EA/RIR/FRFA for a Regulatory Amendment to Reduce the Incidental Seabird Mortality in the Pacific Halibut Fishery in U.S. Convention Waters Off Alaska and a Regulatory Exemption for Small Vessels in the Pacific Halibut Fishery in U.S. Convention Waters Off
January 26, 1998
Analysis of a regulatory amendment that would require hook-and-line vessels fishing for Pacific halibut in the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands and Gulf Of Alaska management areas to employ specified bird avoidance techniques to reduce seabird bycatch.
The action is necessary to mitigate hook-and-line fishery interactions with the short-tailed albatross, an endangered species protected under the Endangered Species Act, and other species. The environmental review process led us to conclude that this action will not have a significant impact on the environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement was not prepared.