[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43484-43485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21465]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 970429101-7101-01; I.D. 070297B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific 
States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Adjustment From the 
Queets River to Leadbetter Point, WA

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the daily bag limit for the recreational 
salmon fishery in the area from the Queets River to Leadbetter Point, 
WA, is two fish, only one of which may be a chinook, beginning the 
season opening date of July 21, 1997. This action is intended to help 
meet the recreational season duration objectives for this subarea.

DATES: Effective July 21, 1997, through September 25, 1997. Comments 
will be accepted through August 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional 
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 7600 
Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070. Information relevant to 
this action is available for public review during business hours at the 
office of the Regional Administrator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson, 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the annual management measures for ocean 
salmon fisheries (62 FR 24355, May 5, 1997), NMFS announced that the 
recreational fishery in the subarea between the Queets River and

[[Page 43485]]

Leadbetter Point, WA, would open July 21, 1997 and continue through the 
earlier of September 25, 1997, or attainment of the 14,000 coho subarea 
quota, with a bag limit of two fish per day. Inseason management may be 
used to sustain season length and keep harvest within a guideline of 
3,000 chinook.
    The best available information on June 4, 1997, indicated that the 
1985-1993 average of recreational catch ratios is 4.7 coho to 1 
chinook, which is similar to the ratio of the coho quota to the chinook 
guideline for this fishery. Concern was expressed that this year's 
relative abundance of coho to chinook might be lower and that the 
chinook guideline could be achieved first, thus leaving a large portion 
of the coho quota unharvested. To optimize angler opportunity to fish 
on the available coho stocks, it is necessary to limit the retention of 
chinook at the beginning of the season by changing the bag limit to two 
fish, only one of which may be a chinook.
    Modification of recreational bag limits is authorized by 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii). All other restrictions that 
apply to this fishery remain in effect as announced in the annual 
management measures, including the restriction of no more than four 
fish in 7 consecutive days.
    The Regional Administrator consulted with representatives of the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, the Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding 
this adjustment. The State of Washington will manage the recreational 
fishery in state waters adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic 
zone in accordance with this Federal action. As provided by the 
inseason notification procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to 
fishermen of this action was given prior to 2400 hours local time, July 
20, 1997, 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. Because of the need for immediate action to modify the 
bag limit before the opening of this fishery, NMFS has determined that 
good cause exists for this notice to be issued without affording a 
prior opportunity for public comment. This action does not apply to 
other fisheries that may be operating in other areas.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: August 8, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc.97-21465 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F