Regulatory Impact Review for a Regulatory Amendment to Allow Community Quota Entities in Area 3A to Purchase D Category Halibut Quota Share

This Regulatory Impact Review was prepared to evaluate the economic and socioeconomic effects of a proposed Federal regulatory amendment, as required under Presidential Executive Order 12866. The proposed amendment would be a revision to the Gulf of Alaska Community Quota Entity Program. This program was approved by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in 2002 and implemented by NOAA Fisheries in 2004, under Amendment 66 to the Gulf of Alaska  Fishery Management Plan. The program was developed in order to allow a distinct set of 42 small, remote coastal Gulf of Alaska communities to purchase catcher vessel quota share under the existing halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program.