Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 104895 

exports must also meet applicable 

wildlife import/export requirements 

established under section 9, paragraphs 

(d), (e), and (f), of the Act (16 U.S.C. 

1538(d), (e), and (f)); the Lacey Act 

Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et 

seq.); and 50 CFR part 14. Questions 

regarding whether specific activities 

with blue tree monitor would constitute 

a violation of section 9 of the Act should 

be directed to the Service’s Division of 

Management Authority 

(managementauthority@fws.gov; 703– 

358–2104). 

Required Determinations 

National Environmental Policy Act (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 

We have determined that 

environmental assessments and 

environmental impact statements, as 

defined under the authority of the 

National Environmental Policy Act (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), need not be 

prepared in connection with listing a 

species as an endangered or threatened 

species under the Endangered Species 

Act. We published a notice outlining 

our reasons for this determination in the 

Federal Register on October 25, 1983 

(48 FR 49244). 

References Cited 

A complete list of references cited in 

this rulemaking is available on the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

and upon request from the Branch of 

Delisting and Foreign Species (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). 

Authors 

The primary authors of this rule are 

the staff members of the Fish and 

Wildlife Service’s Species Assessment 

Team and the Branch of Delisting and 

Foreign Species. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 

Endangered and threatened species, 

Exports, Imports, Plants, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, 

Transportation, Wildlife. 

Signing Authority 

Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, approved this 

action on December 3, 2024. Acting 

Director Steve Guertin approved these 

packages December 15, 2024. On 

December 16, 2024, the acting Director 

authorized the undersigned to sign the 

document electronically and submit it 

to the Office of the Federal Register for 

publication as an official document of 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Regulation Promulgation 

Accordingly, we amend part 17, 

subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth 

below: 

PART 17—ENDANGERED AND 

THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 17 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 1531– 

1544; and 4201–4245, unless otherwise 

noted. 

■ 2. In § 17.11, in paragraph (h), amend 

the List of Endangered and Threatened 

Wildlife by adding an entry for 

‘‘Monitor, blue tree’’ in alphabetical 

order under REPTILES to read as 

follows: 

§ 17.11 Endangered and threatened 

wildlife. 

* * * * * 

(h) * * * 

Common name Scientific name Where listed Status Listing citations and applicable rules 

*******

Reptiles 

*******

Monitor, blue tree ........................ Varanus macraei ....................... Wherever found ......................... E 89 [Insert Federal Register Page Where Document Begins], 12/26/2024. 

*******

Madonna Baucum, 

Regulations and Policy Chief, Division of 

Policy, Economics, Risk Management, and 

Analytics of the Joint Administrative 

Operations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30375 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 660 

[Docket No. 240514–0137; RTID 0648– 

XE258] 

Fisheries Off West Coast States; 

Modification of the West Coast Salmon 

Fisheries; Inseason Actions #4–16 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Inseason modification of 2024 

management measures. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces 13 inseason 

actions for the 2024–2025 ocean salmon 

fishing season. These inseason actions 

modify the recreational and commercial 

salmon troll fisheries in the area from 

the U.S./Canada border to Humbug 

Mountain, OR. 

DATES: The effective dates for these 

inseason actions are set out in this 

document under the heading ‘‘Inseason 

Actions’’ and the actions remain in 

effect until superseded or modified. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anna Heeter, (971) 361–8895, 

Anna.Heeter@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The annual management measures for 

the 2024 and early 2025 ocean salmon 

fisheries (89 FR 44553, May 21, 2024) 

govern the commercial and recreational 

fisheries in the area from the U.S./ 

Canada border to the U.S./Mexico 

border, effective from 0001 hours Pacific 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
104896 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

Daylight Time (PDT), May 16, 2024, 

until the effective date of the 2025 

management measures, as published in 

the Federal Register. NMFS is 

authorized to implement inseason 

management actions to modify fishing 

seasons and quotas as necessary to 

provide fishing opportunity while 

meeting management objectives for the 

affected species (50 CFR 660.409). 

Inseason actions in the salmon fishery 

may be taken directly by NMFS (50 CFR 

660.409(a)—Fixed inseason 

management provisions) or upon 

consultation with the Chairman of the 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 

(Council), and the appropriate State 

Directors (50 CFR 660.409(b)—Flexible 

inseason management provisions). 

Management of the salmon fisheries is 

divided into two geographic areas: north 

of Cape Falcon (NOF) (U.S./Canada 

border to Cape Falcon, OR), and south 

of Cape Falcon (SOF) (Cape Falcon, OR, 

to the U.S./Mexico border). The actions 

described in this document affect the 

NOF commercial salmon troll fisheries, 

NOF recreational fisheries, and SOF 

recreational fisheries, as set out under 

the heading ‘‘Inseason Actions’’ below. 

