Environmental Assessment For Proposed Amendment 109 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area - Pacific Cod Community Development Quota Fishery Development

Amendment 109 (BSAI) The proposed action would to support increased participation in the groundfish Community Development Quota fisheries (primarily Pacific cod) by catcher vessels less than or equal to 46 feet length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear by (1) removing the requirement for operators of catcher vessels greater than 32 ft LOA and less than or equal to 46 ft LOA using hook-and-line gear to obtain and carry a License Limitation Program (LLP) license and requiring registration of these vessels with NMFS; (2) reducing observer coverage requirements, and (4) implementing new catch accounting procedures to properly account for the harvest of groundfish and halibut and the accrual of halibut prohibited species catch by these small vessels. The proposed action would benefit the six CDQ groups and the owners of small catcher vessels by reducing the costs of participating in the groundfish and halibut CDQ fisheries. No significant impacts on the human environment are expected.