Final Regulatory Impact Review Western Aleutian Islands Golden King Crab Full Offload Delivery Exemption

This Regulatory Impact Review examines proposed management measures that would apply exclusively to the Western Aleutian Island golden king crab (WAG) (Lithodes aequispinus) fishery. The measures under consideration would create an exemption to the prohibition against continuing to fish in a Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization (CR) Program fishery once off-loading has commenced and until all crab rationalization program crab are landed. The purpose of this action is to create an exemption for WAG from the regulations that prohibit the continuation of a fishing trip subsequent to a partial offload of crab in the CR program. This regulatory exemption would allow vessels prosecuting the WAG fishery to make partial deliveries of crab and then continue fishing before fully offloading all harvested crab.

This action was specifically identified for the WAG fishery due to:

1. the remote and economically challenging characteristic of the fishery
2. the possibility of mutual benefits to harvesters, the local processor, and the community
3. consistency with previous Council action that intended to encourage entrepreneurial activity related to fisheries in the Western Aleutian Islands.