Consultation with the Council 

Chairperson on these inseason actions 

occurred on June 27, 2024, July 10, 

2024, July 31, 2024, August 8, 2024, 

August 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, 

August 21, 2024, August 28, 2024, 

August 29, 2024, and September 11, 

2024. These consultations included 

representatives from NMFS, Washington 

Department of Fish and Wildlife, 

Oregon Department of Fish and 

Wildlife, and California Department of 

Fish and Wildlife. Representatives from 

the Salmon Advisory Subpanel and 

Salmon Technical Team were also 

present. A Council representative was 

present on June 27, 2024, July 10, 2024, 

July 31, 2024, August 8, 2024, August 

15, 2024, August 19, 2024, August 21, 

2024, August 28, 2024, August 29, 2024, 

and September 11, 2024. 

These inseason actions were 

announced on NMFS’ telephone hotline 

and U.S. Coast Guard radio broadcast on 

the date of the consultations (50 CFR 

660.411(a)(2)). 

Inseason Actions 

Inseason Action #4 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #4 modifies the NOF ocean 

salmon troll commercial fishery from 

the U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, 

OR. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #4 

takes effect for the following areas and 

dates, and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

• Effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 

1, 2024, for the commercial salmon troll 

fishery, the landing and possession limit 

for the entire area between the U.S./ 

Canada border and Cape Falcon, OR 

will be modified from 70 Chinook 

salmon and 100 coho salmon per vessel 

to 40 Chinook salmon and 100 coho 

salmon per vessel for the open period 

July 1–10. 

• Effective 12:01 a.m., Thursday, July 

11, 2024, for the commercial salmon 

troll fishery, the landing and possession 

limit for the entire area between the 

U.S./Canada border and Cape Falcon, 

OR will be modified from 120 Chinook 

salmon and 100 coho salmon per vessel 

per landing week to 40 Chinook salmon 

and 100 coho salmon per vessel per 

landing week. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #4 is necessary 

to preserve the season length and allow 

access to the Chinook salmon and coho 

salmon quota. The reductions in 

Chinook landing limits are intended to 

slow catch to maximize season length 

and ensure that the conservation 

objectives outlined in the Fishery 

Management Plan (FMP) and 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) are met. 

After reviewing current and historical 

catch and effort data as well as weather 

forecasts, it was determined that 

reducing the landing and possession 

limit for the allocated period of time 

will allow for greater fishing 

opportunity throughout the month of 

July while remaining within the quota. 

The NMFS West Coast Regional 

Administrator (RA) considered the 2024 

abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon 

stocks, the timing of the actions relative 

to the length of the season and the 

remaining Chinook commercial troll 

quota, and determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modified quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #5 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #5 modifies the Chinook salmon 

quota for the July-September NOF 

commercial salmon troll fishery to 

13,800 Chinook salmon from 16,400 

Chinook salmon. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #5 

takes effect on July 11, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #5 is necessary 

to offset the overage from the May-June 

Chinook salmon quota and ensure 

conservation objectives would not be 

exceeded. The July–September quota 

was reduced from 16,400 to 13,800. This 

change kept the fishery as a whole 

impact-neutral to the Oregon Coast 

Coho stock which was the most 

constraining stock for the fishery and 

was within the overall quota set 

preseason. 

The RA considered the landings of 

Chinook salmon in the NOF commercial 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date, quotas set preseason, and the 

Salmon Technical Team’s (STT’s) 

calculations for the impact-neutral 

quota adjustment. The RA determined 

that this inseason action is necessary to 

meet management and conservations 

goals for the 2024–2025 management 

measures. This inseason action 

modified quotas and/or fishing seasons 

as authorized under 50 CFR 

660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #6 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #6 modifies the recreational 

fishery in the area between the U.S./ 

Canada border and the Queets River 

(Neah Bay and La Push subareas). The 

daily bag limit in both subareas is 

modified from two salmon per day of 

which only one may be a Chinook to 

two salmon per day for all salmon, 

except no chum salmon beginning 

August 1. All coho salmon must be 

marked with a healed adipose fin clip. 

Chinook salmon minimum size is 24 

inches (61 centimeters (cm)), and coho 

salmon minimum size is 16 inches (40.7 

cm). 

