[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24078-24090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11278]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 990430113-913-01; I.D. 042799A]
RIN 0648-AL64


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; 1999 Management Measures

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

ACTION: Annual management measures for the ocean salmon fishery; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the ocean 
salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California for 1999 and 
2000 salmon seasons opening earlier than May 1, 2000. Specific fishery 
management measures vary by fishery and by area. The measures establish 
fishing areas, seasons, quotas, legal gear, recreational fishing days 
and catch limits, possession and landing restrictions, and minimum 
lengths for salmon taken in the exclusive economic zone (3-200 nm) off 
Washington, Oregon, and California. These management measures are 
intended to prevent overfishing and to apportion the ocean harvest 
equitably among treaty Indian and non-treaty commercial and 
recreational fisheries. The measures are also intended to allow a 
portion of the salmon runs to escape the ocean fisheries in order to 
provide for spawning escapement and for inside fisheries.

DATES: Effective from 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time (P.d.t.), May 1, 
1999, until the effective date of the 2000 management measures, as 
published in the Federal Register. Comments must be received by May 17, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the management measures and the related 
environmental assessment (EA) may be sent to William Stelle, Jr., 
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way 
N.E., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or William Hogarth, Regional 
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Copies of the EA and other documents 
cited in this document are available from Larry Six, Executive 
Director, Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2130 S.W. Fifth Ave., 
Suite 224, Portland, OR 97201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson at 206-526-6140, or 
Svein Fougner at 562-980-4040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The ocean salmon fisheries in the exclusive economic zone off 
Washington, Oregon, and California are managed under a ``framework'' 
fishery management plan entitled the Pacific Coast Salmon Plan (FMP). 
Regulations at 50 CFR part 660, subpart H, provide the mechanism for 
making preseason and inseason adjustments to the management measures, 
within limits set by the FMP, by notification in the Federal Register.
    These management measures for the 1999 and pre-May 2000 ocean 
salmon fisheries were recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) at its April 5 to 9, 1999, meeting.

Schedule Used To Establish 1999 Management Measures

    In accordance with the FMP, the Council's Salmon Technical Team 
(STT) and staff economist prepared several reports for the Council, its 
advisors, and the public. The first report, ``Review of 1998 Ocean 
Salmon Fisheries,'' (Review) summarizes the 1998 ocean salmon fisheries 
and assesses how well the Council's management objectives were met in 
1998. The second report, ``Preseason Report I Stock Abundance Analysis 
for 1999 Ocean Salmon Fisheries'' (PRE I), provides the 1999 salmon 
stock abundance projections and analyzes the impacts on the stocks and 
Council management goals if the 1998 regulations or regulatory 
procedures

[[Page 24079]]

were applied to the 1999 stock abundances.
    The Council met from March 8 to 12, 1999, in Portland, Oregon, to 
develop proposed management options for 1999. Three commercial and 
three recreational fishery management options were proposed for 
analysis and public comment. These options presented various 
combinations of management measures designed to protect numerous weak 
stocks of coho and chinook salmon and to provide for ocean harvests of 
more abundant stocks. After the March Council meeting, the STT and 
Council staff economist prepared a third report, ``Preseason Report II 
Analysis of Proposed Regulatory Options for 1999 Ocean Salmon 
Fisheries'' (PRE II), which analyzes the effects of the proposed 1999 
management options. This report also was made available to the Council, 
its advisors, and the public.
    Public hearings on the proposed options were held on March 29, 
1999, in Westport, WA, and North Bend, OR; and on March 30, 1999, in 
Astoria, OR, Moss Landing, CA, and Eureka, CA.
    The Council met on April 5 to 9, 1999, in Sacramento, CA, to adopt 
its final 1999 recommendations. Following the April Council meeting, 
the STT and Council staff economist prepared a fourth report, 
``Preseason Report III Analysis of Council-Adopted Management Measures 
for 1999 Ocean Salmon Fisheries'' (PRE III), which analyzes the 
environmental and socio-economic effects of the Council's final 
recommendations. This report also was made available to the Council, 
its advisors, and the public.

Resource Status

    Aside from salmon species listed and proposed for listing under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) discussed here, the primary resource 
concerns are for Klamath River fall chinook, and Washington coastal and 
Puget Sound natural coho. Management of all of these stocks is affected 
by interjurisdictional agreements among tribal, State, Federal, and/or 
Canadian managers.

Chinook Salmon Stocks

    California Central Valley fall chinook stocks are abundant compared 
to other chinook stocks of the Pacific coast. The Central Valley Index 
of abundance of combined Central Valley chinook stocks is projected to 
be 847,700 for 1999, 12 percent below the 1998 pre-season estimate (PRE 
I). The spawning escapement of Sacramento River adult fall chinook was 
237,500 adults in 1998 (PRE III), well above the escapement goal range 
of 122,000 to 180,000 adult spawners.
    Winter chinook from the Sacramento River are listed under the ESA 
as an endangered species (59 FR 440, January 4, 1994). The 1998 
spawning run size was estimated to be approximately 1800 adults, a 38 
percent increase over the estimated 1995 adult escapement. Neither pre-
season nor post-season estimates of ocean abundance are available for 
winter chinook; however, the run is expected to remain depressed in 
1999.
    Klamath River fall chinook ocean abundance is projected to be 
105,400, age-3 and age-4, fish at the beginning of the fishing season. 
The abundance forecast is 17 percent below the 1998 pre-season 
abundance estimate and 45 percent below the average of post-season 
estimates for 1989-1998 (PRE I). The spawning escapement goal for the 
stock is 33 to 34 percent of the potential natural adults, but no fewer 
than 35,000 natural spawners (fish that spawn outside of hatcheries). 
The natural spawning escapement in 1998 was 41,900 adults (Review).
    Oregon coastal chinook stocks include south-migrating and localized 
stocks primarily from southern Oregon streams and north-migrating 
chinook stocks which generally originate in central and northern Oregon 
streams. Abundance of south-migrating and localized stocks is expected 
to be similar to the levels observed in 1998 (PRE I). These stocks are 
important contributors to ocean fisheries off Oregon and northern 
California. The generalized expectation for north-migrating stocks is 
for an average abundance (PRE I). These stocks contribute primarily to 
ocean fisheries off British Columbia and Alaska. It is expected that 
the aggregate Oregon coastal chinook spawning escapement goal of 
150,000 to 200,000 naturally spawning adults will be met in 1999 (PRE 
I).
    Estimates of Columbia River chinook abundance vary by stock as 
follows:
    (1) Upper Columbia River spring and summer chinook. Numbers of 
upriver spring chinook predicted to return to the river in 1999 are 
24,600 fish, less than two-thirds of the 1998 return of 38,300 and only 
22 percent of 1997 return of 114,000 adult fish (PRE I). The 1999 
forecast indicates a return to recent year escapement levels and the 
continued depressed status of this stock. In recent years, the natural 
component of this stock generally has comprised less than one-third of 
the upriver spring chinook run, compared to approximately 70 percent of 
the run when the original escapement goal was developed. The 1997 
return of 114,100 fish was at least two-thirds of hatchery origin. The 
natural stock component remains severely depressed, with Snake River 
spring/summer chinook listed as threatened under the ESA. The 1998 
return of 21,500 adult summer chinook was 24 percent above the 
preseason expectation and the largest return since 1990 (PRE III). 
Expected ocean escapement of adult upriver summer chinook is 16,500 
adult fish (PRE III). The 1999 stock status remains extremely 
depressed, with a forecast return of 16,500 fish being only 21 percent 
of the lower end of the spawning escapement goal range of 80,000 to 
90,000 adults counted at Bonneville Dam. Upriver summer chinook migrate 
to the far north and are not a major contributor to ocean fisheries off 
Washington and Oregon. Snake River spring and summer chinook are listed 
as threatened under the ESA (57 FR 14653, April 22, 1992).
    (2) Willamette River spring chinook. Willamette River spring 
chinook returns are projected to be 46,500 fish, close to the 1998 
return of 45,000 fish (PRE I), and the sixth consecutive year that the 
adult return is less than 50,000 fish. Lower Columbia River spring 
chinook stocks are important contributors to Council area fishery 
catches north of Cape Falcon; Willamette River spring chinook stocks 
generally contribute to Canadian and Alaskan ocean fisheries.
    (3) Columbia River fall chinook. Abundance estimates are made for 
five distinct fall chinook stock units, as follows:
    (a) Upriver bright fall chinook ocean escapement is expected to be 
147,500 adults, 4 percent above the 1998 observed return of 141,500 
adults (PRE III). This stock has a northern ocean migratory pattern and 
constitutes less than 10 percent of Council area fisheries north of 
Cape Falcon.
    (b) Lewis River wild chinook ocean escapement is forecast at 2,600 
adults, 37 percent of the 1998 run size of 7,000 adults (PRE III). One 
of the primary reasons for this decline and for Lewis River not being 
expected to meet the spawning escapement goal for wild chinook is 
because of short term impacts from previous flooding events; therefore, 
this decline should not be a long term trend.
    (c) Lower river hatchery (Tules) fall chinook ocean escapement is 
forecast at 34,800 adults, 18 percent below the 1998 observed return of 
42,600 adults (PRE III). This stock has declined sharply since the 
record high return in 1987. Lower Columbia River fall chinook stocks 
normally account for more than half the total catch in Council area 
fisheries north of Cape Falcon, with

