[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53648-53649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22664]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 000501119-01119-01; I.D. 080400C]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closure and Inseason Adjustments from Cape 
Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR

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

ACTION: Closure and inseason adjustments; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the recreational selective fishery for 
marked hatchery coho in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, 
Oregon, was closed on July 25, 2000, at 2359 hours local time (l.t.). 
The recreational fishery for all-salmon-except-coho reopened on July 
26, 2000. The Northwest Regional Administrator, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator), determined that the recreational quota of 20,000 coho 
salmon had been reached. These actions are necessary to conform to the 
2000 management measures and are intended to ensure conservation of 
coho salmon.

DATES: Closure effective 2359 hours l.t., July 25, 2000. Reopening 
effective 0001 hours l.t., July 26, 2000. Comments will be accepted 
through September 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this action must be mailed to William Stelle, 
Jr., Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand 
Point Way N.E., Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or faxed to 206-526-
6376; or Rebecca Lent, Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 
NOAA, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132; or 
faxed to 562-980-4018. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via 
e-mail or the Internet. Information relevant to this document is 
available for public review during business hours at the Office of the 
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS.

[[Page 53649]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson, 206-526-6140, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA; or Svein Fougner, 562-980-4030 Southwest 
Region, NMFS, NOAA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the ocean salmon 
fisheries at 50 CFR 660.409(a)(1) state that, when a quota for any 
salmon species in any portion of the fishery management area is 
projected by the Regional Administrator to be reached on or by a 
certain date, NMFS will, by notification issued under 50 CFR 
660.411(a)(2), close the fishery for all salmon species in the portion 
of the fishery management area to which the quota applies, as of the 
date the quota is projected to be reached.
    In the 2000 management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (65 FR 
26138, May 5, 2000), NMFS announced that the recreational selective 
fishery for marked hatchery coho in the area between Cape Falcon to 
Humbug Mountain, OR would open on July 1 through earlier of July 31 or 
the attainment of a 20,000 marked coho quota, and the all-salmon-
except-coho season would then reopen the earlier of August 1 or the 
attainment of the coho quota.
    The Regional Administrator consulted with representatives of the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Oregon Department of Fish 
and Wildlife. The best available information on July 24, 2000, 
indicated that the catch and effort data and projections supported 
closure of the recreational selective fishery for marked hatchery coho 
in this area at 2359 hours l.t., July 25, 2000. The recreational 
fishery for all-salmon-except-coho reopened July 26, 2000. The State of 
Oregon will manage the recreational fishery in state waters adjacent to 
this area of the exclusive economic zone in accordance with this 
Federal action. As provided by the inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 
660.411, actual notice to fishermen of these actions was given prior to 
2359 hours l.t on July 25, 2000, by telephone hotline number 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 stop the fishery upon 
achievement of the quota, NMFS has determined that good cause exists 
for this notification to be issued without affording a prior 
opportunity for public comment because such notification would be 
unnecessary, impracticable, and contrary to the public interest. 
Moreover, because of the immediate need to stop the fishery upon 
achievement of the quota, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA finds, for good cause, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), that delaying the 
effectiveness of this rule for 30 days is impracticable and contrary to 
public interest. 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 Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: August 29, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-22664 Filed 9-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S