[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 222 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67508-67509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25638]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 040429134-4135-01; I.D. 111004C]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Action 17--Adjustment of the 
Commercial Salmon Fishery from the Oregon-California Border to Humboldt 
South Jetty, California

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

ACTION:  Closure; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area 
from the Oregon-California Border to Humboldt South Jetty, CA was 
modified to close at midnight on Friday, September 17, 2004. This 
action was necessary to conform to the 2004 management goals. The 
intended effect of this action is to allow the fishery to operate 
within the seasons and quotas as specified in the 2004 annual 
management measures.

DATES:  Closure effective 2359 hours local time (l.t.), September 17, 
2004, after which the fishery will remain closed until opened through 
an additional inseason action for the west coast salmon fisheries, 
which will be published in the Federal Register, or until the effective 
date of the next scheduled open period announced in the 2005 annual 
management measures. Comments will be accepted through December 3, 
2004.

ADDRESSES:  Comments on this action must be mailed to D. Robert Lohn, 
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 
Rod McInnis, Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 501 
W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132; or faxed to 562-
980-4018. Comments can also be submitted via e-mail at the 
[email protected] address, or through the internet at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments and include the docket number in 
the subject line of the message. 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:  Christopher Wright, 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NMFS Regional Administrator closed the 
commercial salmon fishery in the area from the Oregon-California Border 
to Humboldt South Jetty, CA, effective at midnight on Friday, September 
17, 2004. On September 15, the Regional Administrator determined that 
available catch and effort data indicated that the quota of 6,000 
chinook salmon would be reached by midnight on Friday, September 17, 
2004.
    Automatic season closures based on quotas are authorized by 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.409(a)(1).
    In the 2004 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries 
(69 FR 25026, May 5, 2004), NMFS

[[Page 67509]]

announced the commercial fishery for all salmon except coho in the area 
from the Oregon-California Border to Humboldt South Jetty, CA, would 
openSeptember 1 through the earlier of September 30 or a 6,000 chinook 
quota.
    On September 15, 2004, the Regional Administrator consulted with 
representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and 
California Department of Fish and Game. Information related to catch to 
date, the chinook catch rate, and effort data indicated that it was 
likely that the chinook quota would be reached by September 17. As a 
result, the State of California recommended, and the Regional 
Administrator concurred, that the area from the Oregon-California 
Border to Humboldt South Jetty, CA close effective at midnight on 
Friday, September 17, 2004. All other restrictions that apply to this 
fishery remained in effect as announced in the 2004 annual management 
measures.
    The Regional Administrator determined that the best available 
information indicated that the catch and effort data, and projections, 
supported the above inseason action recommended by the state. The 
states manage the fisheries in state waters adjacent to the areas of 
the U.S. exclusive economic zone in accordance with this Federal 
action. As provided by the inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 
660.411, actual notice to fishers of the above described action was 
given prior to the date the action was effective 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.
    This action does not apply to other fisheries that may be operating 
in other areas.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that 
good cause exists for this notification to be issued without affording 
prior notice and opportunity for public comment under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B) because such notification would be impracticable. As 
previously noted, actual notice of this action was provided to fishers 
through telephone hotline and radio notification. This action complies 
with the requirements of the annual management measures for ocean 
salmon fisheries (69 FR 25026, May 5, 2004), the West Coast Salmon 
Plan, and regulations implementing the West Coast Salmon Plan 50 CFR 
660.409 and 660.411. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
was impracticable because NMFS and the state agency have insufficient 
time to provide for prior notice and the opportunity for public comment 
between the time the fishery catch and effort data are collected to 
determine the extent of the fisheries, and the time the fishery closure 
must be implemented to avoid exceeding the quota. Because of the rate 
of harvest in this fishery, failure to close the fishery upon 
attainment of the quota would allow the quota to be exceeded, resulting 
in fewer spawning fish and possibly reduced yield of the stocks in the 
future. For the same reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 
30-day delay in effectiveness required under U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
    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 12, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25638 Filed 11-17-04; 8:45 am]
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