[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 149 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19556]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 960126016-6121-04; I.D. 072396C]
Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Adjustments From the U.S.-Canadian
Border to Cape Falcon, OR
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the non-treaty commercial and recreational
salmon fisheries in the area from the U.S.-Canadian border to Cape
Falcon, OR, will open under the contingency seasons announced in the
annual management measures. NMFS announces that the overall treaty
Indian ocean quota for coho salmon is modified to 25,000 fish. These
actions are necessary to implement ocean salmon fisheries established
in the annual management measures.
DATES: Opening of the non-treaty commercial and recreational salmon
fisheries under the contingency seasons is effective July 22, 1996,
through September 30, 1996. Modification of the treaty Indian coho
quota is effective August 1, 1996, through September 30, 1996. Comments
will be accepted through August 13, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Director,
Northwest Region, NMFS (Regional Director), NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070. Information relevant to this action has
been compiled in aggregate form and is available for public review
during business hours at the office of the Regional Director.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, 206-526-6140.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the annual management measures for ocean
salmon fisheries (61 FR 20175, May 6, 1996), NMFS announced that the
1996 non-treaty commercial and recreational fisheries north of Cape
Falcon, OR, are closed unless the conditions allowing the contingency
seasons are met. Specifically, if the Canadian harvest of coho salmon
off the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) is determined to be 1.3
million coho or less, contingency seasons recommended by the Pacific
Fishery Management Council would be implemented. At a Canadian harvest
level between 1.1 million and 1.3 million coho off WCVI, the non-treaty
ocean total allowable catch (TAC) would be zero chinook and 75,000 coho
(18,800 coho to the commercial fishery and 56,200 coho to the
recreational fishery). At a Canadian harvest level of less than 1.1
million coho off WCVI, the non treaty coho TAC could be increased upon
the recommendation of the States of Washington and Oregon and the
treaty Indian tribes. The contingency seasons and any adjustments to
the non-treaty coho TAC would be implemented by the Regional Director
using the inseason management authority and process.
On July 19, 1996, agreement was reached between the United States
and Canada that the Canadian harvest of coho salmon off WCVI would be
less than 1 million fish. This harvest level allows the implementation
of the contingency seasons and the consideration of increasing the non-
treaty coho TAC. U.S. fishery managers agreed that any additional
harvest opportunity on coho salmon would be provided to the inside
fisheries instead of the ocean fisheries. Therefore, the non-treaty
coho ocean TAC will remain at 75,000 coho, and the contingency seasons
will open as described in Tables 1 and 2 of the annual management
measures (61 FR 20181, May 6, 1996).
The annual management measures for the treaty Indian troll
fisheries initially set the coho quota at 12,500 fish. In accordance
with the provisions in the annual management measures for a Canadian
harvest level between 1.1 million and 1.3 million coho off WCVI, the
Regional Director is raising the treaty Indian coho quota to 25,000
fish.
The Regional Director consulted with representatives of the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish
and Game, Pacific Fishery Management Council, and treaty Indian tribes
regarding this action. The States of Washington and Oregon will open
the non-treaty commercial and recreational fisheries in state waters as
provided in the annual management measures for the contingency seasons.
The treaty Indian tribes will manage the treaty troll fisheries in
accordance with the revised coho quota. As provided by the inseason
action procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to fishermen of the
opening of the non-treaty commercial and recreational fisheries was
given prior to July 22, 1996 (opening date of recreational seasons in
two subareas between Leadbetter Point, WA, and Cape Falcon, OR), by
telephone hotline number 206-526-6667 or 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 open these fisheries in a
timely manner, 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.
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: July 26, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19556 Filed 7-29-96; 8:55 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F