Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Regulatory Amendment to Simplify Administrative Requirements Related to Quota Transfers, Eligible Vessels, and Alternative Fishing Plans Under the Community Development Program

This Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) evaluates the benefits and costs, as well as the impacts on regulated small entities, of a final rule that will amend regulations governing the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This action will revise regulations associated with the transfer of CDQ and prohibited species quota (PSQ), the process by which vessels are designated as eligible to participate in the groundfish CDQ fisheries, and the process by which alternative fishing plans submitted to NMFS by CDQ managing organizations (CDQ groups) are reviewed and approved. These regulatory revisions will streamline the process currently used for administering each of these program elements, reduce information collection requirements, and allow greater latitude for when PSQ transfers may be requested. These changes were recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in June 2002 as part of its final action on Amendment 71 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP). 2005 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) AKR (Alaska Region) Submitted Public Domain 1861