Environmental Assessment for Amendment 104 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, Areas of Skate Egg Concentration

The identification of these sites as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs) highlights the importance of this essential fish habitat for conservation and as a subject for consultation on drilling, dredging and dumping, laying cables, seismic exploration, as well as fishing. In addition, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (Council) recommended options that would require monitoring these sites, identification of these sites as a research priority, and housekeeping changes to the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Fishery Management Plan.

This document analyzes three alternatives for the identification of skate egg concentration HAPCs and two options for gear type prohibitions within them. The analysis is limited to areas of skate egg concentration proposed by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

The analysis of direct, indirect, and cumulative effects for the proposed action indicates no significant impacts on the human environment from the three alternatives. These sites are small and discrete areas that have had limited fishing in the past. No substantial changes in effort re-distribution are anticipated. As such, any effects on habitat, target species, non-target resources, protected species, or the ecosystem would be considered insignificant. Alternatives 2 and 3 are expected to provide some beneficial effects for skates