[[Page 24080]]

lower river hatchery fall chinook being the single largest contributing 
stock. The March forecast return is only 9 percent above the current 
estimated ocean escapement of 32,000 adults needed to meet brood stock 
requirements.
    (d) Spring Creek hatchery (Tules) fall chinook ocean escapement is 
projected to be 65,800 adults, over 300 percent greater than the 1998 
observed return of 19,500 adults (PRE III). The Spring Creek hatchery 
fall chinook stock generally has been rebuilding slowly since the 
record low return in 1987, but this year's projection of 65,800 adults 
is the largest return since 1982.
    (e) Mid-Columbia bright fall chinook ocean escapement is projected 
to be 38,000 adults, close to the 1998 return of 36,600 adults (PRE 
III).
    (4) Snake River wild fall chinook. Snake River wild fall chinook 
are listed under the ESA as a threatened species (57 FR 14653, April 
22, 1992). Information on the stock's ocean distribution and fishery 
impacts are not available. Attempts to evaluate fishery impacts on 
Snake River fall chinook have used the Lyons Ferry Hatchery stock to 
represent Snake River wild fall chinook. The Lyons Ferry stock is 
widely distributed and harvested by ocean fisheries from southern 
California to Alaska.
    Washington coastal and Puget Sound chinook generally migrate to the 
far north and are affected insignificantly by ocean harvests from Cape 
Falcon to the U.S.-Canada border.

Coho Salmon Stocks

    Central California coast coho and southern Oregon/northern 
California coast coho are listed as threatened species under the ESA 
(61 FR 56138, October 31, 1996, and 62 FR 24588, May 6, 1997). Coho 
populations in California have not been monitored closely in the past, 
and no forecasts of the ocean abundance of listed coho originating from 
California are available; these runs have been generally at low 
abundance levels for many years.
    Oregon coastal natural, recently listed as threatened under the ESA 
(63 FR 42587, August 10, 1998), and Columbia River coho stocks are the 
primary components of the Oregon Production Index (OPI), an annual 
index of coho abundance from Leadbetter Point, WA, to the U.S.-Mexico 
border. The 1999 OPI is forecast to be 620,600 coho, 374 percent of the 
1998 preseason forecast of 165,800 coho, and 266 percent of the 1998 
observed level of 233,100 coho (PRE I). The 1999 estimate for OCN is 
60,700 coho, 29 percent above the 1998 preseason forecast of 47,200 
coho, and 209 percent of the 1998 observed level of 29,200 coho (PRE 
I). The 1998 spawning escapement of the OCN stock was 29,200 fish, the 
second smallest for the last 7 years.
    Most Washington coastal natural coho stocks and Puget Sound 
combined natural coho stocks are expected to be more abundant in 1999 
than forecast in 1998. The 1999 Willapa Bay hatchery total ocean stock 
abundance forecast is 40,500 adults, approximately 95 percent greater 
than 1998 (PRE I). The prediction is based upon an average terminal 
area return per release (1992-1997) adjusted by a mean jack return rate 
for the same brood years. Willapa Bay coho production is predominately 
hatchery origin, and until 1998, only hatchery abundance was predicted. 
This year, the estimate of natural coho is 8,300. The estimate of Grays 
Harbor natural stock ocean abundance for 1999 is 57,700 adults, an 
increase of 92 percent from the 1998 preseason expected abundance (PRE 
I). The estimate of hatchery stock ocean abundance is 30,400 adults, an 
increase of 19 percent from the preseason 1998 estimate (PRE I). The 
Quinault natural coho ocean run size is 7,300 fish, an increase of 17 
percent from the 1998 projected level (PRE I). The Quinault hatchery 
coho ocean run size is forecast at 8,200 fish, an increase of 111 
percent compared to the 1998 level (PRE I). The Queets natural coho 
ocean run size is 4,300 fish, a slight increase of from the 1998 
projected level of 4,200 (PRE I). The Queets hatchery coho ocean run 
size is forecast at 10,800 fish, an increase of 134 percent compared to 
the 1998 level (PRE I). The Hoh River natural coho ocean run size is 
3,200 fish, a decrease of 6 percent compared to the 1998 projected 
level (PRE I). The 1999 forecast abundance of Quillayute River natural 
and hatchery components are 1,200 and 3,500, respectively (PRE I). The 
1999 forecast abundance of natural summer coho is 8 percent below the 
1998 forecast, while the hatchery is 94 percent above it's 1998 
forecast.

Pink Salmon Stocks

    Major pink salmon runs return to the Fraser River and Puget Sound 
only in odd-numbered years. In 1997, abundance was 8.2 million Fraser 
River pink salmon, and 4.41 million Puget Sound pink salmon. The 
preseason forecasts for 1999 ocean abundance of Fraser River and Puget 
Sound pink salmon are not available at this time.

Management Measures for 1999

    The Council recommended allowable ocean harvest levels and 
management measures for 1999 designed to apportion the burden of 
protecting the weak stocks previously discussed equitably among ocean 
fisheries and to allow maximum harvest of natural and hatchery runs 
surplus to inside fishery and spawning needs. NMFS finds the Council's 
recommendations responsive to the goals of the FMP, the requirements of 
the resource, and the socio-economic factors affecting resource users. 
The recommendations are consistent with the requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other 
applicable law, including the ESA and U.S. obligations to Indian tribes 
with Federally recognized fishing rights. Accordingly, NMFS hearby 
adopts them.
    Since completion of the April 29, 1998, supplement to the March 8, 
1996, biological opinion on the status of endangered and threatened 
salmon in the ocean salmon fisheries, NMFS has listed Oregon coastal 
coho as threatened under the ESA (63 FR 42587, August 10, 1998) and 
four populations of chinook (Puget Sound, Lower Columbia River, Upper 
Willamette River, and Upper Columbia River spring) as threatened (64 FR 
14308, March 24, 1999). Three populations of chinook (Central Valley 
spring, Central Valley fall, and southern Oregon/northern California 
coastal) remain proposed for listing (64 FR 14329, March 24, 1999). In 
a March 1, 1999, letter to the Council, NMFS provided guidance on 
protective measures for listed species for the 1999 season.
    Amendment 13 to the FMP, which has been approved by NMFS, provides 
separate exploitation rate targets for four OCN sub-stocks that depend 
on measures of prior escapement and ocean survival. NMFS ESA guidance 
required that the three northern sub-stocks be managed in accordance 
with Amendment 13, which permits an exploitation rate of 15 percent 
under the medium level of ocean survival. The southern sub-stock is 
part of the southern Oregon/northern California coastal coho. However, 
NMFS urged the Council to target a precautionary exploitation rate of 
10 percent or less, expressing strong concern that actual OCN abundance 
may fall considerably short of the preseason forecast if the current 
trend of the previous two years in overestimated forecasts continue. 
This precautionary approach was also recommended by both the Council's 
Scientific and Statistical Committee and STT advisory bodies. NMFS ESA 
guidance required that Council fisheries be managed so that the total 
ocean exploitation rate on the southern Oregon/northern California 
coastal coho be constrained to 13 percent or less, the

[[Page 24081]]

