[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 53961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14307]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD932]


Determination of Overfishing or an Overfished Condition

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has found that California Quillback 
rockfish and the Queets spring/summer Chinook salmon stock are now 
overfished; Gulf of Mexico Lane snapper is now subject to overfishing; 
and Atlantic mackerel and the Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon 
stock remain overfished. NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, is required 
to provide this notice whenever it determines that a stock or stock 
complex is subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an 
overfished condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Perry, (301)-427-7863.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 304(e)(2) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1854(e)(2), NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, must notify councils, and 
publish a notice in the Federal Register, whenever it determines that a 
stock or stock complex is subject to overfishing, overfished, or 
approaching an overfished condition.
    NMFS has determined that the Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon 
stock remains overfished and the Queets spring/summer Chinook salmon 
stock is now overfished. These determinations are based on assessments, 
completed in 2023, using data from 2020-2022 for the Klamath River 
fall-run Chinook salmon stock and data from 2019-2021 for the Queets 
spring/summer Chinook salmon stock. These assessments indicate that the 
3-year geometric mean of the annual spawning escapement for each stock 
is less than each stock's minimum stock size threshold (MSST). NMFS 
continues to work with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific 
Council) to rebuild the Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon stock and 
has notified the Pacific Council of the requirement to rebuild the 
Queets spring/summer Chinook salmon stock.
    NMFS has determined that California Quillback rockfish is now 
overfished. This determination is based on the most recent assessment, 
completed in 2021 and using data from 2020, which indicates that the 
spawning stock biomass is less than the MSST. NMFS has notified the 
Pacific Council of the requirement to rebuild this stock.
    NMFS has determined that Atlantic mackerel is still overfished. 
This determination is based on the most recent assessment, completed in 
2023 and using data from 2022, which indicates that the spawning stock 
biomass is less than the MSST. NMFS continues to work with the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council to rebuild this stock.
    NMFS has determined that Gulf of Mexico Lane snapper is now subject 
to overfishing. Gulf of Mexico Lane snapper was not assessed in 2023, 
so landings data from 2022 was compared to the overfishing limit to 
support the status determination of subject to overfishing. NMFS has 
notified the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council of its 
requirement to end overfishing.

    Dated: June 25, 2024.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-14307 Filed 6-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P