Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Modify the Timing of Haul Designation for Trawl Catcher Processors in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fisheries

This Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) analyzes changes to regulations to revise and standardize the time limit for assigning a management program to each haul for trawl catcher/processors (C/Ps) in the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Areas. In April 2019, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) requested that NOAA Fisheries initiate rulemaking under the authority of section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to clarify when trawl C/P hauls should be assigned to a management program, specifically the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This RIR considers a regulatory amendment only and no changes to the FMPs. This RIR also assesses the potential impact of the alternatives on fishing communities and addresses other social impacts.