EA/RIR/FRFA for a Regulatory Amendment to Permit the Seasonal Closure of Chiniak Gully in the Gulf of Alaska to Trawl Fishing: Implemented Under the Authority of the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the GOA

The final amendment will impose a seasonal ban on all commercial trawl fishing in the Chiniak Gully region from August 1 to a date no later than September 20 from 2006 through 2010.  The regulatory changes are needed to permit NOAA Fisheries to conduct controlled experiments on the effects of fishing on pollock distribution and abundance. These controlled experiments are part of a comprehensive research program on sea lion/fishery interactions. The experiment and this closure likely would be conducted only in three of the five years from 2006 through 2010.

The action could result in redistribution of commercial trawl fishing effort on the east side of Kodiak Island from August 1 to a date no later than September 20. The potential redistribution of mid-water pollock fishing effort due to the Chiniak Gully closure is likely to be minor. Much of the bottom trawl fishery does not operate in this time period because the halibut prohibited species catch limit is usually reached by early August. There should be no overall change in the amount of bycatch taken. The potential shift in trawl fishing effort is not expected to have an impact on essential fish habitat, or Steller sea lions. Benefits of this action could include providing information about pollock abundance and distribution to be used in pollock fishery management and Steller sea lion protection. Overall, no directed, indirect or cumulative effects were identified that would result in significant impacts on the human environment.

This EA/RIR/FRFA addresses the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Presidential Executive Order 12866, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.