Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, Northeastern U.S.

The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) is designed to protect three endangered whale species – North Atlantic right whales, North Atlantic humpback whales, and fin whales – from the risk of entanglement in commercial fishing gear. In the face of continued entanglement problems, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed amendments to the ALWTRP designed to strengthen the plan. IEc assisted NMFS in this effort by analyzing the implications of the management measures under consideration and documenting the results of the analysis in a formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS evaluated the environmental, economic, and social impacts of a range of regulatory alternatives, providing a foundation for implementation of new regulations designed to reduce the risk that whales will be injured or killed as a result of entanglement in commercial fishing gear.

Because of the nature of the proposed amendments, the economic analysis focused on the potential impact of the new requirements on operating costs and revenues in the lobster fishery. It also examined the potential impact of gear reconfiguration requirements on other trap/pot fisheries, as well as the impact of new gear marking requirements on all fisheries subject to ALWTRP requirements. IEc prepared its analysis in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 12866, and Office of Management and Budget Circular A-4. The analysis also incorporated an evaluation of the impact of the proposed amendments on small businesses, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.