The Council received an initial review draft 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. The current number of licenses holding that endorsement is eight. The analysis was moved forward for public review, at which point the Council could take final action to recommend a preferred alternative.
The Council did not make substantive changes to the range of alternatives under consideration, and did not indicate a preliminary preferred alternative at this time. The range contains the No Action alternative (Alt. 1) and an action alternative that would remove BS and AI Pacific cod pot CP endorsements from licenses that were not credited with at least 1,000 mt of retained Pacific cod commercial catch while operating as a BSAI pot CP (Alt. 2). The 1,000 mt threshold will be evaluated over one of two historical periods (Options 1 and 2): 2005 – 2019 or 2012 – 2019. The Council clarified that historical catch should be counted cumulatively over the selected period, obviating the need for the two Suboptions that had been analyzed.
The Council did not modify the control date of December 10, 2019, meaning that it might not consider catch that occurred after that date relative to the 1,000 mt threshold.
The Council directed the analysts to consider SSC suggestions for revision and identified two other items to include in the next draft. The first item is a summary of other fisheries and/or modes in which LLP licenses that lose this endorsement could still be used, including other fisheries, gears, and areas as well as operating as a catcher vessel. The second item is a more detailed description of the communities connected to these LLP licenses through ownership, specifically referencing ties to Western Alaska CDQ groups.
Staff contact is Sam Cunningham.
