[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 115 (Tuesday, June 16, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32764-32765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15995]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 980429110-8110-01; I.D. 060298B]


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closures and Reopenings From the U.S.-Canada 
Border To Cape Falcon, Oregon

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

ACTION: Closures and reopenings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area 
from the U.S.-Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon, was closed at 
midnight, May 12, 1998, and then reopened on May 20 through May 23, and 
again reopened on June 2 through June 4, 1998, with each vessel allowed 
to possess, land, and deliver no more than 75 salmon for the open 
period of May 20 through May 23, and no more than 50 salmon for the 
open period of June 2 through June 4. This action was necessary to 
conform to the 1998 management measures and was intended to ensure 
conservation of chinook salmon as well as maximize the harvest of 
chinook salmon without exceeding the ocean share allocated to the 
commercial fishery in this area.

DATES: Closure effective 2400 hours local time, May 12, 1998, through 
2400 hours local time, May 19, 1998. First reopening effective 0001 
hours local time, May 20, 1998, through 2400 hours local time, May 23, 
1998, after which time the season remains closed under terms of the 
1998 management measures. Second reopening effective 0001 hours local 
time, June 2, 1998, through 2400 hours local time, June 4, 1998, after 
which time the season remains closed under terms of the 1998 management 
measures. Comments will be accepted through June 30, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional 
Administrator, Northwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070. 
Information relevant to this document is available for public review 
during business hours at the office of the Regional Administrator, 
Northwest Region, NMFS.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the ocean salmon 
fisheries at 50 CFR 660.409(a)(1) state that when a quota for the 
commercial or the recreational fishery, or both, for any salmon species 
in any portion of the fishery management area is projected by the 
Regional Administrator to be reached on or by a certain date, NMFS 
will, by an inseason action issued under 50 CFR 660.411, close the 
commercial or recreational fishery, or both, for all salmon species in 
the portion of the fishery management area to which the quota applies 
as of the date the quota is projected to be reached.
    In the 1998 management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (63 FR 
24973, May 6, 1998), NMFS announced that the commercial fishery in the 
area between the U.S.-Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon, would open 
on May 1 and continue through June 15 or attainment of the 6,500 
chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred first. Following the closure 
of this fishery, vessels must land and deliver the salmon within 48 
hours of the closure.
    The best available information on May 11 indicated that the catch 
and effort data and projections supported closure of the commercial 
fishery in this area at midnight, May 12. The projected catch was under 
the 6,500 chinook salmon quota, but was close enough that

[[Page 32765]]

all parties agreed to use a conservative approach. This conservative 
approach concluded that adding another day of fishing to capture the 
estimated 200 to 300 chinook salmon remaining in the quota was not 
warranted because of the potential for fishing above the 6,500 quota. 
Therefore, the fishery was closed at midnight, May 12.
    After the closure, the updated catch and effort data and 
projections were re-analyzed, and the estimated number of chinook 
salmon caught was 5,600, with 900 chinook salmon left in the season's 
quota. The higher number of chinook salmon left in the quota was due to 
harsh weather conditions on May 11 and 12, which limited the catch of 
fish. Therefore, the 900 chinook salmon left in the quota allowed for 
the season to reopen on May 20 through May 23, with each vessel allowed 
to possess, land, and deliver no more than 75 salmon for the open 
period.
    After the first reopening, the updated catch and effort data and 
projections were re-analyzed, and the estimated number of chinook 
salmon caught was 5,940, with 560 chinook salmon left in the season's 
quota. The higher number of chinook salmon left in the quota was due to 
harsh weather conditions on May 20 through May 23, which limited the 
catch of fish. Therefore, the 560 chinook salmon left in the quota 
allowed for the season to reopen on June 2 through June 4, with each 
vessel allowed to possess, land, and deliver no more than 50 salmon for 
the open period.
    Reopenings of the fishery are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(a)(2). 
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 to ensure 
that these actions are consistent with Council policy and state 
regulations. The States of Washington and Oregon manage the commercial 
fishery in state waters adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic 
zone in accordance with this Federal action. As provided by the 
inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to 
fishermen of these actions was given prior to 2400 hours local time, 
May 12, 1998, for the initial closure; prior to 0001 hours local time, 
May 20, 1998, for the first reopening; and prior to 0001 hours local 
time, June 2, 1998, for the second reopening 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 manage the fishery to achieve but not 
exceed the quota, NMFS has determined that good cause exists for this 
notice to be issued without affording a prior opportunity for public 
comment. This notice 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: June 9, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-15995 Filed 6-15-98; 8:45 am]
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