Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Reauthorization September 2020
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FINAL Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed Amendment 111 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Alaska Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Reauthorization September 2020 Responsible Official: Dr. James Balsiger, Regional Administrator Alaska Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service For further information contact: Stephanie Warpinski, NMFS Sustainable Fisheries P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 (907) 586-7228 Abstract: This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review analyzes proposed management measures that would apply to the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program (RP) fisheries. The measures under consideration include reauthorizing the RP by either removing the sunset date or establishing a new sunset date within a range of 10 through 20 years. The action also includes other potential measures that would alter regulations associated with the reallocation of Pacific cod and rockfish, exempt crab program sideboard limits for vessels when fishing in the RP, establish regulations that require NMFS to provide annual cost recovery reports for the RP, and other regulatory changes. List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronym or Acronym or Meaning Meaning Abbreviation Abbreviation MSST minimum stock size threshold ABC acceptable biological catch mt Metric ton ADF&G Alaska Department of Fish and Game NAICS North American Industry Classification AFA American Fisheries Act System AFSC Alaska Fisheries Science Center NAO NOAA Administrative Order AKFIN Alaska Fisheries Information Network NEPA National Environmental Policy Act BSAI Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety CAS Catch Accounting System and Health CEQ Council on Environmental Quality NMFS National Marine Fishery Service CFID Commercial Fishing Incident Database NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration CFR Code of Federal Regulations NPFMC North Pacific Fishery Management CGOA Central Gulf of Alaska Council CMCP Catch Monitoring and Control Plan NPPSD North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database COAR Commercial Operators Annual Report NRC National Research Council Council North Pacific Fishery Management Observer North Pacific Observer Program Council Program CP catcher/processor OFL Overfishing level CQ Cooperative quota OMB Office of Management and Budget CR Crab rationalization PA Preferred Alternative CV catcher vessel PBR potential biological removal DPS distinct population segment PSC prohibited species catch E.O. Executive Order POP Pacific Ocean Perch EA Environmental Assessment PPA Preliminary preferred alternative EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone PRA Paperwork Reduction Act PSEIS Programmatic Supplemental EFH essential fish habitat Environmental Impact Statement EIS Environmental Impact Statement QS Quota shares ESA Endangered Species Act RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act ESU endangered species unit RFFA reasonably foreseeable future action FE Fishing effects RIR Regulatory Impact Review FIS Fisheries Impact Statement RPA reasonable and prudent alternative FMA Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis RP Rockfish Program FMP fishery management plan RPP Rockfish Pilot Program FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact SAFE Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation FR Federal Register SAR stock assessment report FRFA Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis SBA Small Business Act Ft foot or feet Secretary Secretary of Commerce GOA Gulf of Alaska SIA Social Impact Assessment H&G Head and Gut SIR Supplemental Information report ICA Incidental catch allowance SPLASH Structure of Populations, Levels of IPHC International Pacific Halibut Commission Abundance, and Status of Humpbacks IRFA Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis SRKW Southern Resident killer whales IPA Incentive Plan Agreement SSL Steller sea lion JAM jeopardy or adverse modification TAC total allowable catch LAPP Limited access privilege program U.S. United States lb(s) pound(s) USCG United States Coast Guard LEI long-term effect index USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service LLP license limitation program YOY Year-over-year LOA length overall M meter or meters VMS vessel monitoring system Magnuson- Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation WGOA Western Gulf of Alaska Stevens Act and Management Act WYAK West Yakutat District MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act MMSA Marine Mammal Stock Assessment MRA Maximum retainable amount CGOA Rockfish Reauthorization, September 2020 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 1 Introduction 17 1.1 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................... 17 1.2 History of the Rockfish Program .................................................................................................................... 18 1.2.1 Before RPP (1996 through 2006) ........................................................................................................ 18 1.2.2 Authority for the Rockfish Program .................................................................................................... 21 1.3 Description of Management Area .................................................................................................................. 29 1.4 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................................ 30 1.5 Description of Alternatives ............................................................................................................................. 30 1.6 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................................... 30 1.6.1 Alternative 1, No Action ..................................................................................................................... 30 1.6.2 Alternative 2, Reauthorize RP (Preferred Alternative) ....................................................................... 31 1.7 Background on Modifications to Requirements for Annual RP Cooperative Reports (Elements 6 & 7) ......... 34 1.8 Council Request for Additional Information .................................................................................................... 37 1.9 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 39 1.9.1 Summary table of alternatives and findings ....................................................................................... 39 1.9.2 Rationale for the Council’s Preferred Alternative .............................................................................. 43 1.10 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed Further ......................................................................................... 45 2 Environmental Assessment................................................................................................................................... 46 2.1 Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 46 2.1.1 Documents Incorporated by Reference in this Analysis ..................................................................... 47 2.1.2 Resource Components Addressed in the Analysis .............................................................................. 48 2.1.3 Cumulative Effects Analysis ................................................................................................................ 49 2.2 Target Species ............................................................................................................................................... 50 2.2.1 Status of Primary RP Species .............................................................................................................. 50 2.2.2 Status of Secondary RP Species .......................................................................................................... 54 2.2.3 Effects of the Alternatives on Target Species ..................................................................................... 56 2.3 Unallocated Species and PSC Species ......................................................................................................... 58 2.3.1 Status of Unallocated Species............................................................................................................. 58 2.3.2 Status of PSC Species .......................................................................................................................... 59 2.3.3 Effects of the Alternatives on Unallocated and PSC Species .............................................................. 64 2.4 Essential Fish Habitat .................................................................................................................................... 68 2.4.1 Status .................................................................................................................................................. 68 2.4.2 Effects of the Alternatives on EFH ...................................................................................................... 70 2.5 Social and Economic Impacts .......................................................................................................................