Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review for a Proposal to Change the Percentages of Pollock Total Allowable Catch Apportioned to Each Fishing Season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska

This regulatory amendment would change the seasonal apportionment of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC)  amount in the combined Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska. Ten percent of the TAC from the third fishing season, which starts on September 1, would be moved to the second fishing season, which starts on June 1.

This seasonal TAC shift is a necessary measure to reduce the potential impacts on Steller sea lions of pollock fishing under an increased 1998 TAC by reducing the percentage of the pollock TAC that is available to the commercial fishery during the fall and winter months, a period that is critical to Steller sea lions.