Effective dates: Inseason action #6 

takes effect on July 13, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

September 15, 2024. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #6 is necessary 

to provide greater fishing opportunity 

for the public to access the available 

Chinook salmon quota. Catch rates and 

effort declined since July 4, 2024, which 

allowed for an increase in the Chinook 

landing limit. Based on catch and effort 

data from previous weeks and historical 

catch, effort, and weather reports to 

refine projected effort, increasing the 

bag limit in the Neah Bay and La Push 

subareas would allow for greater access 

to the Chinook salmon quota while also 

ensuring the quota is not exceeded. 

The RA considered the 2024 

abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon 

stocks, the remaining quota, the timing 

of the action relative to the length of the 

season, the catch and effort to date, and 

determined that this inseason action is 

necessary to meet management and 

conservations goals for the 2024–2025 

management measures including season 

length. This inseason action modifies 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 104897 

bag limits as authorized under 50 CFR 

660.409(b)(1)(iii). 

Inseason Action #7 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #7 modifies the commercial 

salmon fishery in the area between the 

U.S./Canada border and Cape Falcon. 

The landing and possession limit is 

modified from 25 Chinook salmon and 

100 marked coho salmon per vessel per 

landing week to 20 Chinook salmon and 

100 marked coho salmon per vessel per 

landing week (Thursday–Wednesday). 

Effective dates: Inseason action #7 

takes effect on August 1, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #7 is necessary 

because higher catches and higher effort 

than anticipated at this point in the 

season have been reported. This 

modification will slow the catch to 

preserve season length, thereby ensuring 

the fishery retains as much economic 

activity possible while also meeting 

conservation objectives. 

The RA considered the 2024 

abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon 

stocks, the timing of the actions relative 

to the length of the season, the 

remaining quota, as well as catch and 

effort to date, and determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #8 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #8 modifies the NOF recreational 

salmon fishery. The area between Cape 

Falcon and Leadbetter Point (Columbia 

River subarea) is closed. Possession of 

coho salmon is illegal when retention is 

prohibited in the area. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #8 

takes effect on August 12, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #8 was 

necessary to avoid exceeding the NOF 

recreational quota for coho salmon. 

Extensive analysis indicated that it was 

not possible to reallocate excess salmon 

quota from other recreational or 

commercial fisheries while also 

ensuring the fishery remains impactneutral. The fishery was closed in order 

to the ensure the quota was not 

exceeded and conservation objectives 

were met. 

The RA considered the 2024 

abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon 

stocks, the remaining quota, and the 

timing of the actions relative to the 

length of the season, and determined 

that this inseason action is necessary to 

meet management and conservations 

goals for the 2024–2025 management 

measures. This inseason action modifies 

quotas and/or fishing seasons as 

authorized under 50 CFR 

660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #9 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #9 modifies the commercial 

fishery in the area between the U.S./ 

Canada border and Cape Falcon. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #9 

takes effect for the following areas and 

dates, and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

• Effective Thursday, August 15, 

2024, at 6 p.m., the landing and 

possession limit for the North of Falcon 

commercial ocean salmon troll fishery is 

modified to 25 Chinook salmon and 100 

marked coho salmon per vessel per 

landing week from 20 Chinook salmon 

and 100 marked coho salmon per vessel 

per landing week (Thursday– 

Wednesday). 

• Effective Monday, August 19, 2024, 

at 12:01 a.m., the recreational salmon 

fishery in the area between Cape Falcon 

and Leadbetter Point (Columbia River 

subarea) is open to fishing for salmon. 

The daily limit will be two salmon, no 

more than one of which may be a 

Chinook salmon with a minimum size 

limit of 22 inches (55.8 cm). All coho 

must be marked with a healed adipose 

fin clip. The Columbia River Control 

Zone will remain closed. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #9 is necessary 

to sustain the length of the season and 

maximize access to the NOF commercial 

and recreational quota. In response to 

overall diminished effort and a larger 

portion of the quota remaining than 

anticipated in the NOF commercial troll 

fishery, the Chinook salmon landing 

and possession limit will be raised from 

20 to 25 Chinook salmon per vessel per 

landing week. This will allow for greater 

access to the Chinook salmon quota. 

Also, there have been less coho salmon 

caught than projected in the recreational 

fishery in the Columbia River subarea, 

so opening the fishery allows access to 

the remaining recreational coho salmon 

quota. 

The RA considered the 2024 

abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon 

stocks, the timing of the actions relative 

to the length of the season, as well as 

catch and effort to date, and determined 

that this inseason action is necessary to 

meet management and conservations 

goals for the 2024–2025 management 

measures. This inseason action modifies 

quotas and/or fishing seasons as 

authorized under 50 CFR 

660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #10 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #10 modifies the recreational 

fishery in the area North of Cape Falcon. 

