[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64005-64006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30834]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[I.D. 110498A]


Fraser River Sockeye and Pink Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Orders

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

ACTION: Inseason orders.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes the Fraser River salmon inseason orders 
regulating fisheries in U.S. waters. The orders were issued by the 
Fraser River Panel (Panel) of the Pacific Salmon Commission 
(Commission) and subsequently approved and issued by NMFS during the 
1998 sockeye and pink salmon fisheries within the Fraser River Panel 
Area (U.S.). These orders established fishing times, areas, and types 
of gear for U.S. treaty Indian and all-citizen fisheries during the 
period the Commission exercised jurisdiction over these fisheries. Due 
to the frequency with which inseason orders are issued, publication of 
individual orders is impracticable. The 1998 orders are therefore being 
published in this document to avoid fragmentation.

DATES: Each of the following inseason orders was effective when issued 
and upon announcement on telephone hotline numbers as specified at 50 
CFR 300.97(b)(1) (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional 
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN 
C15700-Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Treaty between the Government of the 
United States of America and the Government of Canada Concerning 
Pacific Salmon was signed at Ottawa on January 28, 1985, and 
subsequently was given effect in the United States by the Pacific 
Salmon Treaty Act (Act) at 16 U.S.C. 3631-3644.
    Under authority of the Act, Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 300, 
subpart F, provide a framework for implementation of certain 
regulations of the Commission and inseason orders of the Commission's 
Panel for sockeye and pink salmon fisheries in the Fraser River Panel 
Area (U.S.). Each year these regulations apply to fisheries for sockeye 
and pink salmon in the Fraser River Panel Area (U.S.) during the period 
when the Commission exercises jurisdiction over these fisheries.
    Under past agreements, the regulations close the Fraser River Panel 
Area (U.S.) to sockeye and pink salmon fishing unless opened by Panel 
regulations or by NMFS' inseason orders that give effect to Panel 
orders. The Commission's agreement for 1998 Fraser fisheries provided 
for set open and closed periods for U.S. Fraser fisheries and the Panel 
restricted these open periods as required to meet agreed to 
conservation and allocation objectives. During the fishing season, NMFS 
may issue orders that establish fishing times and areas consistent with 
the annual Commission regime and inseason orders of the Panel. Such 
orders must be consistent with domestic legal obligations. The Regional 
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, issues the inseason orders. 
Official notice of these inseason actions of NMFS is provided by two 
telephone hotline numbers described at 50 CFR 300.97(b)(1). Inseason 
orders must be published in the Federal Register as soon as practicable 
after they are issued. Due to the frequency with which inseason orders 
are issued, publication of individual orders is impractical. The 1998 
orders are, therefore, being published in this document to avoid 
fragmentation.
    The initial Commission regulations for U.S. Fraser fisheries were 
as follows:
    1. U.S. gill net and purse seine fisheries in Areas 6, 7, and 7A 
will be open Monday through Friday of each week during the period July 
27 through August 21, and will remain closed at all other times during 
the Panel control period.
    2. U.S. reef net fishery in Areas 7 and 7A will be open Saturdays 
and Sundays, July 25 through August 23, and will remain closed at all 
other times during the Panel control period.
    3. The treaty Indian fishery in Areas 4B, 5, and 6C will be open 
noon Sundays through noon Fridays, July 26 through August 21, and will 
remain closed at all other times during the Panel control period.
    The above regulations were modified by the following inseason 
orders which were adopted by the Panel and issued for U.S. fisheries by 
NMFS during the 1998 fishing season. The times listed are local times, 
and the areas designated are Puget Sound Management and Catch Reporting 
Areas as defined in the Washington State Administrative Code at Chapter 
220-22.
    Order No. 1998-1: Issued 3:00 p.m., July 24, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 4B, 5 and 6C: Open for drift gillnets from 12:00 noon, July 
26 to 12:00 noon, July 31.

All-citizen Fishery

    Areas 7, 7A: During the period from 12:01 a.m., July 25 through 
11:59 p.m., July 26, the reef net fishery will be open only from 5:00 
a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on July 25 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on July 
26.
    Order No. 1998-2: Issued 5:00 p.m., July 24, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

     Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Net fishing closed from 12:01 a.m., July 27 to 
4:00 a.m., July 28. Open from 4:00 a.m. July 28 to 7:00 a.m., July 29. 
Closed from 7:00 a.m., July 29 to 11:59 p.m., July 31.

All-citizen Fishery

    Area 6: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., July 27 to 11:59 
p.m., July 31.
    Area 7 and 7A drift gillnet fishery: Closed from 12:01 a.m., July 
27 to 7:10 a.m., July 29. Open from 7:10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., July 29. 
Closed from 12:01 a.m., July 30, to 11:59 p.m., July 31.

