Programmatic Biological Assessment on the Effects of the Fishery Management Plans for Alaska Groundfish Fisheries on the Endangered Short-tailed Albatross, the Threatened Alaska-breeding Population of Steller’s Eider, and the Threatened Spectacled Eider

Under the Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1531 et seq; ESA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the short-tailed albatross as endangered in 1970. USFWS listed the Alaska-breeding population of Steller’s eider as threatened in 1997 and listed the spectacled eider as threatened in 1993. Critical habitat was designated for the Alaska-breeding population of Steller’s eider and the spectacled eider in 2001. Critical habitat has not been designated for the short-tailed albatross. The Sustainable Fisheries Division of NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region, is requesting consultation under section 7 of the ESA for the effects of Alaska groundfish fisheries on the Alaska-breeding population of Steller’s eider and the spectacled eider, and their designated critical habitat.

This biological assessment analyzes the federally managed Alaska groundfish fisheries as authorized by the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI Groundfish FMP), the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA Groundfish FMP), and the parallel groundfish fisheries in State of Alaska (State) waters.