Endangered Species Act Section 7 Biological Opinion: Authorization of an Atka mackerel fishery under the BSAI groundfish Fishery Management Plan between 1999 and 2002; Authorization of a walleye pollock fishery under the Bering Sea Aleutian Island groundfish Fishery Management Plan between 1999 and 2002, and Authorization of a walleye pollock fishery under the Gulf of Alaska groundfish Fishery Management Plan between 1999 and 2002

This opinion fulfills the section 7 requirements for consultation on three separate agency actions that have been proposed: (1) authorization of an Atka mackerel fishery under the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) groundfish fishery management plan between 1999 and 2002; (2) authorization of a walleye pollock fishery under the BSAI groundfish fishery management plan between 1999 and 2002; and (3) authorization of a walleye pollock fishery under the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fishery management plan between 1999 and 2002. Section 7 regulations allow a formal consultation to encompass a number of similar actions within a given geographic area or a segment of a comprehensive plan (50 CFR 402.14). Consistent with this regulatory provision and for purposes of efficiency, these three actions are being summarized in a single biological opinion. The opinion analyzes the effects of these actions on the endangered western population of Steller sea lions and its critical habitat.