[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23771]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 960126016-6121-04; I.D. 090696B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closures from the U.S.-Canadian Border to Cape 
Alava, WA, and from the Queets River 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 recreational salmon fisheries were closed 
in the following areas: From the U.S.-Canadian border to Cape Alava, WA 
(48 deg.10'00'' N. lat.), at 2400 hours local time (l.t.), August 31, 
1996; and from the Queets River (47 deg.31'42'' N. lat.) to Leadbetter 
Point, WA (46 deg.38'10'' N. lat.), at 2400 hours l.t., September 5, 
1996. The areas will remain closed under the terms of the preseason 
announcement of the 1996 management measures. The Director, Northwest 
Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has determined that the recreational 
quotas of 6,400 coho salmon and 23,000 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 coho salmon.

DATES: Closure from the U.S.-Canadian border to Cape Alava, WA, is 
effective at 2400 hours l.t., August 31, 1996, through 2400 hours l.t., 
September 26, 1996. Closure from the Queets River to Leadbetter Point, 
WA, is effective at 2400 hours l.t., September 5, 1996, through 2400 
hours l.t., September 26, 1996. Comments will be accepted through 
October 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Director, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, 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 Northwest Regional Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, 206-526-6140.

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 
an inseason action 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.
    By inseason management action (61 FR 40157, August 1, 1996), NMFS 
announced that the contingency seasons north of Cape Falcon, OR, would 
open as stated in the annual management measures for ocean salmon 
fisheries (61 FR 20175, May 6, 1996). The 1996 recreational fishery in 
the area between the U.S.-Canadian border and Cape Alava, WA, would 
open on August 5, and the 1996 recreational fishery in the area between 
the Queets River and Leadbetter Point, WA, would open on July 22. Each 
fishery would continue through September 26 or attainment of their 
respective quotas of 6,400 and 23,000 coho salmon (revised at 61 FR 
43472, August 23, 1996), whichever occurred first.
    The best available information on August 29 indicated that catch 
and effort data and projections supported closure of the recreational 
fishery in the area between the U.S.-Canadian border and Cape Alava, 
WA, at 2400 hours l.t., August 31, and closure of the recreational 
fishery in the area between the Queets River and Leadbetter Point, WA, 
at 2400 hours l.t., September 5.
    The Regional Director consulted with representatives of the Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding 
these closures. The State of Washington will manage the recreational 
fisheries 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 l.t., August 31, 
1996 (closure from the U.S.-Canadian border to Cape Alava, WA) and 2400 
hours l.t., September 5, 1996 (closure from the Queets River 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 announcement to be issued 
without affording a prior opportunity for public comment. This 
announcement 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 11, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-23771 Filed 9-16-96; 8:45 am]
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