[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50255-50256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24512]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 960126016-6121-04; I.D. 091796A]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closure from the Oregon-California Border to 
Humboldt South Jetty, CA

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area 
from the Oregon-California border (42 deg.00'00'' N. lat.) to Humboldt 
South Jetty, CA (40 deg.45'53'' N. lat.) was closed at 2400 hours local 
time (l.t.), September 14, 1996. The Regional Director, Northwest 
Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has determined that the commercial 
quota of 6,000 chinook salmon has 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 
salmon.

DATES: Effective at 2400 hours l.t., September 14, 1996, through 2400 
hours

[[Page 50256]]

l.t., September 15, 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 October 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional 
Director, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 
98115-0070, or Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Regional Director, Southwest Region, 
NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132. 
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 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 
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.
    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 September 1 and continue through September 15 or 
attainment of the 6,000 chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred first.
    The best available information on September 12, 1996, 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, September 14, 1996.
    The Regional Director consulted with representatives of the Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, the California Department of Fish and Game, 
and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding this closure. 
The State of California will manage the commercial fishery in state 
waters adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic zone in 
accordance with this Federal action. As provided by the inseason action 
procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to fishermen of this action 
was given prior to 2400 hours local time, September 14, 1996, 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 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: September 19, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24512 Filed 9-24-96; 8:45 am]
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