Proposed Regulatory Amendment to Adjust License Limitation Program License Endorsements for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod Pot Gear Catcher/Processors

Vessels fishing for groundfish in the Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) fishery management plan (FMP) areas are required to have a License Limitation Program (LLP) license that is endorsed for fishing in that area. Vessels fishing for Pacific cod with fixed gear (hook-and-line or pot gear) must have additional Pacific cod endorsement for specific areas, gear-types, and operational-types (operational-type includes catcher/processors (CP) that process catch at sea and catch vessels that deliver to inshore facilities). This action considers alternatives that would eliminate the LLP license endorsement for CP vessels to fish for Pacific cod with pot gear in the BS and AI FMP subareas if the license was not credited with a minimum amount of directed Pacific cod landings during a specified period. The purpose of this action is to increase stability for pot CPs that are dependent upon Pacific cod while maintaining low rates of halibut and crab bycatch and ensuring that condensed fishing seasons do not result in safety-at-sea concerns. NMFS Alaska Region Office has made the preliminary determination that the proposed action would be a change to regulations that does not result in substantial modification of fishing location, timing, effort, authorized gear types, or harvest levels relative to the status quo and relative to what has been analyzed in previous approved actions. If the Council recommendation on the scope of this action remains the same, this action would qualify for a Categorical Exclusion from further review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). However, if the scope is expanded, an EA would be prepared.