lowest exploitation rate specified under the rebuilding provisions of 
Amendment 13. In addition, NMFS required that the retention of coho in 
recreational and commercial fisheries off California continue to be 
prohibited. In accordance with the NMFS guidance, the Council's 
recommendations result in a 8.79-percent exploitation rate for OCN coho 
(freshwater and marine), a 4.9-percent marine exploitation rate impact 
for Rogue/Klamath coho, and retention of coho off California is 
prohibited for the fifth consecutive year.
    The Council recommended measures expected to produce an 8.79-
percent OCN coho exploitation rate based on the current estimate of 8-
percent hooking mortality in recreational fisheries, including 
selective fisheries. However, several recent studies indicate that the 
hooking mortality rate may be much higher. Therefore, the Council also 
analyzed the recommended measures assuming a 16 percent hooking 
mortality in selective fisheries which produced an estimated 10.11 
percent OCN coho exploitation rate. The Council has appointed an ad hoc 
committee to initiate a review of hooking mortality issues and 
recommend any changes for the year 2000 season.
    Sacramento River winter chinook is listed as an endangered species 
under the ESA. A March 8, 1996, biological opinion and a February 18, 
1997, addendum require that NMFS reduce all harvest-related impacts to 
the Sacramento River winter chinook salmon population by a level that 
would achieve at least a 31-percent increase in the age-3 spawner-to-
spawner replacement rate over a base period of 1989 through 1993. The 
increase in the spawner-to-spawner replacement rate projected for 1999 
achieves the minimum 31 percent rate over the base period.
    NMFS concluded that incidental fishery impacts that occur in the 
ocean salmon fishery proposed for the period from May 1, 1999, through 
April 30, 2000 (or until the effective date of the 1999 management 
measures), will not jeopardize the continued existence of populations 
of chinook proposed for listing. However, NMFS requested the Council to 
reserve final action on those seasons opening prior to May 1 off 
California for the Council's November 1999 meeting, by which time NMFS 
will provide the Council with any necessary guidance regarding 
anticipated consultation standards for newly listed populations.
    From the U.S.-Canada border to Cape Falcon, ocean fisheries are 
managed to protect depressed lower Columbia River fall chinook salmon 
and Washington coastal and Puget Sound natural coho salmon stocks and 
to meet ESA requirements for Snake River fall chinook salmon. Ocean 
treaty and non-treaty harvests and management measures were based in 
part on negotiations between Washington State fishery managers, 
commercial and recreational fishing groups, and the Washington coastal, 
Puget Sound, and Columbia River treaty Indian tribes as authorized by 
the U.S. District Court in U.S. v. Washington, U.S. v. Oregon, and Hoh 
Indian Tribe v. Baldrige.
    North of Cape Falcon, Oregon, the 1999 management measures are more 
liberal than during 1998. They are the largest chinook and coho quotas 
since 1993, but are still restricted to protect depressed Washington 
coastal, Puget Sound, and Oregon Coastal Natural (OCN) coho stocks.
    The Council adopted a new commercial troll fishery for all salmon 
that will open between Cape Flattery to Cape Alava, WA West of 
125 deg.05'00'' W. long. and Cape Alava to Leadbetter Point, WA on July 
10 through earliest of September 30 or attainment of the overall 
chinook quota. The new boundary in Washington was suggested by industry 
representatives to try to prevent impacts to the newly listed Puget 
Sound chinook ESU. This new boundary closes the area off the mouth of 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the time when the chinook from Puget 
Sound are thought to be migrating back to their spawning grounds.
    The Columbia Control Zone was another area where the Council 
adopted new boundaries. The new boundaries cover the ocean area at the 
Columbia River mouth bounded by a line extending for 6 nm due west from 
North Head along 46 deg.18'00'' N. lat. to 124 deg.13'18'' W. long., 
then southerly to 46 deg.13'24'' N. lat. and 124 deg.11'00'' W. long. 
(green, Columbia River Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy #1), then southerly 
to 46 deg.11'06'' N. lat. and 124 deg.11'00'' W. long. (red, Columbia 
River Approach Lighted Whistle Buoy), then northeast along red buoy 
line to the tip of the south jetty.
    South of Cape Falcon, OR, the retention of coho is prohibited for 
the fifth consecutive year, except for a recreational selective fishery 
off Oregon in July with a 15,000 fish quota of marked hatchery coho. 
Chinook fisheries are constrained primarily to meet the Klamath River 
fall chinook natural spawner escapement floor and ESA standards for 
Sacramento River winter chinook. These constraints also limit impacts 
on threatened Snake River fall chinook, Oregon Coastal coho, Southern 
Oregon/Northern California Coast coho, and Central California coho. 
Size limit, gear, and seasonal restrictions are intended to reduce 
harvest impacts on endangered Sacramento River winter chinook.
    The selective fishery proposal off the Oregon coast is 
controversial because of potential impacts on Oregon coastal natural 
(OCN) coho, which include the Oregon Coastal and the northern end of 
the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coastal Coho ESUs listed as 
threatened under the ESA. The options for the selective fishery 
originally ranged from allowing a landed catch of 60,000 coho (option 
1), to a 20,000 catch (option 2), to no selective fishery (option 3).
    Several concerns arose. The forecasted return, although better than 
last year, is not sufficiently large to replace the parent brood. There 
is no evidence yet that OCN stocks are recovering from record low 
spawning escapement levels. There is substantial uncertainly 
surrounding estimates of hooking and handling mortality to natural 
(unmarked) coho in a selective fishery. Finally, there is the 
perception that by proposing new fisheries, Oregon's efforts to achieve 
voluntary improvements in freshwater habitat from land owners and 
businesses will be damaged. NMFS' view is that the uncertainties and 
potential risks described above called for an extremely precautionary 
approach to allowing selective fisheries on marked hatchery coho.
    The ODFW proposed a 10,000 fish quota. However, based on a proposed 
exchange between the commercial troll and recreational fishery advisory 
panel representatives, the selective fisheries quota was raised from 
10,000 to 15,000 fish, coupled with a reduction in the number of days 
of commercial trolling off Oregon that would result in no change in 
impacts on OCN coho from the original motion for a selective fishery 
with a 10,000 fish quota. Oregon will also intensively monitor this 
selective fishery to gain more information regarding impacts of the 
selective fishery and to help in the shaping of future selective 
fisheries. NMFS believes the modest selective fishery and planned 
monitoring program are sufficiently precautionary.
    The Council recommended the continued use of an increase in the 
minimum size limit in the recreational fishery to 24 in (61.0 cm) south 
of Horse Mountain in conjunction with restricted seasons to reduce 
incidental ocean harvest of Sacramento River winter chinook. The 
Council recommended the continuation of gear restrictions for

[[Page 24082]]

recreational fisheries off California to minimize hooking mortality.
    The Council recommended an August 1 through September 6 
recreational fishery between Point Arena and the U.S.-Mexico Border in 
which the bag limit will be the first two fish caught (excluding coho) 
with no minimum size limit. Any coho salmon caught must be released.
    The Council also recommended a commercial troll test fishery 
operating inside 6 nm from July 1 through July 14 between Fort Ross and 
Point Reyes under a 2,500 fish quota. The test fishery is designed to 
assess the relative contribution of Klamath River fall chinook to the 
catch of a near-shore commercial fishery in the test area.

Commercial Troll Fisheries

North of Cape Falcon

    The size limit for chinook is 28 in (71.1 cm) (21.5 in (54.6 cm) 
head-off), 16 in (40.6 cm) (12 in (30.5 cm) head-off) for coho, and 
there is no size limit for pink salmon.
    The commercial troll fishery for all salmon except coho will open 
between the U.S.-Canada border and Cape Falcon, OR, on May 1 and 
continue through the earlier of June 15 or attainment of the 24,000 
chinook quota. The Columbia Control Zone is closed. Inseason actions 
may modify harvest guidelines in later fisheries to achieve or prevent 
exceeding the overall quota.
    The commercial troll fishery for all salmon will open between Cape 
Flattery to Cape Alava, WA, West of 125 deg.05'00'' W. long. and Cape 
Alava to Leadbetter Point, WA, on July 10 and continue through the 
earliest of September 30 or attainment of the overall chinook quota 
(preseason 4,500 chinook guideline) or 20,000 coho quota. The season 
follows a cycle of 4 days open/3 days closed. No more than 4 spreads 
are allowed per line. Gear is restricted to plugs 6 in (15.2 cm) or 
longer. Flashers without hooks may be used if installed below the 
second spread from the top and will not be counted as a spread. No more 
than one flasher is allowed per line. Each vessel may possess, land and 
deliver no more than 100 coho per open period (trip limits, gear 
restrictions and guidelines may be adjusted inseason). Vessels must 
land and deliver their fish within 24 hours of any closure of this 
fishery within the area or adjacent closed area.

South of Cape Falcon

    Retention of coho salmon is prohibited in all areas south of Cape 
Falcon, OR. All seasons listed below are restricted to all salmon 
species except coho salmon. Off California, no more than six lines are 
allowed per vessel. Off Oregon, no more than four spreads are allowed 
per line. The size limit for chinook is 26 in (66.0 cm) (19.5 in (49.5 
cm) head-off), except south of Point Arena after June when the size 
limit increases to 27 in (68.6 cm) (20.25 in (51.4 cm) head-off).
    From Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR, the commercial fishery 
opened April 1 and will continue through July 17, then reopen August 1 
through August 29, and then reopen September 1 through October 31.
    From Humbug Mountain, OR, to the Oregon-California border, the 
commercial fishery will open May 1 and will continue through May 31.
    From Sisters Rocks to Mack Arch, OR, the commercial fishery will 
open August 1 and continue through the earlier of August 31 or 
attainment of the 2,500 chinook quota. The open area is restricted to 0 
to 4 nm (7.4 km) off shore. All salmon must be landed and delivered to 
Gold Beach, Port Orford, or Brookings, OR within 24 hours of each 
closure.
    From House Rock, OR, to Humboldt South Jetty, CA, the commercial 
fishery will open September 1 and continue through the earlier of 
September 30 or attainment of the 7,000 chinook quota. Restrictions 
include a possession and landing limit of no more than 30 fish per day; 
all fish caught in this area must be landed within the area; and the 
Klamath Control Zone is closed. Within the 7,000 chinook quota is a 
1,000 chinook harvest guideline for landings to the port of Brookings, 
OR. If this guideline is reached prior to the overall quota, the 
fishery will close north of the Oregon-California border. When the 
fishery is closed north of the Oregon-California border and open to the 
south, Oregon State regulations provide that: Vessels with fish on 
board caught in the open area off California may seek temporary mooring 
in Brookings, OR, prior to landing in California only if such vessels 
first notify the Chetco River Coast Guard Station via VHF channel 22A 
between the hours of 0500 and 2200 and provide the name of the vessel, 
number of fish on board, and estimated time of arrival.
    From Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA, the commercial fishery will 
open September 1 through September 30. The minimum size limit is 26 in 
(66.0 cm).
    From Point Arena to Point Reyes, CA, the commercial fishery will 
open July 17 through September 30. The minimum size limit is 27 in 
(68.6 cm).
    From Fort Ross to Point Reyes, CA, a test troll commercial fishery 
inside 6 nm will open July 1 through the earlier of July 14 or an 
overall 2,500 chinook quota, for all salmon except coho. The minimum 
size limit is 26 in (66.0 cm) for consistency with the 1998 test 
fishery. There is a landing limit of no more than 30 fish per day. All 
fish caught in this area must be landed in Bodega Bay, CA. Fish taken 
outside this test fishery may not be landed at Bodega Bay while this 
fishery is open. These restrictions are necessary to assure the data 
collected from the test fishery are valid.
    From Point Reyes to Point San Pedro, CA, the commercial fishery 
will open July 1 through September 30. The minimum size limit is 27 in 
(68.6 cm).
    From Point San Pedro, CA, to the U.S.-Mexico border, the commercial 
fishery will open May 1 through August 21 and September 1 through 
September 30. The minimum size limit is 26 in (66.0 cm) through June 
30, and 27 in (68.6 cm) after June 30.

