Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed Amendment 113 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska - Modify the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Season Start Date and Harvesting, Processing, and Cooperative Caps

This Regulatory Impact Review and Environmental Assessment analyzes proposed management measures that would apply exclusively to the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Program. The measures under consideration include changing the season start date from May 1 to April 1; eliminating the catcher vessel (CV) cooperative holding cap of 30 percent; increasing the processing cap to 35 percent – 40 percent of the CV quota share pool for sablefish, Pacific cod, and/or primary rockfish; and revising the CV aggregated primary rockfish (Pacific Ocean perch (POP), northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) harvesting cap by capping only POP harvest at 8 percent of the CV POP share pool. The purpose of this action is to respond to changes in the fishery with measures that would increase flexibility and efficiency, improve functionality, and better ensure the total allowable catch (TAC) for the primary rockfish species is fully harvested and landed in Kodiak as intended.