Environmental Assessment for the Issuance of an Exempted Fishing Permit for Feasibility Testing of Using Commercial Pollock Fishing Vessels for Acoustic Surveys within Portions of Steller Sea Lion Critical Habitat Areas in the Aleutian Islands Subarea

The EFP is necessary to allow the applicant to harvest pollock in Steller sea lion protection areas that are currently closed to pollock fishing. Two alternatives were analyzed in this EA. Alternative 1 is status quo with no permit issued. Alternative 2 would issue the permit. The environmental effects of Alternative 2 are limited to marine mammals and prohibited species components. No significant effects were identified. Even though no significant effects under this EA were identified for Steller sea lions, adverse effects are likely, and therefore, an Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation must be completed before the EFP may be issued. The primary socioeconomic effects of Alternative 2 would be improved pollock harvests through more accurate information on the status of pollock stocks. No additional cumulative effects were identified.