Environmental Assessment And Regulatory Impact Review Pacific Coast Salmon Plan Amendment 18 PDF Download

"This document is a Final Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis analyzing proposed management measures that would apply to non-pollock trawl fisheries in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Amendment 97 limits Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) in Western and Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) non-pollock trawl catcher/processor (C/P) and catcher vessel (CV) fisheries. This action establishes separate annual Chinook salmon PSC limits for trawl catcher/processors, trawl catcher vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program, and trawl catcher vessels not participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program fishing for groundfish species other than pollock. If a sector reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit, NMFS prohibits further fishing for nonpollock groundfish by vessels in that sector. This action also establishes and clarifies Chinook salmon retention and discard requirements for vessels, shoreside processors, and stationary floating processors participating in both the GOA pollock and non-pollock groundfish trawl fisheries. The purpose of this action is to address prohibited species catch of Chinook salmon in the GOA, and establish measures that protect against the risk of high Chinook salmon removals in the GOA non-pollock trawl fisheries in future years. The proposed action is not expected to have significant impacts on the human environment"--Cover letter summary.