[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