Final Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for A Regulatory Amendment to Revise Regulations for Seabird Avoidance Measures in the Hook-and-line Fisheries off Alaska To Reduce the Incidental Take of the Short-tailed Albatross And Other Seabird Species

This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis analyzes the impacts of revisions to current seabird avoidance measures in the hook-and-line fisheries off Alaska. This proposed action is based on results from research projects suggested by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee, and conducted by Washington and Alaska Sea Grant Programs (SGP). This research included: 1) hook-and line surveys in waters in and off Alaska, which revealed a rarity of seabird presence in inside waters, and 2) experiments conducted to test efficacy of seabird avoidance gear use on vessels smaller than 55 feet. The research results suggest that the effectiveness of seabird avoidance measures can be improved by strengthening the gear requirements, through construction standards, for use in waters where seabirds are more common, while eliminating requirements in waters where seabirds are rarely observed. This analysis also contains options that would eliminate the required use of a second “other device”, as well as revoke the Seabird Avoidance Plan requirement presently specified in regulations. The final research results of the Washington SG study were presented to the Council at its June 2006 meeting, the Council took initial action at its December 2006 meeting, and final action in February of 2007. The objective of this regulatory amendment is to revise the current seabird avoidance requirements to improve their effectiveness at reducing the incidental take of short-tailed albatrosses and other seabird species, while relieving an unnecessary regulatory burden and its associated costs. 2007 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) AKR (Alaska Region) OSF (Office of Sustainable Fisheries) Library Public Domain 1861

本《环境评估/监管影响审查/最终监管灵活性分析》针对阿拉斯加近海延绳钓渔业现行海鸟避让措施的修订方案开展影响分析。
本拟议举措基于北太平洋渔业管理委员会（North Pacific Fishery Management Council，以下简称委员会）科学与统计委员会提出、由华盛顿州与阿拉斯加州海洋赠地项目（Sea Grant Programs，SGP）开展的研究项目成果。
该研究包含两项核心内容：1）阿拉斯加及近海海域的延绳钓调查，结果显示内水海域海鸟出现频次极低；2）针对船长小于55英尺的渔船开展试验，验证海鸟避让渔具的使用效果。
研究结果表明，针对海鸟密集水域制定渔具建造标准、强化其使用要求，可有效提升海鸟避让措施的防护效能；同时可取消海鸟罕见出现水域的相关强制要求。
本次分析还包含多项可选调整方案，例如取消对第二种“其他辅助设备”的强制使用要求，同时废止现行法规中规定的《海鸟避让计划》强制申报要求。
华盛顿州海洋赠地项目的最终研究成果已在委员会2006年6月的会议上提交；委员会于2006年12月启动初步审议程序，并于2007年2月完成最终审议。
本次监管修正案的目标为修订现行海鸟避让要求，在降低短尾信天翁及其他海鸟物种附带误捕风险的同时，免除不必要的监管负担与相关成本。
本材料由2007年美国国家海洋渔业局（National Marine Fisheries Service，NMFS）阿拉斯加区域（Alaska Region，AKR）可持续渔业办公室（Office of Sustainable Fisheries，OSF）图书馆公开发布，档案编号1861。