[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38292-38293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16764]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG311


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 the following stocks 
are overfished or subject to overfishing. Klamath River fall-run 
Chinook salmon, Queets coho salmon, Juan de Fuca coho salmon, Snohomish 
coho salmon, and

[[Page 38293]]

Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon are now overfished. Upper 
Columbia River summer-run Chinook salmon is now subject to overfishing. 
Thorny skate and the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stock of sandbar shark 
are still overfished. The Gulf of Maine/Cape Hatteras Atlantic mackerel 
stock is now both overfished and subject to overfishing. NMFS, on 
behalf of the Secretary, notifies the appropriate fishery management 
council (Council) whenever it determines that overfishing is occurring, 
a stock is in an overfished condition or a stock is approaching an 
overfished condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina Spallone, (301) 427-8568.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 304(e)(2) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2), NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, 
must notify Councils, and publish 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 Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon, 
Queets coho salmon, Juan de Fuca coho salmon, Snohomish coho salmon, 
and Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon are now overfished. 
Pacific salmon stocks are overfished when the 3-year geometric mean of 
annual spawning escapement falls below the stock's minimum stock size 
threshold (MSST). MSST for Pacific salmon is generally defined as 
0.5*S<INF>MSY</INF> or 0.75*S<INF>MSY</INF>, although there are some 
exceptions including Juan de Fuca and Snohomish coho, where MSST is 
0.636*S<INF>MSY</INF> and 0.62 S<INF>MSY</INF>, respectively. 
S<INF>MSY</INF> is the number of spawners corresponding to maximum 
sustainable yield (MSY). The determinations for the two Chinook stocks 
are based on 2018 assessments--using data from 2017--produced by the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Salmon Technical 
Team (STT) using methodologies that have been reviewed by the Pacific 
Council's Science and Statistical Committee (SSC). The determinations 
for the three coho stocks are based on 2018 assessments--using data 
from 2016--produced by the Pacific Council's STT, using methodologies 
that have been reviewed by the Pacific Council's SSC.
    NMFS has further determined that Upper Columbia River summer-run 
Chinook salmon is now subject to overfishing. This stock is subject to 
overfishing when the F<INF>year</INF> exceeds the maximum fishing 
mortality threshold (MFMT), where the MFMT is generally defined as less 
than or equal to F<INF>MSY</INF>. This determination is based on a 2018 
assessment--using data from 2015--produced by the Pacific Salmon 
Commission's Chinook Technical Committee. Consistent with the 
requirements in the Salmon FMP, the Pacific Council has directed the 
STT to develop rebuilding plans for each overfished stock for the 
Council's consideration. Of the six salmon stocks, only the two Chinook 
stocks are not internationally managed stocks. For all other stocks, 
the Council has limited ability to control ocean fisheries in waters 
outside its jurisdiction.
    Thorny skate and the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stock of sandbar 
shark are still overfished. Thorny skate is overfished if the three-
year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow (B) is 
less than B<INF>THRESHOLD</INF>, which is one-half of the 75th 
percentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl 
survey from the selected reference time series. A stock assessment was 
completed in 2017--using data through 2016--which supported the 
determination that thorny skate remains overfished. NMFS is working 
with the New England Fishery Management Council (New England Council) 
to implement conservation and management measures to rebuild thorny 
skate. The sandbar shark stock is overfished when current biomass (B) 
proxy is less than the minimum stock size threshold (MSST) (B < 
B<INF>MSST</INF>). The B proxy for sandbar shark is spawning stock 
fecundity. The sandbar shark determination is based on a stock 
assessment completed in 2018--using data through 2015--following the 
Southeast Data Assessment and Review process. NMFS manages sandbar 
shark under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
Fishery Management Plan and its amendments.
    The Gulf of Maine/Cape Hatteras Atlantic mackerel stock is now both 
overfished and subject to overfishing. Atlantic mackerel is subject to 
overfishing if the fishing mortality rate (F) exceeds 
F<INF>40</INF><not-eq>. The stock is overfished if spawning stock 
biomass (SSB) is less than \1/2\ SSB<INF>MSY</INF>, the SSB associated 
with fishing at F<INF>MSY</INF>. This determination is based on a 
benchmark assessment, finalized in 2018 and using data through 2016. 
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has been notified of its 
requirement to adopt measures to end overfishing and approve a 
rebuilding plan for Atlantic mackerel.

    Dated: August 1, 2018.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16764 Filed 8-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P