Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Regulatory Amendment to Provide a Two-Week Trawl Closure Near Unimak Pass to Facilitate an Experiment Investigating the Effects of Commercial Fishing on Local Abundance of Pacific Cod

This Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) provides an analysis of a final regulatory amendment. Approval of the regulatory amendment would impose a two-week ban on trawl, hook-and line and pot fishing in the specified area near Unimak Pass in the eastern Bering Sea. This short-term closure would be in effect between March 15 and March 31 in the years 2003 - 2006. The changes in fishing regulations are needed to permit NMFS to conduct unimpeded experiments on the effects of commercial trawling on local abundance of Pacific cod, as part of a comprehensive research program on sea lion/fishery interactions. The FRFA provides an analysis of the expected impacts of proposed action on small entities.