[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44925-44927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18800]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No.100218107-0199-01]
RIN 0648-XX18


Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modifications of the West Coast 
Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions 
1, 2, 3, and 4

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

[[Page 44926]]


ACTION:  Modification of fishing seasons, gear restrictions, and 
landing and possession limits; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  NOAA Fisheries announces four inseason actions in the ocean 
salmon fisheries. Inseason action 1 modified the commercial 
fishery in the area from Cape Falcon, Oregon to Humbug Mountain, 
Oregon, and from Humbug Mountain, Oregon to the Oregon/California 
Border. Inseason action 2 modified the recreational fishery in 
the area from Cape Falcon, Oregon to Humbug Mountain, Oregon. Inseason 
action 3 modified the commercial fishery in the area from 
U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon. Inseason action 4 
modified the commercial fishery from U.S./Canada Border to U.S./Mexico 
Border.

DATES:  Inseason actions 1 and 2 were effective on 
March 15, 2010 until they were replaced by the 2010 management measures 
on May 1, 2010. Inseason action 3 was effective on June 12, 
2010 and remains in effect until the closing date announced in the 2010 
annual management measures or through additional inseason action. 
Inseason action 4 was effective on June 16, 2010 and remains 
in effect until the closing date of the 2010 salmon season announced in 
the 2010 annual management measures or through additional inseason 
action. Comments will be accepted through August 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XX18, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Peggy Busby
     Mail: 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Building 1, Seattle, WA, 
98115
    Instructions: No comments will be posted for public viewing until 
after the comment period has closed. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Peggy Busby, by phone at 206-526-
4323.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 2009 annual management measures for 
ocean salmon fisheries (74 FR 20610, May 5, 2009), NMFS announced the 
commercial and recreational fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada 
Border to the U.S./Mexico Border. These management measures included 
2010 salmon seasons opening earlier than May 1, 2010.
    On March 10, 2010, the Regional Administrator (RA) consulted with 
representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish 
and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Game. The parties 
to this consultation considered information related to Chinook salmon 
abundance forecasts, Chinook salmon catch rates, and possible impacts 
to Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon from the fisheries scheduled to 
open March 15, 2010. The fisheries opening March 15, 2010 were to occur 
in the impact area for Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon. 
Preliminary projections suggested that there would be limited harvest 
opportunity for Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon and, by moving the 
opening dates of these fisheries to after May 1, 2010 NMFS and the 
Council would have more time to evaluate the impacts of these fisheries 
on the Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon stock.
    As a result, on March 10, 2010, the states recommended, and the RA 
concurred, that NMFS should adopt inseason actions 1 and 
2 that would cancel the previously scheduled March 15, 2010 
opening date for the (a) commercial fishery in the area from Cape 
Falcon, Oregon to Humbug Mountain, Oregon, and from Humbug Mountain, 
Oregon to the Oregon/California Border and (b) the recreational fishery 
in the area from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Humbug Mountain, Oregon. 
Modification of quota and/or fishing seasons by inseason action is 
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
    In the 2010 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries 
(75 FR 24482, May 5, 2010), NMFS announced the commercial and 
recreational fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada Border to the 
U.S./Mexico Border, beginning May 1, 2010.
    The RA consulted with representatives of the Council, Washington 
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife on June 10, 2010. The information considered during this 
consultation related to Chinook salmon catch to date and Chinook salmon 
catch rates compared to quotas and other management measures 
established preseason.
    Inseason action 3 closed the commercial salmon fishery 
from the U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon. This action was 
taken consistent with the 2010 management measures requirement that 
when it was projected that 35,000 Chinook salmon of the 42,000 Chinook 
salmon quota had been landed, NMFS would consider inseason action , to 
modify the open period and add landing and possession limits to extend 
the fishery through the end of June. On June 10, 2010, the states 
recommended this action and the RA concurred; inseason action 
3 took effect on June 12, 2010, and was effective until it was 
modified by subsequent inseason action that will be described in a 
separate federal register notice. Modification of quota and/or fishing 
seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 (b)(1)(i).
    The RA consulted with representatives of the Council, Washington 
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife on June 15, 2010. The information considered during this 
consultation related to catch to date for salmon and incidental halibut 
harvest, and Chinook salmon catch rates compared to quotas and other 
management measures established preseason.
    Inseason action 4 closed the retention of Pacific halibut 
caught incidentally while trolling for salmon in halibut management 
area 2A (the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California). This action 
was taken due to attainment of the 2010 incidental halibut harvest 
quota. On June 15, 2010, the states recommended this action and the RA 
concurred; inseason action 4 took effect on June 16, 2010. 
Modification of quota and/or fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 
660.409(b)(1)(i) .
    All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as 
announced for the 2010 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and previous inseason 
actions.
    The RA determined that the best available information indicated 
that the catch and effort data, and projections, supported the above 
inseason actions recommended by the states. The states manage the 
fisheries in state waters adjacent to the areas of the U.S. exclusive 
economic zone in accordance with these Federal actions. As provided by 
the inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice of the

[[Page 44927]]

described regulatory actions 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.

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 the regulatory actions was provided 
to fishers through telephone hotline and radio notification. These 
actions comply with the requirements of the annual management measures 
for ocean salmon fisheries (74 FR 20610, May 5, 2009; 75 FR 24482, May 
5, 2010), 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 agencies had insufficient time to provide for prior notice and 
the opportunity for public comment between the time the fishery catch 
and effort data were collected to determine the extent of the 
fisheries, and the time the fishery modifications had to be implemented 
in order to ensure that fisheries are managed based on the best 
available scientific information, thus allowing fishers access to the 
available fish at the time the fish were available while ensuring that 
quotas are not exceeded. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-
day delay in effectiveness required under U.S.C. 553(d)(3), as a delay 
in effectiveness of these actions would allow fishing at levels 
inconsistent with the goals of the Salmon Fishery Management Plan and 
the current management measures.
    These actions are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and are 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: July 27, 2010.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-18800 Filed 7-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S