The area between Cape Falcon and 

Leadbetter Point (Columbia River 

subarea) is closed. Possession of salmon 

on board a vessel will be prohibited in 

the Columbia River subarea. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #10 

takes effect on August 23, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #10 is necessary 

in order to ensure that the NOF 

recreational coho salmon quota for the 

Columbia River subarea will not be 

exceeded. Using data from previous 

weeks as well as historic data on catch 

and effort rates in the Columbia River 

subarea, it was projected that fishing 

beyond August 23, 2024, would exceed 

the available coho salmon quota for this 

subarea. 

The RA considered landings of 

Chinook and coho salmon stocks to date 

and projected catches in the recreational 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date and projected effort, quotas and 

guidelines set preseason, and the 

recreational coho salmon quota 

remaining. The RA determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #11 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #11 modifies the NOF 

recreational salmon fishery. The area 

between Cape Alava and the Queets 

River (La Push subarea) is closed. 

Possession of salmon on board a vessel 

will be prohibited in the La Push 

subarea. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #11 

takes effect on August 21, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #11 is necessary 

to avoid exceeding the La Push subarea 

recreational quota for coho salmon. By 

reviewing catch and effort level data, 

and predicted weather conditions to 

assess anticipated effort, keeping the 

fishery open would result in an 

exceedance of the La Push subarea coho 

salmon quota. 

The RA considered landings of 

Chinook and coho salmon stocks to date 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
104898 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

and projected catches in the recreational 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date and projected effort, quotas and 

guidelines set preseason, and the 

recreational coho salmon quota 

remaining. The RA determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #12 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #12 modifies the NOF 

recreational salmon fishery. The area 

between the Queets River and 

Leadbetter Point (Westport subarea) is 

closed. Possession of salmon on board a 

vessel will be prohibited in the 

Westport subarea. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #12 

takes effect on August 25, 2024, at 12:01 

a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #12 is necessary 

to avoid exceeding the area of NOF 

quota for coho salmon. By reviewing 

catch and effort level data, and 

predicted weather conditions to assess 

anticipated effort, it is projected that 

keeping the fishery open would result in 

an exceedance of the Westport subarea 

quota. 

The RA considered landings of 

Chinook and coho salmon stocks to date 

and projected catches in the recreational 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date and projected effort quotas and 

guidelines set preseason, and the 

recreational coho salmon quota 

remaining. The RA determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #13 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #13 modifies the SOF 

recreational fishery from Cape Falcon to 

Humbug Mountain. This action 

increases the non-mark selective coho 

quota in the recreational fishery from 

Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain from 

25,000 to 30,700 through an impactneutral rollover of 5,700 unused coho 

salmon from the Cape Falcon to the OR/ 

CA border. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #13 

takes effect on September 1, 2024, at 

12:01 a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Authority for this impact-neutral 

rollover of unutilized quota is specified 

in the 2024 ocean salmon regulations 

(89 FR 44553, May 21, 2024). 

The STT calculated that an impactneutral rollover of the unutilized coho 

salmon quota would add 5,700 coho 

salmon from the June-August markselective period to the September nonselective coho salmon fishery quota of 

25,000 to an adjusted quota of 30,700 

coho salmon. 

The RA determined that this inseason 

action is necessary to meet management 

and conservation goals for the 2024- 

early 2025 management measures after 

considering the best available 

information on the 2024 abundance 

forecasts for coho salmon stocks, 

remaining quota, effects on coho 

conservation objectives and the other 

factors and considerations set forth in 

50 CFR 660.409. This inseason action 

modified quotas and/or fishing seasons 

as authorized under 50 CFR 

660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #14 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #14 modifies the NOF 

recreational fishery from the U.S./ 

Canada Border and Cape Alava (Neah 

Bay subarea). The area between the 

U.S./Canada Border and Cape Alava 

(Neah Bay subarea) is closed to fishing 

for salmon. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #14 

takes effect on September 3, 2024, at 

12:01 a.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #14 is necessary 

to avoid exceeding the Neah Bay 

subarea recreational quota for coho 

salmon. According to catch data, 96 

percent of the coho quota had been used 

as of August 29, 2024. It is necessary to 

close the fishery in order to prevent an 

exceedance of the Neah Bay subarea 

quota. 

