery under assessment, including, when required, providing information of importance to the effective management of the fishery. A monitoring, control and surveillance system has been implemented in the fishery under assessment and has demonstrated an ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules. Sanctions to deal with exist, are consistently applied and thought to provide effective deterrence. Some evidence exists to demonstrate fishers comply with the management system under assessment, including, when required, providing information of importance to the effective management of the fishery. There is no evidence of systematic non-compliance. A comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance system has been implemented in the fishery under assessment and has demonstrated a consistent ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules. Sanctions to deal with exist, are consistently applied and demonstrably provide effective deterrence. There is a high degree of confidence that fishers comply with the management system under assessment, including, providing information of importance to the effective management of the fishery. There is no evidence of systematic non-compliance.
Wendy Noira Technical staff, Roatan Marine Park (NGO) Roatan, Honduras Victor Cordoba Fisherman Sambo Creek, Honduras Lenin Alfaro and Daisy Barahona GIS Staff, Control and Satellital Monitoring Unit, DIGEPESCA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Luis Morales Legal Department, DIGEPESCA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Eloísa Espinoza Research and Technology Unit, DIGEPESCA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Gabriela Pineda Director, DIGEPESCA Tegucigalpa, Honduras David Lobo Statistical Unit, DIGEPESCA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Renaldi Barnutti Research Fisheries Unit, INPESCA Managua, Nicaragua Rodolfo Sánchez Director INPESCA Managua, Nicaragua Orlando Calero Monitoring and Control Coordinator, INPESCA Managua, Nicaragua Manuel Pérez OSPESCA San Salvador, El Salvador Jorge López OSPESCA San Salvador, El Salvador Sergio Martínez MAREA – USAID Project, former FIINPESCA Coordinator San Salvador, El Salvador Mauro Góngora Fisheries Department Belize City, Belize Robert Usher Northern Fishing Cooperative Belize City, Belize Pedro Alvarez National Fishing Cooperative Belize City, Belize Adriel Castañeda Fisheries Department Belize City, Belize Mandy Góngora and other fishermen Artisanal Fishermen Belize City, Belize