[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42856-42857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20349]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 99043-913-01; I.D. 072299C]
Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Commercial Closure From Fort Ross to Point
Reyes, CA; Inseason Adjustment from Cape Flattery to Leadbetter Point,
WA
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure; inseason adjustment (transfer); request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area
from Fort Ross to Point Reyes, CA, was closed at midnight, July 12,
1999. The Northwest Regional Administrator, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), has determined that the commercial quota of 2,500
chinook salmon has been reached. In addition, 2,500 chinook salmon will
be transferred from the May/June commercial troll fishery between the
U.S.-Canada border and Cape Falcon, Oregon, to the July through
September fishery between Cape Flattery and Leadbetter Point, WA. These
actions are necessary to conform to the 1999 management measures and
are intended to ensure conservation of chinook salmon.
DATES: Closure effective 2400 hours local time (l.t.), July 12, 1999.
Transfer effective August 5, 1999. Comments will be accepted through
August 20, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE.,
Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or to Rodney R. McInnis, Acting
Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 501 W. Ocean
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132. Information relevant to
this document is available for public review during business hours at
the Office of the Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson, 206-526-6140, or
Svein Fougner, 562-980-4030.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Closure of the Test Fishery
Regulations governing the ocean salmon fisheries at 50 CFR
660.409(a)(1) state that, when a quota for the commercial or the
recreational fishery, or both, for any salmon species in any portion of
the fishery management area is projected by the Regional Administrator
to be reached on or by a certain date, NMFS will, by notification
issued under 50 CFR 660.411, close the commercial or recreational
fishery, or both, for all salmon species in the portion of the fishery
management area to which the quota applies as of the date the quota is
projected to be reached.
In the 1999 management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (64 FR
24078, May 5, 1999), NMFS announced that the commercial fishery for all
salmon, except coho, in the area between Fort Ross (38 deg.31'00'' N.
lat.) to Point Reyes, CA (test fishery inside 6 nm [11.1 km]) would
open on July 1 through the earlier of July 14 or attainment of a 2,500
chinook quota.
Daily landings of chinook salmon from July 1 to 8 ranged from 0 to
300 fish, with 1 to 22 boats participating daily. On Friday, July 9,
participation increased to 49 boats, with most boats catching the 30-
fish limit early in the day, and total landings for the day were over
1,100 fish. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) staff
recognized the increased effort and anticipated the quota would be met
by Saturday but were unable to close the fishery until Monday, July 12,
1999. The information regarding the attainment of the quota was
distributed to the commercial fish buyers and fishermen on Saturday
morning, and a voluntary closure was encouraged by the CDFG. In
response to CDFG concerns, most fishermen chose to respect the
voluntary closure; participation dropped from 51 boats on Saturday to 4
boats on Sunday. As of July 11, 1999, the total landings of chinook
were 3,144, 644 fish over the quota.
In order to provide notification to the fishing fleet, the fishery
was closed at midnight, July 12. In making this decision, the Regional
Administrator consulted with representatives of the Pacific Fishery
Management Council and the CDFG. The State of California will manage
the commercial fishery in state waters adjacent to this area of the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in accordance with this Federal action.
As provided by the inseason notification procedures of 50 CFR 660.411,
actual
[[Page 42857]]
notice to fishermen of this action was given prior to 2400 hours l.t.,
July 12, 1999, by telephone hotline numbers 206-526-6667 and 800-662-
9825 and by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners broadcasts on Channel
16 VHF-FM and 2182 kHz. Because of the need for immediate action to
close the fishery upon achievement of the quota, NMFS has determined
that good cause exists for this action to be issued without affording a
prior opportunity for public comment. This action does not apply to
other fisheries that may be operating in other areas.
Transfer of Chinook Salmon
In the 1999 management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (64 FR
24078, May 5, 1999), NMFS announced that the commercial fishery for all
salmon except coho, from the U.S.-Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon,
would open May 1 through the earlier of June 15 or attainment of a
24,000 chinook guideline, and that the commercial fishery for all
salmon from Cape Flattery (48 deg.23'00'' N. lat.) to Cape Alava
(48 deg.10'00'' N. lat.) West of 125 deg.05'00'' W. long. and Cape
Alava to Leadbetter Point, WA, would open July 10 through the earliest
of September 30 or attainment of the overall chinook quota (preseason
4,500 chinook guideline) or 20,000 coho quota.
The May/June commercial fishery for salmon from the U.S.-Canada
border to Cape Falcon, Oregon, landed 11,116 chinook salmon of the
24,000 chinook salmon guideline, with 12,884 fish remaining. The
Regional Administrator consulted with representatives of the Pacific
Fishery Management Council, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,
and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to consider transferring
all, or a portion of, the 12,884 fish remaining from the May/June
fishery chinook guideline to the July through September season. The
States of Washington and Oregon have recommended that any amount
transferred should not result in increased impacts to Endangered
Species Act (ESA) listed stocks from the level of impacts approved in
the preseason regulations. Analysis of the transfer indicated that a
transfer of 2,500 chinook salmon to the later season from Cape Flattery
to Leadbetter Point, WA, could occur without increasing impacts to ESA-
listed salmon. Therefore, NMFS is transferring 2,500 of the remaining
12,884 chinook salmon from the May/June commercial fishery to the July
through September fishery from Cape Flattery to Leadbetter Point, WA,
making the total guideline for this area for this period 7,000 chinook
salmon.
Modification of fishing seasons is authorized by regulations at 50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). All other restrictions that applied to this
fishery remained in effect as announced in the annual management
measures. The State of Washington will manage the commercial fishery in
state waters adjacent to this area of the EEZ in accordance with this
Federal action.
Classification
This action is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 2, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-20349 Filed 8-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F