Recreational Fisheries

North of Cape Falcon

    The size limit for chinook is 24 in (61.0 cm), 16 in (40.6 cm) for 
coho, and there is no size limit for pink salmon. All retained coho 
must have a healed adipose fin clip.
    From the U.S.-Canada border to Cape Alava, WA the fishery will open 
on July 19 through the earlier of September 30 or attainment of the 
10,200 coho subarea quota. All salmon may be retained except chinook (7 
days per week). There is a 2-fish per day daily bag limit.
    From Cape Alava to the Queets River, WA the fishery will open on 
July 19 through the earlier of September 30 or attainment of the 2,600 
coho subarea quota. The fishery is open 7 days per week with a 2-fish 
daily bag limit. Inseason management may be used to sustain season 
length and keep harvest within a guideline of 400 chinook.
    From the Queets River to Leadbetter Point, WA the fishery will open 
on July 19 through the earlier of September 30 or attainment of the 
42,200 coho subarea quota. The fishery is open Sunday through Thursday 
only, for all salmon, with a two-fish daily bag limit, but no more than 
1 chinook, and no more than six fish in a calender week (Sunday through 
Saturday). The fishery is closed 0 to 3 nm (4.8 km) offshore beginning 
August 22. Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and 
keep harvest within a guideline of 13,400 chinook.
    From Leadbetter Point, WA, to Cape Falcon, OR, the fishery will 
open on July 19 through the earlier of September 30 or attainment of 
the 55,000 coho subarea quota. The fishery is open

[[Page 24083]]

Sunday through Thursday only, for all salmon, with a 2-fish daily bag 
limit, but no more than 1 chinook a day. No more than six fish may be 
retained in a calender week (Sunday through Saturday). Coho retention 
is prohibited between Tillamook Head and Cape Falcon beginning August 1 
(i.e., all salmon except coho and a daily bag limit of 1 chinook). The 
fishery is closed in Recreational Columbia Control Zone (a newly 
defined area for 1999 defined previously and in Table 2). Inseason 
management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within 
a guideline of 7,600 chinook.

South of Cape Falcon

    Retention of coho salmon is prohibited in all areas south of Cape 
Falcon, except for a recreational selective fishery off Oregon in July 
with a 15,000 fish quota of marked hatchery coho. The size limit for 
chinook is 20 in (50.8 cm) from Cape Falcon to Horse Mountain and 24 in 
(61.0 cm) from Horse Mountain south. The size limit for coho is 16 in 
(40.6 cm) in the selective fishery and all retained coho must have a 
healed adipose fin clip. There is no size limit for pink salmon off 
Washington and Oregon. The size limit for pink salmon off California is 
20 in (50.8 cm). In the ``first two fish bag limit'' areas there are no 
size restrictions. All seasons listed below are restricted to all 
salmon species except coho salmon, except in the specified selective 
fishery. North of Point Conception, CA, persons fishing for salmon and 
persons fishing from a boat with salmon on board are restricted to no 
more than one rod per angler. From Horse Mountain to Point Conception, 
CA, the following restrictions apply:
    If angling by any other means than trolling, then no more than two 
single point, single shank, barbless circle hooks shall be used. The 
distance between the two hooks must not exceed 5 in (12.7 cm) when 
measured from the top of the eye of the top hook to the inner base of 
the curve of the lower hook, and both hooks must be permanently tied in 
place (hard tied). A circle hook is defined as a hook with a generally 
circular shape and a point which turns inwards, pointing directly to 
the shank at a 90 degree angle. Circle hooks are not required when 
artificial lures are used without bait. Trolling is defined as: Angling 
from a boat or floating device that is moving forward by means of a 
source of power (other than drifting by means of the prevailing water 
current or weather conditions) except when landing a fish.
    From Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR the recreational fishery, 
which opened April 1, will continue October 31, except as provided 
below during the selective fishery for all salmon except coho. Anglers 
may retain 2 fish per day, but no more than 6 fish in 7 consecutive 
days. Legal gear is limited to artificial lures and plugs of any size, 
or bait no less than 6 in (15.2 cm) long (excluding hooks and swivels). 
All gear must have no more than 2 single point, single shank barbless 
hooks. Divers are prohibited and flashers may be used only with 
downriggers. See Oregon State regulations for a description of a 
closure at the mouth of Tillamook Bay.
    Selective fishery. July 10 through the earlier of July 31 or a 
landed catch of 15,000 coho for all salmon. Anglers may retain 2 fish 
per day. All retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip. There 
are no special gear restrictions except B.3. (single point, single 
shank, barbless hooks). The season will follow a cycle of 2 days open/2 
days closed (i.e., open July 10-11; 14-15; 18-19; 22-23; 26-27; and 30-
31). Depending on fishing effort and catch, inseason action may be used 
to adjust open days to effectively utilize the available quota. Note: 
On closed days during the selective fishery no angling for any species 
of salmon is allowed.
    From Humbug Mountain, OR, to Horse Mountain, CA, the recreational 
fishery will open May 29 through July 4, then reopen July 29 through 
September 14. Both seasons include a one-fish daily bag limit, but no 
more than four fish mat be retained in seven consecutive days, and a 20 
in (50.8 cm) minimum size limit; the Klamath Control Zone closed in 
August.
    From Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA, the recreational fishery 
which opened on February 13 will continue through July 4, then reopen 
July 25 through November 14 with a 2-fish daily bag limit and a 24 in 
(61.0 cm) minimum size limit for both seasons.
    From Point Arena to Pigeon Point, CA, the recreational fishery, 
which opened on March 27, will continue through October 31 with a 2-
fish daily bag limit and a 24 in (61.0 cm) minimum size limit, except 
from August 1 through September 6, the bag limit will be the first two 
fish other than coho and no size limit (no catch-and-release angling). 
Sacramento Control Zone will be closed from the season opening through 
March 31.
    From Pigeon Point, CA, to the U.S.-Mexico border, the recreational 
fishery which opened on March 13 will continue through September 6 with 
a 2-fish daily bag limit and a 24 in (61.0 cm) minimum size limit, 
except from August 1 through September 6, the bag limit will be the 
first two fish other than coho and no size limit (no catch-and-release 
angling).

Treaty Indian Fisheries

    Ocean salmon management measures proposed by the treaty Indian 
tribes are part of a comprehensive package of treaty Indian and non-
treaty salmon fisheries in the ocean and inside waters agreed to by the 
various parties. Treaty troll seasons, minimum length restrictions, and 
gear restrictions were developed by the tribes and agreed to by the 
Council. Treaty Indian troll fisheries north of Cape Falcon are 
governed by quotas of 30,000 chinook (20,000 for the May-June chinook-
directed fishery and 10,000 for the August-September all-salmon 
fishery) and 38,500 coho. The all-salmon-except-coho seasons open May 1 
and extend through June 30 or until the overall harvest guideline of 
20,000 chinook is reached, whichever is earlier. The all-salmon seasons 
open August 1 and extend through the earliest of September 15 or 
attainment of the chinook or coho quotas. If the chinook quota from the 
May-June fishery is not fully utilized, the excess fish may not be 
rolled into the later all-salmon season. The minimum length 
restrictions for all treaty ocean fisheries, excluding ceremonial and 
subsistence harvest, is 24 in (61.0 cm) for chinook and 16 in (40.6 cm) 
for coho.

2000 Fisheries

    The timing of the March and April Council meetings makes it 
impracticable for the Council to recommend fishing seasons that begin 
before May 1 of the same year. Therefore, the 2000 fishing seasons 
opening earlier than May 1 are also established in this action. The 
Council recommended and NMFS concurs that the following seasons will 
open off California in 2000. The following recreational seasons have 
two-fish daily bag limits and a minimum size limit of 24 in (61.0 cm) 
for chinook salmon (see special gear restrictions B.5). From Pigeon 
Point, CA to the U.S.-Mexico border, a recreational fishery for all 
salmon except coho will open on March 18. However, at the November 1999 
meeting, the Council will consider the proposed 2000 opening of the 
fishery south of Pigeon Point, CA and make its final recommendations 
for the opening of that fishery. From Point Arena to Pigeon Point, CA, 
a recreational fishery for all salmon except coho will open on April 1. 
From Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA a recreational fishery for all 
salmon, except coho, will open on February 12. At the March 2000 
meeting, the Council will consider in season

[[Page 24084]]

recommendations to (1) establish management measures for an all-salmon-
except-coho fishery prior to May 1, in areas off Oregon, and (2) 
recommend the areas, season, quota, and special regulations for a test 
fishery off California in April south of Pillar Point.
    The following tables and text are the management measures 
recommended by the Council and approved by NMFS for 1999 and, as 
specified, for 2000.

