Final environmental assessment for Amendment 104 to the fishery management plan for groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) areas of skate egg concentrations Final environmental assessment for Amendment 104 to the fishery management plan for groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) areas of skate egg concentrations (XRIN 0648-XD287) BSAI 104 Skate HAPC FINAL EA - January 2015

This document analyzes a proposed action that would amend the BSAI FMP to identify six skate egg concentration sites as HAPC. The identification of these sites as HAPCs highlights the importance of this essential fish habitat for conservation and as a subject for consultation on activities such as drilling, dredging and dumping, laying cables, seismic exploration, as well as fishing. In addition, the Council recommended options that would require monitoring of these sites, identification of these sites as a research priority, and housekeeping changes to the BSAI FMP.