Categorical Exclusion for the Proposed Rule Amending Regulations to Revoke Inactive Halibut and Sablefish Quota Share
July 16, 2010
Analysis of proposed action to modify the current structure of the IFQ Program to address a unique problem in the halibut and sablefish fisheries as identified by the Council
This memorandum summarizes the determination that a proposed rule amending the regulations to revoke inactive quota share from the Individual Fishing Quota Program in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Fixed-Gear Commercial Fishery, qualifies to be categorically excluded from further National Environmental Policy Act review.
Current regulations do not clearly provide for the voluntary removal of QS other than through transfer which has been a viable option since QS was initially issued in 1995. This proposed amendment would add a provision to revoke inactive QS unless the QS holder notifies NMFS in writing, within 60 days of the agency's Notice of Determination of Quota Share Inactivity, that they choose to continue to retain their inactive QS. The proposed action would provide opportunity for QS not currently used to fish halibut and sablefish IFQ to contribute to the total harvest of IFQ and more closely attain optimum yield of sablefish and the fishery exploitation yield of halibut. Once revoked, inactive QS would no longer exist and could not be allocated or redistributed to the halibut and sablefish QS pool.