Table 1.--Commercial Management Measures for 1999 Ocean Salmon 
Fisheries

    Note: This table contains important restrictions in parts A, B, 
C, and D which must be followed for lawful participation in the 
fishery.
A. SEASON DESCRIPTION
North of Cape Falcon
U.S.-Canada Border to Cape Falcon, OR

    May 1 through earlier of June 15 or 24,000 chinook guideline. All 
salmon except coho. Columbia Commercial Control Zone closed (C.7.) 
Harvest guidelines in later fisheries may be modified if necessary to 
meet the overall quota.

Cape Flattery (48 deg.23'00'' N. lat.) to Cape Alava (48 deg.10'00'' N. 
lat.) West of 125 deg.05'00'' W. long. and Cape Alava to Leadbetter 
Point, WA

    July 10 through earliest of September 30 or the overall chinook 
quota (preseason 4,500 chinook guideline) or 20,000 coho quota. All 
salmon. Cycle of 4 days open/3 days closed. No more than 4 spreads per 
line. Gear restricted to plugs 6 in (15.2 cm) or longer. Flashers 
without hooks may be used if installed below the second spread from the 
top and will not be counted as a spread. No more than one flasher per 
line. Each vessel may possess, land and deliver no more than 100 coho 
per open period (trip limits, gear restrictions and guidelines may be 
adjusted inseason). Vessels must land and deliver their fish within 24 
hours of any closure of this fishery within the area or adjacent closed 
area.
South of Cape Falcon
Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR

    April 1 through July 17, August 1 through August 29, and September 
1 through October 31. All salmon except coho. See Oregon State 
regulations for a description of the closed area at the mouth of 
Tillamook Bay. See gear restriction (C.3.a.).

Humbug Mountain, OR to Oregon-California Border

    May 1 through May 31. All salmon except coho. See gear restriction 
(C.3.a.).

Sisters Rocks to Mack Arch, OR

    August 1 through earlier of August 31 or 2,500 chinook quota. All 
salmon except coho. Open 0-4 nm (7.4 km) offshore. All salmon must be 
landed and delivered to Gold Beach, Port Orford or Brookings, OR within 
24 hours of any closure. See gear restriction (C.3.a.).

House Rock, OR to Humboldt South Jetty, CA

    September 1 through earlier of September 30 or 7,000 chinook quota. 
All salmon except coho. Possession and landing limit of 30 fish per 
day. All fish caught in this area must be landed within the area. 
Klamath Control Zone closed (see C.7.). Within the 7,000 chinook quota 
is a harvest guideline limiting landings at the port of Brookings to no 
more than 1,000 chinook. If this guideline is reached prior to the 
overall quota, the fishery will close north of the Oregon-California 
border. When the fishery is closed north of the Oregon-California 
border and open to the south, Oregon State regulations provide for the 
following action: Vessels with fish on board caught in the open area 
off California may seek temporary mooring in Brookings, OR prior to 
landing in California only if such vessels first notify the Chetco 
River Coast Guard Station via VHF channel 22A between the hours of 0500 
and 2200 and provide the vessel name, number of fish on board, and 
estimated time of arrival. See gear restriction (C.3.).

Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA

    September 1 through September 30. All salmon except coho. See gear 
restriction (C.3.b.).

Point Arena to Point Reyes, CA

    July 17 through September 30. All salmon except coho. Minimum size 
limit 27 in. See gear restriction (C.3.b.).

Fort Ross (38 deg.31'00'' N. lat.) to Point Reyes, CA (test fishery 
inside 6 nm [11.1 km])

     July 1 through earlier of July 14 or 2,500 chinook quota. All 
salmon except coho. Minimum size limit 26 in (to be consistent with 
1998 test fishery). Open only inside 6 nm (11.1 km). Landing limit of 
30 fish per day. All fish caught in this area must be landed in Bodega 
Bay. Fish taken outside this area may not be landed at Bodega Bay while 
this fishery is open. See gear restriction (C.3.b.).

Point Reyes to Point San Pedro, CA

    July 1 through September 30. All salmon except coho. Minimum size 
limit 27 in. See gear restriction (C.3.b.).

Point San Pedro to U.S.-Mexico Border

    May 1 through August 21 and September 1 through September 30. All 
salmon except coho. Minimum size limit 27 in after June 30. See gear 
restriction (C.3.b.).


                                             B.--Minimum Size Limits
                                                    [Inches]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Chinook                    Coho
                                       ----------------------------------------------------
           Area (when open)                Total                     Total                          Pink
                                           length      Head-off      length      Head-off
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North of Cape Falcon..................         28.0         21.5         16.0         12.0  None.
Cape Falcon to Oregon-California             * 26.0       * 19.5  ...........  ...........  None.
 Border *.
Oregon-California Border to Point            * 26.0       * 19.5  ...........  ...........  None.
 Arena *.
South of Point Arena prior to July 1*.       * 26.0       * 19.5  ...........  ...........  None.
South of Point Arena after June 30 *..       * 27.0      * 20.25  ...........  ...........  None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Chinook not less than 26 in (19.5 in head-off) taken in open seasons south of Cape Falcon may be landed north
  of Cape Falcon only when the season is closed north of Cape Falcon.
Metric equivalents for chinook: 28.0 in=71.1 cm, 27.0 in=68.6 cm, 26.0 in=66.0 cm, 21.5 in=54.6 cm, 20.25
  in=51.4 cm, 19.5 in=49.5 cm.
Metric equivalents for coho: 16.0 in=40.6 cm, 12.0 in=30.5 cm.


[[Page 24085]]

C. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, DEFINITIONS, RESTRICTIONS, OR EXCEPTIONS
    C.1. Hooks: Single point, single shank barbless hooks are required.
    C.2. Spread: A single leader connected to an individual lure or 
bait.
    C.3. Line, Spread, and Gear Restrictions:
    a. Off Oregon south of Cape Falcon, no more than 4 spreads are 
allowed per line.
    b. Off California, no more than 6 lines are allowed per vessel.
    C.4. Compliance with Minimum Size or Other Special Restrictions: 
All salmon on board a vessel must meet the minimum size or other 
special requirements for the area being fished and the area in which 
they are landed if that area is open. Salmon may be landed in an area 
that is closed only if they meet the minimum size or other special 
requirements for the area in which they were caught.
    C.5. Transit Through Closed Areas With Salmon on Board: It is 
unlawful for a vessel to have troll gear in the water while transiting 
any area closed to salmon fishing while possessing salmon.
    C.6. Notification When Unsafe Conditions Prevent Compliance with 
Regulations: If prevented by unsafe weather conditions or mechanical 
problems from meeting special management area landing restrictions, 
vessels must notify the U.S. Coast Guard and receive acknowledgement of 
such notification prior to leaving the area. This notification shall 
include the name of the vessel, port where delivery will be made, 
approximate amount of salmon (by species) on board and the estimated 
time of arrival. This stipulation will be implemented by state 
regulations for California, Oregon and Washington, as required.
    C.7. Control Zone Definitions:
    a. Columbia Commercial Control Zone--The ocean area at the Columbia 
River mouth bounded by a line extending for 6 nm (11.1 km) due west 
from North Head along 46 deg.18'00'' N. lat. to 124 deg.13'18'' W. 
long., then southerly to 46 deg.13'24'' N. lat. and 124 deg.11'00'' W. 
long. (green, Columbia River Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy 
1), then southerly to 46 deg.11'06'' N. lat. and 
124 deg.11'00'' W. long. (red, Columbia River Approach Lighted Whistle 
Buoy), then northeast along red buoy line to the tip of the south 
jetty.
    b. Klamath Control Zone--The ocean area at the Klamath River mouth 
bounded on the north by 41 deg.38'48'' N. lat. (approximately 6 nm 
(11.1 km) north of the Klamath River mouth), on the west by 
124 deg.23'00'' W. long. (approximately 12 nm [22.2 km] offshore), and 
on the south by 41 deg.26'48'' N. lat. (approximately 6 nm [11.1 km] 
south of the Klamath River mouth).
    C.8. Incidental Halibut Harvest: The operator of a vessel that has 
been issued an incidental halibut harvest license may retain Pacific 
halibut caught incidentally in Area 2A, during authorized periods, 
while trolling for salmon. License applications for incidental harvest 
must be obtained from the International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(phone 206/634-1838). Applicants must apply prior to April 1 of each 
year. Incidental harvest is authorized only during May and June troll 
seasons and after July 31 if quota remains and if announced on the NMFS 
hotline (phone 800-662-9825). ODFW and WDFW will monitor landings and 
if they are projected to exceed the 23,490 pound (10.7 mt) preseason 
allocation or the Area 2A non-Indian commercial halibut TAC, NMFS will 
take inseason action to close the incidental halibut fishery.
    License holders may land no more than 1 halibut per each 5 chinook, 
except 1 halibut may be landed without meeting the ratio requirement, 
and no more than 35 halibut may be landed per trip. Halibut retained 
must meet the minimum size limit of 32 in (81.3 cm).
    C.9. Inseason Management: In addition to standard inseason actions 
or inseason modifications already noted under the season description, 
the following inseason guidance is provided to NMFS:
    Transfers of 5,000 fish or less between subarea quotas north of 
Cape Falcon shall be done on a fish-for-fish basis.
    Any difference between the total chinook landings in the May 1 
through June 15 non-treaty troll fishery north of Cape Falcon and the 
24,000 chinook guideline will be used to adjust the allowable chinook 
catch for the July 10 through September 30 non-treaty troll fishery 
north of Leadbetter Point.
    At the March 2000 meeting, the Council will consider inseason 
recommendations to: (1) open commercial seasons for all salmon except 
coho prior to May 1 in areas off Oregon, and (2) recommend the areas, 
season, quota, and special regulations (based on the results of the 
1999 fishery) for the experimental April fishery off California south 
of Pillar Point.
    C.10. Consistent with Council management objectives, the State of 
Oregon may establish additional late-season, chinook-only fisheries in 
state waters. Check state regulations for details.
    C.11. For the purposes of California Department of Fish and Game 
Code, Section 8232.5, the definition of the KMZ for the ocean salmon 
season shall be that area from Humbug Mountain, Oregon to Horse 
Mountain, California.
D. QUOTAS
    D.1. North of Cape Falcon: All non-treaty troll and recreational 
ocean fisheries will be limited by overall quotas of either 50,000 
chinook or 130,000 coho. Preseason species trade of 12,500 coho to the 
recreational fishery for 3,500 chinook to the commercial fishery. 
Therefore, the troll fishery will be limited by overall catch quotas of 
28,500 chinook and 20,000 coho.
    D.2. U.S.-Canada Border to Cape Falcon: The troll fishery will have 
a 24,000 chinook guideline.
    D.3. Cape Flattery to Cape Alava West of 125 deg.05'00'' W. long. 
and Cape Alava to Leadbetter Point: The troll fishery will be limited 
by the overall chinook quota (preseason 4,500 chinook guideline) or 
20,000 coho quota.
    D.4. Sisters Rocks to Mack Arch: The troll fishery will be limited 
by a catch quota of 2,500 chinook.
    D.5. House Rock, Oregon to Humboldt South Jetty, California: The 
troll fishery will be limited by a catch quota of 7,000 chinook.
    D.6. Fort Ross to Point Reyes: The troll fishery will be limited by 
an overall catch quota of 2,500 chinook.

