Draft for Secretarial Review

• Main Authors: Lead Agency, National Marine, Fisheries Service
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2000
• Subjects: Bering Sea; Tac; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.294.8852; http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/amds/66/bsai66earirirfa.pdf

Abstract: This EA/RIR/IRFA analyzes the impact of removing the allocation of 7.5 percent (%) of the squid total allowable catch (TAC) limit in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands area (BSAI) to the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The current Fishery Management Plan directs the National Marine Fisheries Service to annually allocate 7.5 % of all of the BSAI groundfish TAC species, except pollock and fixed gear sablefish, to the CDQ Program (pollock and fixed gear sablefish have different percentage allocations). The Council is concerned that the incidental catch of squid in the CDQ fisheries will prevent the CDQ groups from fully harvesting their pollock CDQ allocation. Pollock is the most valuable CDQ species, generating approximately $20 million annually for the CDQ groups. The Council voted at its June 1999 meeting to recommend removal of squid as a CDQ species as the preferred alternative. Comment Due Date: Public comment on this draft EA/RIR/IRFA will be accepted until the close of the public comment period on the FMP amendment and the proposed regulations. These comment periods will be announced by NMFS in Federal Register notices announcing availability of the FMP amendment and for the proposed rule. Contact NMFS for more