Initial Review/Final Action for Amendment 33 to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab Fishery Management Plan

This action would amend the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) to allow NOAA Fisheries to decrease the portion of fees collected under the Crab Rationalization Program that are allocated to the Federal loan program for quota share purchase. Under the alternatives presented, NOAA Fisheries would assign no fees, or only the minimum amount of fees necessary to the loan program. This action is necessary to ensure that fishery participants do not pay fees for loan program financing in excess of the fees needed to subsidize the loan program. This action would not:

1. affect the amount of loans currently authorized by Congress
2. affect the loan financing costs
3. delay the implementation of the loan program regulations currently under development

This document provides an overview of the Crab Rationalization Program's fee collection and loan program. It includes a description and purpose of the action, and an analysis of alternatives. This FMP amendment would not result in modifications to Federal regulations. The action is necessary to allow NOAA Fisheries the flexibility to reduce the portion of collected fees that are allocated to subsidize loans. The action would not affect timing of implementation of the loan program or the terms of that program.