[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 217 (Monday, November 13, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77533-77535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 230508-0124; RTID 0648-XD444]


Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast 
Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #27-#31

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

ACTION: Inseason modification of 2023 management measures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces five inseason actions for the 2023-2024 ocean 
salmon fishing season. These inseason actions modify the recreational 
and commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border 
to Humbug Mountain, Oregon.

DATES: The effective dates for these inseason actions are set out in 
this document under the heading ``Inseason Actions'' and the actions 
remain in effect until superseded or modified.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Penna, 562-980-4239, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The annual management measures for the 2023 and early 2024 ocean 
salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023) govern the commercial and 
recreational fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border to the 
U.S./Mexico border, effective from 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time 
(PDT), May 16, 2023, until the effective date of the 2024 management 
measures, as published in the Federal Register. NMFS is authorized to 
implement inseason management actions to modify fishing seasons, catch 
limits, and quotas as

[[Page 77534]]

necessary to provide fishing opportunity while meeting management 
objectives for the affected species (50 CFR 660.409). Inseason actions 
in the salmon fishery may be taken directly by NMFS (50 CFR 
660.409(a)--Fixed inseason management provisions) or upon consultation 
with the Chairman of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 
and the appropriate State Directors (50 CFR 660.409(b)--Flexible 
inseason management provisions).
    Management of the salmon fisheries is divided into two geographic 
areas: north of Cape Falcon (NOF) (U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, 
OR), and south of Cape Falcon (SOF) (Cape Falcon, OR, to the U.S./
Mexico border). The actions described in this document affect the NOF 
commercial salmon troll and recreational fisheries and SOF recreational 
fisheries, as set out under the heading Inseason Actions below.
    Consultation with the Council Chairman on these inseason actions 
occurred on September 6, 2023, September 13, 2023, and September 19, 
2023. These consultations included representatives from NMFS, 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish 
and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 
Representatives from the Salmon Advisory Subpanel and Salmon Technical 
Team (STT) were also present. A Council representative was present on 
September 13, 2023, and September 19, 2023.
    These inseason actions were announced on NMFS' telephone hotline 
and U.S. Coast Guard radio broadcast on the date of the consultations 
(50 CFR 660.411(a)(2)).

Inseason Actions

Inseason Action #27

    Description of the action: Inseason action #27 modifies the NOF 
commercial salmon troll fishery. In the area between the U.S./Canada 
border and Cape Falcon, the landing and possession limit is increased 
from 7 Chinook salmon to 15 Chinook salmon and 100 coho salmon per 
vessel per landing week (Thursday-Wednesday).
    Effective dates: Inseason action #27 takes effect on September 7, 
2023, at 12:01 a.m., and remains in effect until superseded.
    Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #27 is 
necessary to provide access to available Chinook and coho salmon quota 
without exceeding the Chinook salmon guideline and in order to maximize 
catch of the available coho salmon quota. The NMFS West Coast Regional 
Administrator (RA) determined that this inseason action is necessary to 
meet management and conservation goals for the 2023-early 2024 
management measures after considering the best available information on 
the 2023 abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks, landings and 
effort patterns to date, anticipated fishery effort and projected 
catch, the timing of the action relative to the length of the season, 
and the other factors and considerations set forth in 50 CFR 660.409. 
This inseason action modified quotas and/or fishing seasons under 50 
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).

Inseason Action #28

    Description of the action: Inseason action #28 modifies the SOF 
recreational fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. This action 
increases the non-mark selective coho salmon quota in the September 1, 
2023, through September 30, 2023, recreational fishery from 25,000 to 
40,500 through an impact-neutral rollover of unused quota from the 
June-August mark selective coho salmon recreational fishery.
    Effective dates: Inseason action #28 takes effect on September 13, 
2023, at 3:30 p.m., and remains in effect until the end of the 
recreational non-mark selective coho salmon season on September 30, 
2023, at 11:59 p.m.
    Reason and authorization for the action: Authority for this impact-
neutral rollover of unutilized quota is specified in the 2023 ocean 
salmon regulations (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023). The SOF June-August 
mark selective coho salmon recreational fishery had a quota of 110,000 
marked coho salmon. Total catches for the mark selective season were 
20,874 coho salmon, leaving a balance of 89,126. The STT calculated 
that an impact-neutral rollover of the unutilized coho salmon quota 
would add 15,500 coho salmon from the June-August mark-selective period 
to the September non-selective coho salmon fishery quota of 25,500 for 
an adjusted quota of 40,500 coho salmon. The RA determined that this 
inseason action is necessary to meet management and conservation goals 
for the 2023-early 2024 management measures after considering the best 
available information on the 2023 abundance forecasts for coho salmon 
stocks, remaining quota, effects on coho conservation objectives and 
the other factors and considerations set forth in 50 CFR 660.409. This 
inseason action modified quotas and/or fishing seasons under 50 CFR 
660.409(b)(1)(i).

