Scoping Begins on Groundfish Allocation

November 28, 2005

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries Service and the Pacific Fishery Management Council have announced their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The proposed action would establish new allocations among sectors of the groundfish fishery. These allocations are needed to support recent Pacific Council decisions to use sector-specific total catch limits (sector caps) to control bycatch, and to support the trawl individual quota program currently under consideration in a separate, but closely related EIS. The Pacific Council and NOAA Fisheries Service are seeking information from the public on the range of alternatives and on the environmental, social, and economic issues to be considered. Written comments will be accepted through February 8, 2006.

Comments may be sent to: GFAllocationEIS.nwr@noaa.gov. Please include "Scoping Comments" in the subject line of the message.

For more information, read the Federal Register notice, or contact John.Devore@noaa.gov.