Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed Amendment 107 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI, Establishing Transit Areas Through Walrus Protection Areas at Round Island and Cape Peirce, North Bristol Bay
December 11, 2014
Evaluation of alternatives to allow vessels with Federal Fisheries Permits to transit walrus protection areas at Round Island and Cape Peirce from April 1-August 15 while tendering herring or salmon or delivering groundfish to trampers or processors.
The purpose of this action is to:
- maintain suitable protection for walruses on Round Island and Cape Peirce
- restore access to vessels with FFP serving as tenders for the northern Bristol Bay herring and salmon fisheries to the routes used by tenders before implementation of GOA FMP Amendment 83
- allow vessels delivering groundfish access to the route north of Round Island
- reduce the likelihood of disturbance to walrus on Hagemeister Island and Cape Peirce
Alternatives include:
- no action – vessels with FFPs remain excluded from the walrus protection area
- open portion of the Round Island walrus protection area to transit with three options of increasing distance
- open portion of the Cape Peirce walrus protection area to transit