The Council reviewed the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program review and allocation policy review, and accepted the reviews as complete and final, once the analysts include to the extent practical, the minor additions requested by the SSC. These include additional information on processed products, crew and processing workers, and some revision to the existing language.
The Central GOA Rockfish Program review is required under Section 303A(c)(1)(G) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act. That provision states that all Limited Access Privilege Programs must include a formal and detailed 5-year program review after implementation of the program. The program review document presented at this meeting fulfilled those Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act requirements.
In addition, NOAA Fisheries created an allocation policy to provide a mechanism to ensure fisheries allocations are periodically evaluated to remain relevant to current conditions. The Council, during its June 2017 meeting, directed staff to include the required fishery allocation review as part of the overall Central GOA Rockfish Program review. After reviewing the Central GOA Rockfish Program review document, the Council determined that the document met the allocation review guidance requirements. Staff contact is Jon McCracken.
