HP1 Global Sustainability
Ballroom E, Level 4
2:10 PM - 5:30 PM, Thursday, 13 November 2003
Chair: Dixon, Ken ,
(566) A Systematic Approach to Cumulative Effects Analysis of the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries.
Maki, A1, Davis, S2, Isaacs, J1, Senner, R1, 1 URS Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska, USA2 National Marine Fisheries Service, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
ABSTRACT- The Alaska Groundfish Fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea are the nation′s largest commercial fisheries, covering 900,000 square miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska. In 2001, approximately $1.4 billion of groundfish was caught and processed by more than 10,000 full-time employees. Fish tax from the groundfish fishery is an important underpinning of the regional economy and supports communities in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. In addition, six western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups, representing 65 rural Alaskan villages, receive a share of the fisheries allocation to facilitate economic development in rural Alaska. These fisheries are managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) and the agency is currently undertaking a broad programmatic review of these fisheries and the environmental impacts on the marine ecosystem. Adequately addressing cumulative effects is one of the most challenging aspects of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A tabular, quantitative approach to analyzing the cumulative effects of the groundfish fisheries was developed. This approach includes each component of the biological and human environment within the project scope to better comply with NEPA guidelines and CEQ Principles. The approach was logical, methodical, transparent and reproducible, with a scope that set boundaries in space and time. Historical analyses were used to define a comparative baseline condition for each resource category and to determine persistent past effects. The comparative baseline statements were combined with reasonably foreseeable future events to identify the potential for cumulative effects. The comparative baseline condition for each resource category was also used as the basis for comparison between the four policy alternatives proposed in the Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (PSEIS). These policy alternatives present options for the future management of the fisheries, ranging from more to less conservative. The approach taken in the cumulative effects analysis for the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries PSEIS represents a methodology that can be used to address complex cumulative effects and compliance with NEPA and CEQ guidelines.
Key words: National Environmental Policy Act, Alaska Groundfish Fisheries, cumulative effects analysis, comparative baseline