Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed Amendment 94 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska - Revising the Vessel Use Caps Applicable to Quota Share Held by GOA Community Quota Entities

This Regulatory Impact Review was prepared, as required under Presidential Executive Order 12866, to evaluate the economic and socioeconomic effects of Gulf of Alaska Amendment 94 and associated regulatory amendments. These amendments would change the vessel use caps, applicable to halibut and sablefish quota share when it is held by Community Quota Entities. The proposed amendment is a revision to the Gulf of Alaska Community Quota Entity Program, which was approved by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in 2002. The Program was implemented by NOAA Fisheries in 2004, under Amendment 66 to the GOA Fishery Management Plan. The program was developed in order to allow a distinct set of 42 small, remote coastal Gulf of Alaska communities to purchase catcher vessel quota share under the existing halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program.