[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8750-8751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02674]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[RTID 0648-XA603]


Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 
Amendment 20 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Announcement of availability of fishery management plan 
amendment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) has submitted Amendment 20 to the Pacific Coast Salmon 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. 
If approved, Amendment 20 would modify the preseason schedule for 
implementing annual management measures and would move the southern 
boundary of the Klamath Management Zone (KMZ) 5 nautical miles (nmi) 
(9.3 km) north of its current location. In addition, Amendment 20 would 
update out-of-date language in the FMP. NMFS will consider public 
comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially 
approve Amendment 20. NMFS also announces the availability for public 
review and comment of a draft environmental assessment (EA) analyzing 
the environmental impacts of implementing the actions under Amendment 
20.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 20 must be received by April 12, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0161, by any of the following method:
    <bullet> Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0161, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by the above method to 
ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered by 
NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or 
individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be 
considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and 
will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov 
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, 
address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will 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).
    The draft FMP as amended through Amendment 20, with notations 
showing how Amendment 20 would change the FMP, if approved, is 
available on the NMFS website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-20-pacific-coast-salmon-fishery-management-plan-changes-preseason-schedule-and.
    The Council and NMFS prepared a draft EA. An electronic copy of 
this document may be obtained from the West Coast Regional Office 
website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/west-coast-region-national-environmental-policy-act-documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Mundy at 206-526-4323.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The ocean salmon fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (3-200 
nmi) (5.6-370.4 km) off Washington, Oregon, and California are managed 
under the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires 
that each regional fishery management council submit any FMP or plan 
amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or 
partial approval by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). The MSA also 
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately 
publish a notice that the FMP or amendment is available for public 
review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments received 
during the comment period described above in determining whether to 
approve, partially approve, or disapprove Amendment 20 to the FMP.
    Amendment 20 was developed by the Council to address two primary 
issues: The preseason schedule for setting annual management measures 
and the southern boundary of the KMZ in California. Under Amendment 20, 
the Council also recommended updating outdated language, typographical 
errors, and references.

Preseason Schedule

    Chapter 9 of the FMP contains the schedule and procedures for 
preseason modification of regulations (preseason schedule). The annual 
preseason schedule extends from March to May. The schedule in the FMP 
includes the timing of announcement of meeting dates and locations for 
Council meetings and public hearings, the timing of Council meetings at 
which the Council develops its recommended management measures, and the 
availability of the Salmon Technical Team's (STT) analytical documents 
(the annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) document and 
the STT's Preseason Reports). Under the preseason schedule currently in 
the FMP, the Council, at its regularly scheduled meeting in early to 
mid-April, adopts and recommends annual management measures to NMFS for 
approval. If NMFS determines the management measures are consistent 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and other applicable law, NMFS then 
publishes the annual management measures in the Federal Register during 
the first week of May, which corresponds with the traditional May 1 
start date for many ocean salmon fisheries. However, it has become 
increasingly challenging for the Council and NMFS to complete the 
necessary environmental and economic analyses and regulatory 
documentation following the April Council meeting in time for the 
Secretary of Commerce to approve and implement the Council's annual 
recommendation by May 1.
    At its September 2020 meeting, the Council adopted, as part of 
Amendment 20, a change in the schedule such that NMFS would publish the 
annual management measures in the Federal Register in the second or 
third week of May with an anticipated effective date of May 16. The 
annual management measures will include expected salmon fisheries for 
the following March through early May, pending modification through 
inseason action as needed in response to updated stock abundance 
forecasts. This has been the practice for March and April salmon 
fisheries since at least 1994.

Klamath Management Zone (KMZ) Southern Boundary

    The Council uses management boundaries and zones to manage the 
ocean salmon harvest consistent with the objectives in the FMP. These 
boundaries or zones are specified in the annual management measures and 
may change from year to year. Some management boundaries remain 
relatively constant and, as described in

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the FMP, changes to these boundaries or zones may require special 
justification and documentation. The KMZ is one of these relatively 
constant zones and is described in section 6.1 of the FMP as extending 
from Humbug Mountain, OR, to Horse Mountain, CA.
    Beginning in 2016, the Council received multiple requests from 
participants in the commercial ocean salmon fishery to move the 
southern boundary of the KMZ from Horse Mountain (Lat. 40[deg]05' N) 5 
nmi north to Lat. 40[deg]10' N. Proponents argued this would align the 
salmon management boundary with an existing management boundary in the 
groundfish fishery, allowing for increased efficiency in fishery 
operations and enforcement as well as the potential to provide economic 
benefit to the Port of Eureka.
    The Council considered the analysis of the STT regarding the 
impacts of the boundary change on the affected salmon stocks, developed 
during the 2019 methodology review, and economic analysis of the 
proposed boundary change during its deliberations for Amendment 
20.<SUP>1 2</SUP> The Council also considered the assessment of the 
Enforcement Consultants regarding any enforcement or safety 
concerns.\3\ At its September 2020 meeting, the Council recommended, as 
part of Amendment 20, moving the boundary between the KMZ and Fort 
Bragg management area from Lat. 40[deg]05' N to Lat. 40[deg]10' N.
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    \1\ The STT's analysis document is available on the Council's 
website at: https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2019/10/agenda-item-e-2-attachment-1-potential-implications-of-moving-the-california-klamath-management-zone-fort-bragg-salmon-fishery-management-line-from-horse-mountain-north-to-latitude-40-10.pdf/.
    \2\ The economic analysis of the proposed boundary change can be 
found in chapter 9 of the analysis document available on the 
Council's website at: https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2019/10/agenda-item-e-2-attachment-1-potential-implications-of-moving-the-california-klamath-management-zone-fort-bragg-salmon-fishery-management-line-from-horse-mountain-north-to-latitude-40-10.pdf/.
    \3\ The comments of the Enforcement Consultants can be found on 
the Council's website at: https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2020/06/e-3-a-supplemental-ec-report-1.pdf/.
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FMP Language Updates

    In 2015, the Council adopted management reference points for three 
stocks of salmon managed under the FMP: Southern Oregon coastal Chinook 
salmon, Grays Harbor fall Chinook salmon, and Willapa Bay natural coho 
salmon. These changes were implemented through rulemaking (80 FR 19564, 
April 13, 2015). The reference points included in that action have been 
used in salmon fishery management since the final rule implementing 
them was promulgated. However, the current text of the FMP includes the 
prior reference point values that the 2015 reference points superseded. 
This action proposes updating the reference points.
    Other updates to the FMP included in Amendment 20 include: Updates 
to reflect the 2013 merger of NMFS' Northwest and Southwest Regions, 
updates to the status and terminology of Endangered Species Act-listed 
salmon evolutionarily significant units, dates for updated management 
agreements and treaties, and updated references.
    There are no implementing regulations associated with Amendment 20, 
therefore NMFS will not promulgate a proposed rule to implement this 
amendment.
    All comments received by the end of the comment period on Amendment 
20 (see DATES and ADDRESSES above) will be considered in the 
Secretary's decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve this 
amendment. To be considered in this decision, comments must be received 
by close of business on the last day of the comment period; that does 
not mean postmarked or otherwise transmitted by that date.

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

    Dated: February 4, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02674 Filed 2-8-21; 8:45 am]
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