[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25872-25873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12211]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 960429120-6120-01; I.D. 042997A]


Fisheries Off West Coast and Western Pacific States; West Coast 
Salmon Fisheries; Closure from Point Lopez to Point Mugu, CA

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

ACTION: Closure; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area 
from Point Lopez to Point Mugu, CA, was closed at 12 midnight (local 
time), April 22, 1997. The Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, 
NMFS, has determined that the commercial quota of 10,000 chinook salmon 
has been reached. This action is necessary to conform to the 1996 
announcement of management measures for 1997 salmon seasons opening 
earlier than May 1 and is intended to ensure conservation of chinook 
salmon.

DATES: Effective 2400 hours local time, April 22, 1997, through 2400 
hours local time April 30, 1997. Comments will be accepted through May 
27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional 
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070, or William Hogarth, Acting Regional 
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4132. Information relevant to this notice is 
available for public review during business hours at the Office of the 
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson, 206-526-6140, or 
Rodney McInnis, 562-980-4030.

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 Administrator 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

[[Page 25873]]

quota applies as of the date the quota is projected to be reached.
    In the 1996 management measures for 1997 ocean salmon fisheries 
opening earlier than May 1 (61 FR 20175, May 6, 1996), NMFS announced 
that the April 1997 commercial fishery in the area between Point Lopez 
and Point Mugu, CA, would open on April 15 and continue through April 
28 or attainment of the 10,000 chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred 
first.
    The best available information on April 21 indicated that catch and 
effort data and projections supported closure of the commercial fishery 
in this area at 12 midnight, April 22. The Regional Administrator 
consulted with representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and the California Department of Fish and Game in making this 
determination. 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, 
April 22, 1997, 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: May 5, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-12211 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F