Environmental Assessment for a Regulatory Amendment to Reapportion Total Allowable Catch of Atka Mackerel and Reduce Fishery Effects on Steller Sea Lions; Change in Atka Mackerel Interim
January 19, 1999
Environmental Assessment of an amendment that would divide the Atka mackerel TAC, reduce the percentage of Atka mackerel TAC harvested from Steller sea lion critical habit, and extend the seasonal no-trawl zone in the Aleutian Islands Eastern District.
The purpose of this action is to avoid significant fishery-induced localized depletions of Atka mackerel, a primary prey species for Steller sea lions in the Aleutian Islands. This action is also intended to avoid potential jeopardy to the continued existence of Steller sea lion populations and their critical habitat through excessive removal of prey. In 1990, the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) was designated as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.