The RA considered catch of Chinook 

and coho salmon stocks to date and 

projected catches in the recreational 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date and projected effort, quotas and 

guidelines set preseason, and the 

recreational coho salmon quota 

remaining. The RA determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #15 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #15 modifies the NOF 

recreational fishery between Queets 

River and Cape Falcon (Westport and 

Columbia River subareas). The Westport 

and Columbia River subareas are open 

to fishing for salmon. The daily limit is 

two salmon, no more than one of which 

may be a Chinook. All coho must be 

marked with a healed adipose fin clip. 

Effective dates: Inseason action #15 

takes effect on September 4, 2024, at 

12:01 a.m. and remains in effect until 

September 4, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #15 is necessary 

to allow for access to the remaining 

Chinook and coho salmon quota, which 

has not been fully used, while not 

exceeding the designated quota for the 

Westport and Columbia River subareas. 

The RA considered catch of Chinook 

and coho salmon stocks to date and 

projected catches in the recreational 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date and projected effort, quotas and 

guidelines set preseason, and the 

recreational coho salmon quota 

remaining. The RA determined that this 

inseason action is necessary to meet 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies quotas 

and/or fishing seasons as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i). 

Inseason Action #16 

Description of the action: Inseason 

action #16 modifies the SOF 

recreational salmon fishery. The area 

between Cape Falcon and Humbug 

Mountain is closed to retention of coho 

salmon. This area remains open for 

Chinook salmon retention with a daily 

bag limit of two salmon (24 inches 

(60.96 cm) minimum length). 

Effective dates: Inseason action #16 

takes effect on September 15, 2024, at 

11:59 p.m. and remains in effect until 

superseded. 

Reason and authorization for the 

action: Inseason action #16 is necessary 

to avoid exceeding the area of SOF 

quota for coho salmon. As of September 

8, 2024, the estimated coho salmon 

catch was 17,789 fish out of an adjusted 

non-mark-selective coho salmon quota 

of 30,700 fish, or 58 percent of the 

quota. By reviewing catch and effort 

level data, and predicted weather 

conditions to assess anticipated effort, it 

is projected that keeping the fishery 

open would result in an exceedance of 

the SOF recreational quota. 

The RA considered the catch of 

Chinook and coho salmon stocks to date 

and projected catches in the recreational 

salmon fishery, fishery effort occurring 

to date and projected effort, quotas and 

guidelines set preseason, and the 

recreational coho salmon quota 

remaining and determined that this 

inseason action was necessary to meet 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 104899 

management and conservations goals for 

the 2024–2025 management measures. 

This inseason action modifies 

recreational bag limits as authorized 

under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii). 

All other restrictions and regulations 

remain in effect as announced for the 

2024 ocean salmon fisheries (89 FR 

44553, May 21, 2024; 89 FR 61355, July 

31, 2024). 

The States and Tribes manage the 

fisheries in State waters adjacent to the 

areas of the U.S. exclusive economic 

zone (3–200 nautical miles; 5.6–370.4 

kilometers) off the coasts of the States of 

Washington, Oregon, and California 

consistent with these Federal actions. 

As provided by the inseason notice 

procedures at 50 CFR 660.411, actual 

notice of the described regulatory 

actions was given, prior to the time the 

actions became effective, by telephone 

hotline numbers 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. 

Classification 

NMFS issues these actions pursuant 

to section 305(d) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (MSA). These actions 

are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409, 

which was issued pursuant to section 

304(b) of the MSA, and is exempt from 

review under Executive Order 12866. 

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), 

there is good cause to waive prior notice 

and an opportunity for public comment 

on this action, as notice and comment 

would be impracticable and contrary to 

the public interest. Prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment on this 

action was impracticable because NMFS 

had insufficient time to provide for 

prior notice and the opportunity for 

public comment between the time 

Chinook salmon and coho salmon 

abundance, catch, and effort 

information were developed and 

fisheries impacts were calculated, and 

the time the fishery modifications had 

to be implemented in order to ensure 

that fisheries are managed based on the 

best scientific information available and 

consistent with the conservation 

objectives. As previously noted, actual 

notice of the regulatory action was 

provided to fishers through telephone 

hotlines and radio notifications. These 

actions comply with the requirements of 

the annual management measures for 

ocean salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, 

May 11, 2023), the Pacific Salmon FMP, 

and regulations implementing the FMP 

under 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411. 

There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 

553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in 

effective date, as a delay in effectiveness 

of this action would allow fishing at 

levels inconsistent with the goals of the 

FMP and the current management 

measures. 

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

Dated: December 18, 2024. 

Kelly Denit, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30580 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1