Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/ Regulatory Flexibility Analysis/MSA Analysis for a Proposed Amendment 32 to the Pacific Groundfish Fishery Management Plan for Non-Trawl Sector Area Management Measures

The proposed action is to modify the management measures applicable to the Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) and Cowcod Conservation Area (CCA) off the U.S. West Coast in order to provide additional fishing access for non-trawl groundfish fisheries. The additional access might be provided by actions such as 1) moving and/or modifying the existing Non-Trawl RCA and/or CCA boundaries, and/or 2) allowing groundfish fishing inside the Non-Trawl RCA and/or CCA using only select gears that minimize bottom contact. Although there are potential impacts to resources such as rebuilding groundfish species, ESA-listed species, and bottom habitat, there are no known significant impacts anticipated at this time.