FINAL OCULINA EVALUATION TEAM REPORT, OCULINA EXPERIMENTAL CLOSED AREA (OECA).

Authors

John K. Reed, Florida Atlantic University
Christopher C. Koenig, Florida State University
R. G. Gilmore, Estuarine, Coastal, & Ocean Science, Inc
M. Miller, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Andrew N. Shepard, NOAA Undersea Research Center/ UNC-W
C. Werner, UNC Chapel Hill Department of Marine Sciences

Author Type

Faculty

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The Council established the Oculina Evaluation Team (OET) as part of its Evaluation Plan for the Oculina Experimental Closed Area (OECA). The team -- comprising law enforcement representatives, research scientists, resource managers, commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, outreach experts, and non-governmental organization representatives -- was charged with reviewing and providing recommendations for the ongoing research and monitoring, outreach, and law enforcement components of the Evaluation Plan. These recommendations will assist the Council in completing a required 3-year size and configuration evaluation and a 10-year complete evaluation of the OECA. The OET convened for the first time August 21-23, 2006 in Port Canaveral, Florida to address the following topics and questions: (1) What has been accomplished so far on research and monitoring, information and education projects, and law enforcement strategies and timelines? (2) What has been the effectiveness of research and monitoring, outreach, and law enforcement efforts and how do these need to be improved before the Council’s deadline to make a decision on whether or not to continue the regulations in their 10-year review (2014)? (3) Review and evaluate the current size and configuration of the OECA and provide recommendations to the Council. (4) Provide recommendations to assist the Council in their 10-year evaluation of research and monitoring, law enforcement and outreach efforts supporting fishing regulations. The OECA review is scheduled for 2014.

Publication Date

2007

Comments

Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 1699.

Recommended Citation

This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available and may be cited as: Reed, J., Koenig, C., Gilmore, G., Miller, M., Shepard, A., Werner, C., . . . Raine, K. A. (2007). Final Oculina evaluation team report, Oculina Experimental Closed Area (OECA). Charleston, SC: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.