Table 2.--Recreational Management Measures for 1999 Ocean Salmon 
Fisheries

    Note: This table contains important restrictions in parts A, B, 
C, and D which must be followed for lawful participation in the 
fishery.
A. SEASON DESCRIPTION
North of Cape Falcon
U.S.-Canada Border to Cape Alava, WA

    July 19 through earlier of September 30 or 10,200 coho subarea 
quota. All salmon except chinook (7 days per week). 2 fish per day, all 
retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.

Cape Alava to Queets River, WA

    July 19 through earlier of September 30 or 2,600 coho subarea 
quota. All salmon (7 days per week). 2 fish per day, all retained coho 
must have a healed adipose fin clip. Inseason management may be used to 
sustain season length and limit harvest within a guideline of 400 
chinook.

Queets River to Leadbetter Point, WA

    July 19 through earlier of September 30 or 42,200 coho subarea 
quota. All salmon. Open Sunday through Thursday, 2 fish per day, but 
only 1

[[Page 24086]]

chinook and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip. No 
more than 6 fish per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). Closed 0-
3 nm (4.8 km) off shore beginning August 22. Inseason management may be 
used to sustain season length and limit harvest within a guideline of 
13,400 chinook.

Leadbetter Point, WA to Cape Falcon, OR

    July 19 through earlier of September 30 or 55,000 coho subarea 
quota. All salmon. Open Sunday through Thursday, 2 fish per day, but 
only 1 chinook and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin 
clip. No more than 6 fish per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). 
Coho retention is prohibited between Tillamook Head and Cape Falcon 
beginning August 1 (i.e., all salmon except coho and a daily bag limit 
of 1 chinook). Closed in Recreational Columbia Control Zone (newly 
defined for 1999, see C.5.). Inseason management may be used to sustain 
season length and limit harvest within a guideline of 7,600 chinook.
South of Cape Falcon
Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR

    Except as provided below during the selective fishery, the season 
will be as follows: April 1 through October 31. All salmon except coho. 
2 fish per day. No more than 6 fish in 7 consecutive days. Legal gear 
is limited to artificial lures and plugs of any size, or bait no less 
than 6 in (15.2 cm) long (excluding hooks and swivels). All gear must 
have no more than 2 single point, single shank barbless hooks. Divers 
are prohibited and flashers may be used only with downriggers. See 
Oregon State regulations for a description of a closure at the mouth of 
Tillamook Bay.
    Selective fishery: July 10 through earlier of July 31 or a landed 
catch of 15,000 coho. All salmon. 2 fish per day, all retained coho 
must have a healed adipose fin clip. No special gear restrictions 
except C.1. (single point, single shank, barbless hooks). The season 
will follow a cycle of 2 days open/2 days closed (i.e., open July 10-
11; 14-15; 18-19; 22-23; 26-27; and 30-31). Depending on fishing effort 
and catch, inseason action may be used to adjust open days to 
effectively utilize the available quota. Note: On closed days during 
the selective fishery no angling for any species of salmon is allowed.

Humbug Mountain, OR to Horse Mountain, CA

    May 29 through July 4 and July 29 through September 14. All salmon 
except coho. 1 fish per day. No more than 4 fish in 7 consecutive days. 
Klamath Control Zone (C.5.) closed during August. One rod per angler 
(C.2.).

    Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA 

    February 13 through July 4 and July 25 through November 14 (nearest 
Sunday to November 15). All salmon except coho. 2 fish per day. Special 
gear restriction C.3. (circle hooks when mooching) and 1 rod per angler 
(C.2.).
    In 2000, the season will open February 12 (nearest Saturday to 
February 15) through April 30, for all salmon except coho. 2 fish per 
day, same gear and minimum size restrictions as in 1999.

Point Arena to Pigeon Point, CA

    March 27 through October 31 (nearest Sunday to November 1). All 
salmon except coho. 2 fish per day. Minimum size limit 24 in except no 
size limit from August 1 through September 6 when the daily bag limit 
will be the first 2 fish and no catch-and-release angling is allowed. 
Sacramento Control Zone (C.5.) is closed from the opening of the season 
through March 31. Special gear restriction C.3. (circle hooks when 
mooching) and 1 rod per angler (C.2.).
    In 2000, the season will open April 1 through April 30, for all 
salmon except coho. 2 fish per day. Minimum size limit 24 in and same 
gear restrictions as in 1999.

Pigeon Point to U.S.-Mexico Border

    March 13 through September 6. All salmon except coho. 2 fish per 
day. Minimum size limit 24 in except no size limit from August 1 
through September 6 when the daily bag limit will be the first 2 fish 
and no catch-and-release angling is allowed. North of Point Conception, 
special gear restriction C.3. (circle hooks when mooching) and one rod 
per angler (C.2.).
    In 2000, the season is tentatively set to open March 18 (nearest 
Saturday to March 15) through April 30, for all salmon except coho. 2 
fish per day. Minimum size limit 24 in and the same gear restrictions 
as in 1999. The Council will review the tentative opening at its 
November 1999 Council meeting and make final season recommendations at 
that time.

                                             B. Minimum Size Limits
                                            [Total length in inches]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Area (when open)                   Chinook        Coho                      Pink
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North of Cape Falcon..........................         24.0         16.0  None.
Cape Falcon to Horse Mountain.................         20.0         16.0  None, except 20.0 off CA.
South of Horse Mountain*......................        24.0*           --  20.0.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Except when a ``first 2 fish bag limit'' is specified under the specific area regulations.
Metric equivalents for chinook: 24.0 in=61.0 cm, 20.0 in=50.8 cm.
Metric equivalents for coho: 16.0 in=40.6 cm.
Metric equivalents for pink: 20.0 in=50.8 cm.

C. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, DEFINITIONS, RESTRICTIONS, OR EXCEPTIONS
    C.1. Hooks: Single point, single shank barbless hooks are required 
for all fishing gear north of Point Conception, California. Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations in the state-water fishery 
off Tillamook Bay may allow the use of barbed hooks to be consistent 
with inside regulations.
    C.2. Restriction on Number of Fishing Rods North of Point 
Conception, California: All persons fishing for salmon, and all persons 
fishing from a boat with salmon on board, may use no more than one rod 
per angler.
    C.3. Special Gear Restrictions Between Horse Mountain and Point 
Conception, California: Single point, single shank, barbless circle 
hooks must be used if angling by any means other than trolling and no 
more than 2 such hooks shall be used. When angling with 2 hooks, the 
distance between the hooks must not exceed 5 in (12.7 cm) when measured 
from the top of the eye of the top hook to the inner base of the curve 
of the lower hook, and both hooks must be permanently tied in place 
(hard tied). A circle hook is defined as a hook with a generally 
circular shape and a point which turns inwards, pointing directly

[[Page 24087]]

to the shank at a 90 deg. angle. Circle hooks are not required when 
artificial lures are used without bait.
    Trolling defined: Angling from a boat or floating device that is 
making way by means of a source of power, other than drifting by means 
of the prevailing water current or weather conditions, except when 
landing a fish.
    C.4. Compliance with Minimum Size or Other Special Restrictions: 
All salmon on board a vessel must meet the minimum size or other 
special requirements for the area being fished. Salmon may be landed in 
an area that is closed only if they meet the minimum size or other 
special requirements for the area in which they were caught.
    C.5. Control Zone Definitions:
    a. Columbia Recreational Control Zone (modified from previous 
years)--An area at the Columbia River mouth bounded on the west by a 
line running northeast/southwest between the red lighted Buoy #4 
(46 deg.13'35'' N. lat., 124 deg.06'50'' W. long.) and the green 
lighted Buoy #7 (46 deg.15'09'' N. lat., 124 deg.06'16'' W. long.); on 
the east by the Buoy #10 line which bears north/south at 357 deg. true 
from the south jetty at 46 deg.14'00'' N. lat., 124 deg.03'07'' W. 
long. to its intersection with the north jetty; on the north by a line 
running northeast/southwest between the green lighted Buoy #7 to the 
tip of the north jetty (46 deg.14'48'' N. lat., 124 deg.05'20'' W. 
long.) and then along the north jetty to the point of intersection with 
the Buoy #10 line; and on the south by a line running northeast/
southwest between the red lighted Buoy #4 and the tip of the south 
jetty (46 deg.14'03'' N. lat., 124 deg.04'05'' W. long.) and then along 
the south jetty to the point of intersection with the Buoy #10 line.
    b. Klamath Control Zone--The ocean area at the Klamath River mouth 
bounded on the north by 41 deg.38'48'' N. lat. (approximately 6 nm 
[11.1 km] north of the Klamath River mouth), on the west by 
124 deg.23'00'' W. long. (approximately 12 nm [22.2 km] off shore), and 
on the south by 41 deg.26'48'' N. lat. (approximately 6 nm [11.1 km] 
south of the Klamath River mouth).
    c. Sacramento Control Zone--The ocean area bounded by a line 
commencing at Bolinas Point (Marin County, 37 deg.54'17'' N. lat., 
122 deg.43'35'' W. long.) southerly to Duxbury Buoy (37 deg.51'37'' N. 
lat., 122 deg.41'43'' W. long.) to Channel Buoy 1 (37 deg.46'10'' N. 
lat., 122 deg.37'56'' W. long.) to Channel Buoy 2 (37 deg.45'48'' N. 
lat., 122 deg.37'44'' W. long.) to Point San Pedro (San Mateo County, 
37 deg.35'40'' N. lat., 122 deg.31'10'' W. long.).
    C.6. Inseason Management: Regulatory modifications may become 
necessary inseason to meet preseason management objectives such as 
quotas, harvest guidelines and season duration. Actions could include 
modifications to bag limits or days open to fishing, and extensions or 
reductions in areas open to fishing.
    The procedure for inseason coho transfer among recreational 
subareas north of Cape Falcon will be:
    After conferring with representatives of the affected ports and the 
Salmon Advisory Subpanel recreational representatives north of Cape 
Falcon, NMFS may transfer coho inseason among recreational subareas to 
help meet the recreational season duration objectives (for each 
subarea). Any transfers between subarea quotas of 5,000 fish or less 
shall be done on a fish-for-fish basis.
    At the November 1999 meeting, the Council will consider the 
proposed 2000 opening of the fishery south of Pigeon Point and make its 
final recommendations for the opening of that fishery.
    At the March 2000 meeting, the Council will consider an inseason 
recommendation to open seasons for all salmon except coho prior to May 
1 in areas off Oregon.
    C.7. Additional Seasons in State Territorial Waters: Consistent 
with Council management objectives, the states of Washington and Oregon 
may establish limited seasons in state waters. Oregon state-water 
fisheries are limited to chinook salmon. Check state regulations for 
details.
D. QUOTAS
    D.1. North of Cape Falcon: All non-treaty troll and recreational 
ocean fisheries will be limited by overall quotas of either 50,000 
chinook or 130,000 coho. Preseason species trade of 3,500 chinook to 
the commercial fishery for 12,500 coho to the recreational fishery. 
Therefore, the recreational fishery will be limited by overall catch 
quotas of 21,500 chinook and 110,000 coho.
    D.2. Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain: Limited by a landed subarea 
catch quota of 15,000 coho in the July selective fishery.

Table 3.--Treaty Indian Management Measures for 1999 Ocean Salmon 
Fisheries

    Note: This table contains important restrictions in parts A, B, 
and C which must be followed for lawful participation in the 
fishery.

                                             A.--Season Descriptions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Minimum size limit (inches)
                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------
   Tribe and area boundaries        Open seasons                                                    Special
                                                       Salmon species     Chinook      Coho     restrictions by
                                                                                                      area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAKAH--That portion of the       May 1 through       All except coho...         24  .........  Barbless hooks.
 Fishery Management Area (FMA)    earlier of June                                               No more than 8
 north of 48 deg.02'15'' N.       30 or chinook                                                 fixed lines.
 lat. (Norwegian Memorial) and    quota..
 east of 125 deg.44'00'' W.
 long..
                                 August 1 through    All...............         24         16  per boat or no
                                  earliest of                                                   more than 4 hand-
                                  September 15 or                                               held lines per
                                  chinook or coho                                               person.
                                  quota.
QUILEUTE--That portion of the    May 1 through       All except coho...         24  .........  Barbless hooks.
 FMA between 48 deg.07'36'' N.    earlier of June                                               No more than 8
 lat. (Sand Point) and 47         30 or chinook                                                 fixed lines.
 deg.31'42'' N. lat. (Queets      quota.
 River) and east of 125
 deg.44'00'' W. long..
                                 August 1 through    All...............         24         16  per boat.
                                  earliest of
                                  September 15 or
                                  chinook or coho
                                  quota..

[[Page 24088]]

 
HOH--That portion of the FMA     May 1 through       All except coho...         24  .........  Barbless hooks.
 between 47 deg.54'18'' N. lat.   earlier of June                                               No more than 8
 (Quillayute River) and 47        30 or chinook                                                 fixed lines.
 deg.21'00'' N. lat. (Quinault    quota.
 River) and east of 125
 deg.44'00'' W. long.
                                 August 1 through    All...............         24         16  Per boat.
                                  earliest of
                                  September 15 or
                                  chinook or coho
                                  quota..
QUINAULT--That portion of the    May 1 through       All except coho...         24  .........  Barbless hooks.
 FMA between 47 deg.40'06'' N.    earlier of June                                               No more than 8
 lat. (Destruction Island) and    30 or chinook                                                 fixed lines per
 46 deg.53'18'' N. lat. (Point    quota.                                                        boat.
 Chehalis) and east of 125
 deg.44'00'' W. long.
                                 August 1 through    All...............         24         16  Per boat.
                                  earliest of
                                  September 15 or
                                  chinook or coho
                                  quota.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Metric equivalents: 24 in=61.0 cm, 16 in=40.6 cm.


         B.--Special Requirements, Restrictions, and Exceptions
B.1. All boundaries may be changed to include such other areas as may
 hereafter be authorized by a federal court for that tribe's treaty
 fishery.
B.2. Applicable lengths, in inches, for dressed, head-off salmon, are 18
 in (45.7 cm) for chinook and 12 in (30.5 cm) for coho. Minimum size and
 retention limits for ceremonial and subsistence harvest are as follows:
 Makah Tribe--None. Quileute, Hoh and Quinault tribes--Not more than 2
 chinook longer than 24 in (61.0 cm) in total length may be retained per
 day. Chinook less than 24 in total length may be retained.
B.3. The area within a 6-mile (9.7 km) radius of the mouths of the
 Queets River (47 deg.31'42'' N. lat.) and the Hoh River (47 deg.45'12''
 N. lat.) will be closed to commercial fishing. A closure within 2 miles
 (3.2 km) of the mouth of the Quinault River (47 deg.21'00'' N. lat.)
 may be enacted by the Quinault Nation and/or the State of Washington
 and will not adversely affect the Secretary of Commerce's management
 regime.
 


