[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 227 (Friday, November 24, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70523-70524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30027]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 000501119-01; I.D. 102300C]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closures and Inseason Adjustments from House 
Rock, OR to Humboldt South Jetty, CA

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

ACTION: Closures and inseason adjustments; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial fishery in the area from 
House Rock, OR to Humboldt South Jetty, CA, reached its 1,000-chinook 
guideline for the sub-area allocation off Oregon. The fishery in the 
sub-area from House Rock, OR to the Oregon-California border was closed 
at midnight, September 6, 2000, for the duration of the fishery. In the 
sub-area off California, from Oregon-California border to the Humboldt 
South Jetty, the fishery remains open. Oregon State regulations will 
allow vessels with fish on board caught in the open area off California 
to seek temporary mooring in Brookings, OR, prior to landing in 
California only if such vessels first notify the Chetco River Coast 
Guard Station. The Northwest Regional Administrator, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator), determined that the commercial guideline of salmon for 
this sub-area had been reached. These actions were necessary to conform 
to the 2000 management measures and are intended to ensure conservation 
of chinook salmon.

DATES: Closure effective 2359 hours local time (l.t.), September 6, 
2000, for the area from House Rock, OR to the Oregon-California border. 
Comments will be accepted through December 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on these actions must be mailed to Donna Darm, 
Acting 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.

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

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 commercial fishery for all 
salmon except coho in the area from House Rock, OR to Humboldt South 
Jetty, CA would open September 1 through the earlier of September 30 or 
until the 7,000-chinook quota was reached. The 7,000 chinook quota 
included a harvest guideline limiting landings at the port of 
Brookings, OR, to no more than 1,000 chinook. If this guideline was 
reached prior to the overall quota, the fishery would be closed north 
of the Oregon-California border. When the fishery is closed north of 
the Oregon-California border and open to the south, Oregon 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 l.t. and provide the vessel name, number of fish on board, and 
estimated time of arrival. The Regional Administrator consulted with 
representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the 
California Department of Fish and Game, and the Oregon Department of 
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) on September 6, 2000. The ODFW reported that 
the 1,000 chinook guideline for the sub-area allocation off OR (for the 
area from House Rock OR to Humboldt South Jetty, CA) would be reached 
by the end of the day on September 6, 2000, at the current catch and 
landing rates.
    The Northwest Regional Administrator determined that the best 
available information on September 6, 2000, indicated that the catch 
and effort data and projections supported closure of the commercial 
fishery in the sub-area from House Rock, OR to the Oregon-California 
border at midnight, September 6, 2000. The sub-area off California from 
the Oregon-California border to the Humboldt South Jetty, California 
order would remain open. Oregon State regulations would allow vessels 
with fish on board caught in the open area off California to seek 
temporary mooring in Brookings, OR prior to landing in California only 
if such vessels first notify the Chetco River Coast Guard Station.
    The States of California and Oregon will manage this fishery in 
state waters adjacent to these areas 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 this action 
was given 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.

Classification

    Because of the need for immediate action to stop a fishery upon 
achievement of a 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 the immediate interest. 
Moreover, because of need to stop the fishery upon achievement of a 
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 the public 
interest.

[[Page 70524]]

 These actions do not apply to other fisheries that may be operating in 
other areas.
    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: November 17, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-30027 Filed 11-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S