Final Environmental Assessment/ Regulatory Impact Review/ Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis For Amendment 100 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, and Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska: Adding Grenadiers (Family Macrouridae).

This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis analyzes alternatives to include three species of grenadiers (giant, Pacific, and popeye grenadiers) in the groundfish fishery management plans (FMPs). The groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska incidentally catch grenadiers while harvesting target groundfish. This action would amend the FMPs for groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska to include grenadiers in the FMPs as either “in the fishery” or an “ecosystem component.” The purpose of this action is to improve the reporting and catch accounting of grenadiers in order to provide additional protection for grenadiers from the potential adverse effects of groundfish fisheries off Alaska. This proposed action is necessary to limit and monitor the incidental catch of grenadiers in the groundfish fisheries.