                               C.--Quotas
C.1. The overall treaty troll ocean quotas are 30,000 chinook and 38,500
 coho. The overall chinook quota is divided into 20,000 chinook for the
 May-June chinook-directed fishery and 10,000 chinook for the August-
 September all-salmon season. If the chinook quota for the May-June
 fishery is not fully utilized, the excess fish may not be transferred
 into the later all-salmon season. The quotas include troll catches by
 the S'Klallam and Makah Tribes in Washington State Statistical Area 4B
 from May 1 through September 30.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Halibut Retention

    Under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act, NMFS 
promulgated regulations governing the Pacific halibut fishery which 
appear at 50 CFR part 300, subpart E. In addition, the 1999 management 
measures were published in the Federal Register on March 19, 1999 (64 
FR 13519). The regulations and management measures provide that vessels 
participating in the salmon troll fishery in Area 2A (all waters off 
the States of Washington, Oregon, and California), which have obtained 
the appropriate International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) 
license, may retain halibut caught incidentally during authorized 
periods in conformance with provisions published with the annual salmon 
management measures. A salmon troller may participate in the halibut 
incidental catch fishery during the salmon troll season or in the 
directed commercial fishery targeting halibut, but not both.
    The following measures have been approved. The operator of a vessel 
who has been issued an incidental halibut harvest license by the IPHC 
may retain Pacific halibut caught incidentally in Area 2A, during 
authorized periods, while trolling for salmon. Incidental harvest is 
authorized only during May and June troll seasons. It is also 
authorized after July 31 if halibut quota remains and if halibut 
retention is announced on the NMFS hotline (phone 800-622-9825). 
License holders may land no more than 1 halibut per each 5 chinook, 
except 1 halibut may be landed without meeting the ratio requirement, 
and no more than 35 halibut may be landed per trip. Halibut retained 
must meet the minimum size limit of 32 in (81.3 cm). The Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife will monitor landings and, if they are projected to exceed the 
23,490-pound (10.7-mt) preseason allocation or the Area 2A non-Indian 
commercial total allowable catch of halibut, NMFS will take inseason 
action to close the incidental halibut fishery. License applications 
for incidental harvest must be obtained from the IPHC. Applicants must 
apply prior to April 1 of each year.

Gear Definitions and Restrictions

    In addition to the gear restrictions shown in Tables 1, 2, and 3, 
the following gear definitions and restrictions will apply.

Troll Fishing Gear

    Troll fishing gear for the ocean salmon fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone off Washington, Oregon, and California is defined as one 
or more lines that drag hooks behind a moving fishing vessel.
    In that portion of the fishery management area (FMA) off Oregon and 
Washington, the line or lines must be affixed to the vessel and must 
not be intentionally disengaged from the vessel at any time during the 
fishing operation.

Recreational Fishing Gear

    Recreational fishing gear for the FMA is defined as angling tackle 
consisting of a line with no more than one artificial lure or natural 
bait attached.
    In that portion of the FMA off Oregon and Washington, the line must 
be attached to a rod and reel held by hand or closely attended; the rod 
and reel must be held by hand while playing a

[[Page 24089]]

hooked fish. No person may use more than one rod and line while fishing 
off Oregon or Washington.
    In that portion of the FMA off California, the line must be 
attached to a rod and reel held by hand or closely attended. Weights 
directly attached to a line may not exceed 4 pounds (1.8 kg). While 
fishing off California north of Point Conception, no person fishing for 
salmon and no person fishing from a boat with salmon on board, may use 
more than one rod and line.
    Fishing includes any activity that can reasonably be expected to 
result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish.

Geographical Landmarks

    Wherever the words ``nautical miles off shore'' are used in this 
document, the distance is measured from the baseline from which the 
territorial sea is measured.
    Geographical landmarks referenced in this document are at the 
following locations:

Cape Flattery........................................48 deg.23'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Cape Alava...........................................48 deg.10'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Queets River.........................................47 deg.31'42'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Leadbetter Point.....................................46 deg.38'10'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Cape Falcon..........................................45 deg.46'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Humbug Mountain......................................42 deg.40'30'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Sisters Rocks........................................42 deg.35'45'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Mack Arch............................................42 deg.13'40'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
House Rock...........................................42 deg.06'32'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Oregon-California Border.............................42 deg.00'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Humboldt South Jetty.................................40 deg.45'53'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Horse Mountain.......................................40 deg.05'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Point Arena..........................................38 deg.57'30'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Fort Ross............................................38 deg.31'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Point Reyes..........................................37 deg.59'44'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Point San Pedro......................................37 deg.35'40'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Pigeon Point.........................................37 deg.11'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.
Point Conception.....................................34 deg.27'00'' N. 
                                                                   lat.

Inseason Notice Procedures

    Actual notice of inseason management actions will be provided by a 
telephone hotline administered by the Northwest Region, NMFS, 206-526-
6667 or 800-662-9825, and by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners 
broadcasts. These broadcasts are announced on Channel 16 VHF-FM and 
2182 KHz at frequent intervals. The announcements designate the channel 
or frequency over which the Notice to Mariners will be immediately 
broadcast. Inseason actions will also be filed with the Federal 
Register as soon as practicable. Since provisions of these management 
measures may be altered by inseason actions, fishermen should monitor 
either the telephone hotline or Coast Guard broadcasts for current 
information for the area in which they are fishing.

Classification

    This notification of annual management measures is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds good 
cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), to waive the requirement for prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment. The Council solicited public 
comment on these measures and has notified the public of the measures 
it recommended for implementation. In February 1999, the Council made 
available to the public several documents that compiled and analyzed 
biological and socioeconomic data for the previous year's fishery and 
salmon stock abundance estimates for the current year. Two Council 
meetings followed, one in March and one in April, at which the Council 
received public testimony. In between these meetings, the Council 
published proposed management measures and requested public comment on 
them. After the Council took final action on the annual ocean salmon 
specifications in April, it published the recommended management 
measures in its newsletter, which reached a large portion of the 
affected public. Providing for additional prior notice and opportunity 
for public comments on these measures through a rulemaking process 
would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Given the 
extremely low returns of many ocean salmon stocks listed or proposed 
for listing under the Endangered Species Act, the need to prevent 
overfishing, and the need to facilitate a level of escapement to meet 
the requirements of the resource and inside fisheries, it is essential 
to have these measures effective at the beginning of the fishing year. 
Failure to implement these measures immediately could compromise the 
status of certain stocks and negatively impact international, state, 
and tribal salmon fisheries, thereby undermining the purposes of this 
agency action.
    For the reasons discussed above, NMFS has determined that good 
cause exists to waive the requirements of 50 CFR 660.411 for prior 
notice and opportunity for public comments. Section 660.411 of title 
50, Code of Federal Regulations, requires NMFS to publish an action 
implementing management measures for ocean salmon fisheries each year 
and, if time allows, invite public comment prior to the effective date. 
Section 660.411 further states that if, for good cause, an action must 
be filed without affording a prior opportunity for public comment, the 
measures will become effective; however, public comments on the action 
will be received for a period of 15 days after filing of the action 
with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS will receive public 
comments on this action for 15 days from the date of filing this action 
with the Office of the Federal Register.
    The AA also finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to waive the 
30-day delay in effectiveness of this rule. The finding of good cause 
is based upon the public's interest in having these provisions in place 
by the start of the ocean salmon fishing year (May 1, 1999). As 
previously discussed, these measures are essential to conserve 
threatened and endangered ocean salmon stocks, to provide for harvest 
of more abundant stocks, and to provide for harvest of ocean salmon in 
international, state, and tribal fisheries. The finding of good cause 
to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness is also based on the limited 
time available to implement these new measures after the final Council 
meeting in April and before the commencement of the ocean salmon 
fishing year on May 1.
    To enhance notification of the fishing industry of these new 
measures, NMFS will announce the new measures over the telephone 
hotline used for inseason management actions and by U.S. Coast Guard 
Notice to Mariners Broadcast. NMFS also will advise the States of 
Washington, Oregon, and California, which announce the seasons for 
applicable state and Federal fisheries through their own public 
notification systems.
    In a March 8, 1996, biological opinion and a February 18, 1997, 
addendum, NMFS considered the impacts to the then listed salmon 
species, including Snake River fall chinook, spring/summer chinook and 
sockeye salmon, and the Sacramento River winter chinook, resulting from 
fisheries conducted in conformance with the FMP. Two additional 
biological opinions were issued April 30, 1997 and April 29, 1998, 
which addressed impacts to the growing catalog of listed species for 
the respective annual regulatory year from May 1 to April 30. Since the 
issuance of the April 29, 1998, opinion, NMFS has listed 10 new 
populations of salmon as threatened or endangered under the ESA: Two 
steelhead, four chinook, one coho, two chum, and one sockeye. In 
addition NMFS has deferred final decision on three proposed 
evolutionarily significant units (ESUs), and a proposed expansion of 
one other chinook salmon ESU for listing. NMFS reinitiated consultation 
and issued two biological opinions which address the potential effects 
of ocean salmon fisheries to

[[Page 24090]]

newly listed species under the ESA; those opinions were signed on April 
28, 1999, covering the three listed coho ESUs in the ocean salmon 
fisheries and Amendment 13 to the FMP, and on April 30, 1999, covering 
the ocean salmon fisheries for this season through April 30, 2000.
    Prior to the start of the preseason planning process, NMFS sent a 
letter to the Council, dated March 1, 1999, summarizing its guidance on 
protective measures for listed species. The Council's recommended 
management measures comply with NMFS guidance, reasonable and prudent 
alternatives of jeopardy decisions, and the terms and conditions of the 
incidental take statements in all of the outstanding applicable 
biological opinions related to listed salmon species that may be 
affected by Council fisheries.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 30, 1999.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11278 Filed 4-30-99; 2:43 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P