Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Public Scoping Meeting; Avoiding Interactions Between Steller Sea Lions and Pollock Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Region

Resumen

Under the Endangered Species Act, section 7 consultations are being conducted on the pollock fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands region and their potential effect(s) on the endangered western population of Steller sea lions and on their critical habitat. If the consultations result in a determination that the pollock fisheries jeopardize the survival and recovery of the western population or adversely modify their critical habitat, then reasonable and prudent alternatives will be required to avoid these effects. NMFS announces two public scoping meetings to discuss the fisheries' potential impact on Steller sea lions and on their critical habitat and possible mechanisms for implementing any necessary reasonable and prudent alternatives.