73 Remove Dark Rockfish from the FMP
Purpose and Need
A 2004 scientific paper titled “The dusky rockfishes (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes) of the North Pacific Ocean: resurrection of Sebastes variabilis (Pallas, 1814) and a redescription of Sebastes ciliatus (Tilesius, 1813)” by James W. Orr and James E. Blackburn found that the two forms of dusky rockfish – “light dusky rockfish” and “dark dusky rockfish” – were two distinct species. The dusky rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) is primarily found in deeper water, while the “dark dusky rockfish” or dark rockfish (S. ciliatus) is found in shallow water. With the recognition of two distinct species and with dark rockfish primarily occupying habitats found in State waters, the Council initiated a discussion paper to analyze the impacts of transferring management authority of the nearshore species to the State. Management by the State of Alaska would better address localized assessment and harvest requirements for this nearshore species than was provided by Federal management under the larger pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR) complex in the GOA and the “other rockfish” (OR) component in the BSAI. A similar situation was addressed by Amendment 46 to the GOA groundfish FMP, which removed black rockfish and blue rockfish, both nearshore species not well-assessed by the trawl survey, from the GOA groundfish FMP, and turned management over to the State of Alaska
Analysis
A 96-page EA/RIR/IRFA was prepared to analyze a status quo alternative and an alternative to remove dark rockfish from the GOA and BSAI groundfish FMPs. The Council also discussed an alternative to transfer dark rockfish management authority to the State of Alaska, but still retain the species under the FMPs. This alternative was not carried forward because of the difficulty in reconciling State and Federal management procedures. The EA determined that there would be minimal effect on the groundfish fishery should dark rockfish be assigned to State management. Similarly, the RIR found that there would be no significant costs associated with the action alternative.
Regulation Summary
BSAI Amendment 73/GOA Amendment 77 transfers management authority of dark rockfish from the FMPs to the State of Alaska. Further, the amendments update the language of the FMPs to account for the updated taxonomic information.
Results
The OY no longer includes TAC or catch of dark rockfish, and is no longer assessed as part of the SAFE report. This nearshore species now receives more localized conservation and management through the State of Alaska.