Endangered Species Act Section 7 Biological Opinion: Authorization of Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands groundfish fisheries based on the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish; and Authorization of Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries based on the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

In compliance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has completed this biological opinion consulting on the authorization of groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands region (BSAI) under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the BSAI Groundfish, and the authorization of groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) under the FMP for Groundfish of the GOA. This opinion is comprehensive in scope and considers the fisheries and the overall management framework established by the respective FMPs to determine whether that framework contains necessary measures to ensure the protection of listed species and critical habitat. The opinion determines whether the BSAI or GOA groundfish fisheries, as implemented under the respective FMPs, jeopardize the continued existence of listed species in the areas affected by the fisheries (i.e., the action areas) or adversely modify critical habitat of such species.