Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Amendment 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands

This document examines pollack management in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands with respect to the issues of roe-stripping and seasonal allowances of pollock TACs and the following four potential management problems: 1. Roe-stripping may be a wasteful practice. 2. Roe-stripping may adversely affect the ecosystem as a result of additional discards. 3. Targeting on spawning populations may adversely affect the productivity of the pollock stocks. 4. Roe-stripping and/or a large roe fishery may cause an inappropriate and unintended allocation of the pollock TACs among seasons and types of processing (at-sea or shorebased).