The Council received a public review analysis of alternatives that could modify the number of License Limitation Program (LLP) licenses endorsed to fish for BSAI Pacific cod with pot gear as a catcher-processor and selected the No Action alternative. As a result, there will continue to be eight LLP licenses that are endorsed for use in the “Pot CP” sector of the BSAI Pacific cod fishery. The action alternative that was not selected would have removed the endorsement from licenses that were not credited with a minimum amount of commercially retained Pacific cod over a defined qualifying period. That alternative would have reduced the number of remaining endorsements to either four or five licenses depending on the qualifying period selected.
The Council’s selection of No Action at this time was based on weighing the benefits and costs of removing license endorsements in the context of the Council’s purpose and need statement. The Council determined, on balance, that the challenges facing the sector stem primarily from low TAC levels that would not be affected by the action alternative. The Council determined that potential benefits to the most active participants of removing other licenses did not outweigh the loss of future or continued access for other license holders. The Council also noted that some licenses that could lose the endorsement had been used in the fishery during the considered historical period.
Staff contact is Sam Cunningham.
