Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis of a Regulatory Amendment to Delay the 1992 Directed Fishery for Groundfish with Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

During 1991, the Secretary of Commerce took emergency action to ameliorate potential adverse effects of groundfish trawl operations on Steller sea lions, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, and to foster the species' recovery. At its September 23-29, 1991, meeting, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted Amendment 20 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and Amendment 25 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

These amendments would authorize the implementation of groundfish management measures for purposes of protecting Steller sea lions. The proposed rule that would implement Amendments 20 and 25 has been submitted for Secretarial review and approval.