[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48072-48073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23253]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 960126016-6121-04; I.D. 090396B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closures from the Oregon-California Border to 
Humboldt South Jetty, CA, and from the U.S.-Canadian Border to 
Leadbetter Point, WA

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that commercial salmon fisheries were closed in 
the following areas: from the Oregon-California border (42 deg.00'00'' 
N. lat.) to Humboldt South Jetty, CA (40 deg.45'53'' N. lat.), at 
midnight, August 22, 1996; and from the U.S.-Canadian border to 
Leadbetter Point, WA (46 deg.38'10'' N. lat.), at midnight, August 24, 
1996. The Director, Northwest Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined that the commercial quotas of 2,500 chinook salmon and 
20,800 coho salmon for the respective areas have been reached. This 
action is necessary to conform to the preseason announcement of the 
1996 management measures and is intended to ensure conservation of 
chinook and coho salmon.

DATES: Closure from the Oregon-California border to Humboldt South 
Jetty, CA, is effective at 2400 hours local time, August 22, 1996, 
through 0001 hours local time, September 1, 1996, at which time the 
season reopens under the terms of the preseason announcement of the 
1996 management measures. Closure from the U.S.-Canadian border to 
Leadbetter Point, WA, is effective at 2400 hours local time, August 24, 
1996, through 2400 hours local time, September 30, 1996, at which time 
the season remains closed under the terms of the preseason announcement 
of the 1996 management measures. Comments will be accepted through 
September 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Director, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-
0070, or Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132. Information 
relevant to this action

[[Page 48073]]

has been compiled in aggregate form and is available for public review 
during business hours at the Northwest Regional Office or Southwest 
Regional Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, 206-526-6140, or 
Rodney R. McInnis, 310-980-4030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Director to be reached on or by a certain date, NMFS will, by 
notice 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 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (61 FR 
20175, May 6, 1996), NMFS announced that the 1996 commercial fishery in 
the area between the Oregon-California border and Humboldt South Jetty, 
CA, would open on August 15 and continue through August 31 or 
attainment of the 2,500 chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred first. 
NMFS also announced that a 1996 commercial fishery contingency season 
in the area between the U.S.-Canadian border and Leadbetter Point, WA, 
would open on July 26 and continue through September 30 or attainment 
of the 18,800 chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred first. An 
inseason action at 61 FR 40157, August 1, 1996, announced 
implementation of the contingency season. A further inseason action at 
61 FR 43472, August 23, 1996, increased the commercial coho salmon 
quota for the area to 20,800 fish.
    The best available information on August 21 indicated that catch 
and effort data and projections supported closure of the commercial 
fishery in the area between the Oregon-California border and Humboldt 
South Jetty, CA, at midnight, August 22, and closure of the commercial 
fishery in the area between the U.S.-Canadian border and Leadbetter 
Point, WA, at midnight, August 24.
    The Regional Director consulted with representatives of the Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, the California Department of Fish and Game, 
and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding these 
closures. The States of California and Washington will manage the 
commercial fishery in state waters adjacent to these areas of the 
exclusive economic zone in accordance with this Federal action. As 
provided by the inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual 
notice to fishermen of this action was given prior to 2400 hours local 
time, August 22, 1996 (closure from the Oregon-California border to 
Humboldt South Jetty, CA) and 2400 hours local time, August 24, 1996 
(closure from the U.S.-Canadian border to Leadbetter Point, WA) 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 stop the fishery upon 
achievement of the quota, NMFS has determined that good cause exists 
for this notice to be issued without affording a prior opportunity for 
public comment. This notice 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: September 5, 1996
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-23253 Filed 9-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F