98 Essential Fish Habitat Omnibus Amendments
Purpose and Need
Essential fish habitat (EFH) regulations state that a review of EFH provisions of FMPs should be conducted once every five years. Reviews are essential to insure that FMPs are based on the best available information. The purpose of these periodic reviews is to evaluate published scientific literature, unpublished scientific reports, information solicited from interested parties, and previously unavailable or inaccessible data. In 2009 and 2010 a 5-year EFH review was conducted for the Council of the BSAI Groundfish, GOA Groundfish, BSAI Crab, and Scallop FMPs. Based on the findings in the review, the Council identified a number of elements in the various EFHs that warranted updates with the most current scientific information.
Analysis
A 55-page EA was prepared for the omnibus amendments. The analysis was divided into seven actions, each with two alternatives: no action or amend the respective FMP based on the findings of the five-year review. Action was preferred in all seven instances. The EA found that no regulatory action was necessary in to implement the Council’s preferred alternatives.
Regulation Summary
While no regulatory change was required, a number of FMP components were revised for EFH in the five amendments in the EFH omnibus, and new habitat and life history information was applied to the FMPs: EFH provisions of the BSAI and GOA Groundfish FMPs for 24 species and complexes EFH provisions of the BSAI Crab FMP for five (5) crab species and complexes EFH provisions of the Scallop FMP for weathervane scallop EFH conservation recommendations for non-fishing activities in all five FMPs Maximum timeline for considering whether new habitat areas of particular concern are warranted extended from 3 to 5 years in all five FMPs Research Objectives for EFH revised in the five FMPs subject to the 2010 EFH 5-year review None of the changes required regulatory action, and the 2010 EFH 5-year review concluded that no changes to the conclusions on the evaluation of fishing effects on EFH was necessary.
Results
These amendments updated the fishery management plans with the best available information with respect to essential fish habitat life history characteristics and habitat preferences for FMP species.