[[Page 64006]]

    Area 7 and 7A purse seine fishery: Closed from 12:01 a.m., July 27 
to 5:00 a.m., July 30. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., July 30. 
Closed from 9:00 p.m., July 30 to 11:59 p.m., July 31.
    Order No. 1998-3: Issued 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 31, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Open for drift gillnets from 12:00 noon, 
August 2 to 12:00 noon, August 7.
    Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., August 3 
to 5:00 a.m., August 6. Closed from 5:00 a.m., August 6 to 11:59 p.m., 
August 7.

All-citizen Fishery

    Area 6: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., August 3 to 11:59 
p.m., August 7.
    Areas 7 and 7A: During the period from 12:01 a.m., August 1 to 
11:59 p.m., August 2, the reef net fishery will only be open from 5:00 
a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on August 1 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on August 
2.
    Drift gillnet fishery: Closed from 12:01 a.m., August 3 to 7:20 
a.m., August 6. Open from 7:20 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 6. Closed 
from 12:01 a.m. to 7:20 a.m., August 7. Open from 7:20 a.m. to 11:59 
p.m., August 7.
    Purse seine fishery: Closed from 12:01 a.m., August 3 to 5:00 a.m., 
August 6. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., August 6. Closed from 9:00 
p.m., August 6 to 5:00 a.m., August 7. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 
p.m., August 7. Closed from 9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 7.
    Order No. 1998-4: Issued 5:00 p.m., August 7, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Open for drift gillnets from 12:00 noon, 
August 9 to 12:00 noon, August 14.
    Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., to 11:59 
p.m., August 10.

All-Citizen Fishery

    Area 6: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., August 10 to 11:59 
p.m., August 14.
    Area 7 and 7A: During the period from 12:01 a.m., August 8 to 11:59 
p.m., August 9, the reef net fishery will be open from 5:00 a.m. to 
9:00 p.m. on August 8 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on August 9.
    Drift gillnet and purse seine fishing: Closed from 12:01 a.m. to 
11:59 p.m., August 10.
    Order No. 1998-5: Issued 5:00 p.m., August 10, 1998

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Net fishing open 12:01 a.m., August 11 to 5:00 
a.m., August 12. Closed from 5:00 a.m., August 12 to 11:59 p.m., August 
13.

All-citizen Fishery

    Areas 7, 7A: Gillnets closed from 12:01 a.m., August 11 to 7:30 
a.m., August 12. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 12. Closed 
from 12:01 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., August 13. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:59 
p.m., August 13.
    Purse seines: Closed from 12:01 a.m., August 11 to 5:00 a.m., 
August 12. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., August 12. Closed from 
9:00 p.m., August 12 to 5:00 a.m., August 13. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 
9:00 p.m., August 13. Closed from 9:00 p.m., August 13 to 11:59 p.m., 
August 13.
    Order No. 1998-6: Issued at 5:00 p.m., August 13, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., August 
14 to 11:59 p.m., August 14.

All-citizen Fishery

    Areas 7 and 7A: Drift gillnets closed from 12:01 a.m., August 14 to 
7:30 a.m., August 14. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 14.
    Purse seines: Closed from 12:01 a.m., August 14 to 5:00 a.m., 
August 14. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., August 14. Closed from 
9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 14.
    Order No. 1998-7: Issued 5:00 p.m., August 14, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Open for drift gillnets from 12:00 noon, 
August 16 to 12:00 noon, August 21.
    Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., to 11:59 
p.m., August 17. Open from 12:01 a.m., August 18 to 11:59 p.m., August 
21.

All-citizen Fishery

    Area 6: Closed to net fishing from 12:01 a.m., August 17 to 11:59 
p.m., August 21.
    Areas 7 and 7A: During the period from 12:01 a.m., August 15 to 
11:59 p.m., August 16, the reefnet fishery will be open only from 5:00 
a.m. to 9:00 p.m., on August 15 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., on 
August 16.
    Drift gillnets: Closed from 12:01 a.m. to 7:35 a.m., August 17. 
Open from 7:35 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 17. Closed from 12:01 a.m., 
August 18 to 5:00 a.m., August 20.
    Purse seines: Closed from 12:01 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., August 17. Open 
from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., August 17. Closed from 9:00 p.m., August 
17 to 5:00 a.m., August 20.
    Order No. 1998-8: Issued 5:00 p.m., August 19, 1998.

Treaty Indian Fishery

    Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Closed to net fishing from 5:00 a.m. to 11:59 
p.m., August 21.

All-citizen Fishery:

    Areas 7 and 7A: Drift gillnets closed from 5:00 a.m., August 20 to 
7:35 a.m., August 21. Open from 7:35 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., August 21.
    Purse seines: Closed from 5:00 a.m., August 20 to 5:00 a.m., August 
21. Open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., August 21. Closed from 9:00 p.m. 
to 11:59 p.m., August 21.
    Order No. 1998-9: Issued 5:00 p.m., August 21, 1998.

All-citizen Fishery

    Areas 7 and 7A: Closed to reef net fishing from 12:01 a.m., August 
22 to 11:59 p.m., August 23.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 300.97, and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3636(b).

    Dated: November 12, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30834 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
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