Inseason Action #29

    Description of the action: Inseason action #29 modifies the SOF 
recreational fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. The 
recreational non-mark selective coho salmon season is closed. The 
season remains open for a daily bag limit of one Chinook salmon.
    Effective dates: Inseason action #29 takes effect on September 17, 
2023, at 11:59 p.m., and remains in effect until superseded.
    Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #29 is 
necessary to close the fishery to the retention of coho salmon catch to 
preserve the length of the season while avoiding exceedance of the coho 
salmon quota for this area. The RA determined that this inseason action 
is necessary to meet management and conservation goals for the 2023-
early 2024 management measures after considering the best available 
information on the 2023 abundance forecasts for coho salmon stocks, 
landings and effort patterns to date, anticipated fishery effort and 
projected catch, the timing of the action relative to the length of the 
season, and the other factors and considerations set forth in 50 CFR 
660.409. This inseason action modified recreational bag limits under 50 
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).

Inseason Action #30

    Description of the action: Inseason action #30 modifies the 
recreational salmon fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. This 
action increased the non-mark selective coho salmon quota from 40,500 
to 42,500 through an impact-neutral rollover of a portion of the unused 
quota from the June-August mark selective coho salmon recreational 
fishery.
    Effective dates: Inseason action #30 takes effect on September 19, 
2023, at 4:30 p.m., and remains in effect until the end of the non-mark 
selective recreational salmon season on September 30, 2023, at 11:59 
p.m.
    Reason and authorization for the action: Authority for this impact-
neutral rollover of unutilized quota is specified in the 2023 ocean 
salmon regulations (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023). The SOF June-August 
mark selective coho salmon recreational fishery had a quota of 110,000 
marked coho salmon. An impact-neutral rollover of the unutilized coho 
salmon was made on September 13, 2023 (see Inseason Action #28) 
adjusting the September quota to 40,500. The most recent catches for 
the mark selective season brought the season total to 28,885 coho 
salmon, leaving a balance of 11,615. The STT calculated that an impact-
neutral rollover of a portion of the unutilized coho salmon quota would 
add an additional 2,000 coho salmon from the June-August period to the 
September

[[Page 77535]]

non-selective coho salmon fishery quota of 40,500 for an adjusted quota 
of 42,500 coho salmon. Managers took into account the uncertainty in 
the catch to date in rolling over a portion of the unutilized coho 
quota to insure that catch did not exceed the overall 2023 coho quota 
for the SOF area. The RA determined that this inseason action is 
necessary to meet management and conservation goals for the 2023-early 
2024 management measures after considering the best available 
information on the 2023 abundance forecasts for coho salmon stocks, 
landings and effort patterns to date, anticipated fishery effort and 
projected catch, the timing of the action relative to the length of the 
season, and the other factors and considerations set forth in 50 CFR 
660.409. This inseason action modified quotas and/or fishing seasons 
under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).

Inseason Action #31

    Description of the action: Inseason action #31 modifies the 
recreational salmon fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug 
Mountain. The fishery is open to retention of coho salmon. Daily bag 
limit of two salmon, but no more than one Chinook salmon. Beginning 
October 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m., open only shoreward of the 40-fathom 
regulatory line.
    Effective dates: Inseason action #31 takes effect on September 21, 
2023, at 12:01 a.m., and remains in effect until superseded.
    Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #31 is 
necessary to open the fishery to the retention of coho salmon and 
provide access to available Chinook and coho salmon quota without 
exceeding the Chinook salmon guideline and maximize catch of the 
available coho salmon quota. The RA determined that this inseason 
action is necessary to meet management and conservation goals for the 
2023-early 2024 management measures after considering the best 
available information on the 2023 abundance forecasts for coho salmon 
stocks, landings and effort patterns to date, anticipated fishery 
effort and projected catch, the timing of the action relative to the 
length of the season, and the other factors and considerations set 
forth in 50 CFR 660.409. This inseason action modified recreational bag 
limits under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).
    All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as 
announced for the 2023 ocean salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 
2023; 88 FR 44737, July 13, 2023; 88 FR 51250, August 3, 2023; 88 FR 
53813, August 9, 2023; 88 FR 58522, August 28, 2023; 88 FR 65824, 
September 26, 2023) except as previously modified by inseason actions.
    The states and tribes manage the fisheries in state waters adjacent 
to the areas of the U.S. exclusive economic zone (3-200 nautical miles; 
5.6-370.4 kilometers) off the coasts of the States of Washington, 
Oregon, and California consistent with these Federal actions. As 
provided by the inseason notice procedures at 50 CFR 660.411, actual 
notice of the described regulatory actions was given, prior to the time 
the actions became effective, 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.

Classification

    NMFS issues these actions pursuant to section 305(d) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). These 
actions are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409, which was issued pursuant to 
section 304(b) of the MSA, and are exempt from review under Executive 
Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), there is good cause to waive 
prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as 
notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this 
action was impracticable because NMFS had insufficient time to provide 
for prior notice and the opportunity for public comment between the 
time Chinook and coho salmon abundance, catch, and effort information 
were developed and fisheries impacts were calculated, and the time the 
fishery modifications had to be implemented in order to ensure that 
fisheries are managed based on the best scientific information 
available. As previously noted, actual notice of the regulatory action 
was provided to fishers through telephone hotlines and radio 
notifications. These actions comply with the requirements of the annual 
management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 
2023), the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and 
regulations implementing the FMP under 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411.
    There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day 
delay in effective date, as a delay in effectiveness of this action 
would allow fishing at levels inconsistent with the goals of the FMP 
and the current management measures.

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

    Dated: November 6, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-24879 Filed 11-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P