Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis For a Regulatory Amendment to Permit the Seasonal Closure of Chiniak Gully in the Gulf of Alaska to Trawl Fishing
February 14, 2006
This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) evaluates the environmental impacts, costs and benefits, and small entity impacts of a proposed regulatory amendment.
The proposed amendment would impose a seasonal ban on all commercial trawl fishing in the Chiniak Gully region on the east side of Kodiak Island. The closure would be in effect 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. This is 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. This EA/RIR/IRFA addresses the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Presidential Executive Order 12866, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.