[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 99040113-01; I.D. 093099B]


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Commercial Reopening from Cape Flattery to 
Leadbetter Point, WA

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

ACTION: Reopening; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area 
between Cape Alava to Leadbetter Point, WA for all salmon except 
chinook reopened on September 22, 1999, with the suspension of certain 
gear restrictions and the coho trip limit. The fishery closed as 
scheduled on September 30, 1999, and will not reopen. There were 12,027 
coho remaining in the quota when the fishery opened. This action was 
necessary to conform to the 1999 management measures and is intended to 
ensure conservation of chinook salmon.

DATES: Reopening the commercial salmon fishery effective 0001 hours 
local time (l.t.), September 22, 1999, from the area between Cape Alava 
to Leadbetter Point, WA. Comments will be accepted through December 6, 
1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional 
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 
Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070. Information relevant to this document 
is available for public review during business hours at the Office of 
the Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In the 1999 management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (64 FR 
24078, May 5, 1999), NMFS announced that the commercial fishery for all 
salmon from 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, would open July 10, 1999, through the 
earliest of September 30, 1999, or attainment of the overall chinook 
quota (preseason 4,500 chinook guideline) or 20,000 coho quota. NMFS 
also made several other earlier inseason adjustments to this fishery 
which can be found in the Federal Register at [64 FR 42856, August 6, 
1999], [64 FR October 18, 1999], and [64 FR 62127, November 16, 1999].

Salmon Inseason Actions

    On September 20, 1999, the Regional Administrator consulted with 
representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFD), and the Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to discuss the status of catch 
in the commercial salmon fisheries north of Cape Falcon. During the 
recent 9-day opener for all salmon except chinook, from September 5, 
1999, until September 13, 1999, only 337 coho were landed. With a 
landed catch so low, primarily caused by rough weather conditions and 
low fishing effort, the chinook hooking mortality impacts were also 
low. Therefore, a majority of the 770 chinook previously set aside to 
compensate for mortalities related to chinook hooked and released 
during the 9-day commercial opener targeting coho still remained. The 
States, therefore, recommended that the fishery reopen on September 22, 
1999, and close as scheduled on September 30, 1999, with the continued 
suspension of certain gear restrictions (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; and no more than one flasher 
per line), and the coho trip limit (where each vessel may possess, land 
and deliver no more than 100 coho per open period). As recommended, 
NMFS reopened the commercial salmon fishery in the area between Cape 
Alava to Leadbetter Point, WA, for all salmon except chinook on 
September 22, 1999, through the end of the season on September 30, 
1999, with the continued suspension of certain gear restrictions and 
also the suspension of the coho trip limit.
    Modification of fishing seasons is authorized by regulations at 50 
CFR 660.409(b)(1). All other restrictions applicable to this fishery 
remained in effect as announced in the annual management measures.
    In making these decisions, the Regional Administrator consulted 
with representatives of the Council, WDFW, and ODFW. The States of 
Washington and Oregon will manage the commercial fisheries in State 
waters adjacent to this area of the EEZ in accordance with this Federal 
action. As provided by the inseason notification procedures of 50 CFR 
660.411, actual notification to fishermen of this action was given 
prior the effective date by telephone hotline numbers 206-526-6667 and 
800-662-9825, and by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners broadcasts on 
Channel 16 VHF-FM and 2182 kHz. Because of the need for immediate 
action to make inseason adjustments to allow harvest, NMFS has 
determined that good cause exists for this action to be issued without 
affording a prior opportunity for public comment. This action does not 
apply to other fisheries that may be operating in other areas.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: November 8, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-30271 Filed 11-18-99; 8:45 am]
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