Rule2023-12237
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #51-#52
Primary source
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Published
June 8, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces two inseason actions for the 2023 portion of the 2022 ocean salmon fishing season (May 16, 2022-May 15, 2023). These inseason actions modify the commercial salmon troll fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37479-37480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12237]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 220510-0113; RTID 0648-XC983]
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast
Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #51-#52
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason modification of 2022-2023 management measures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces two inseason actions for the 2023 portion of
the 2022 ocean salmon fishing season (May 16, 2022-May 15, 2023). These
inseason actions modify the commercial salmon troll fisheries in the
area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR.
DATES: The effective date 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in effect until superseded or modified.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: Shannon Penna at 562-980-4239, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f5a69d949b9b9a9bdba5909b9b94b59b9a9494db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96c5fef7f8f8f9f8b8c6f3f8f8f7d6f8f9f7f7b8f1f9e0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The annual management measures for the 2022 ocean salmon fisheries
(87 FR 29690, May 16, 2022) 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 Daylight Time (PDT), May 16,
2022, until the effective date of the 2023 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 (Cape Falcon, OR, to the U.S./Mexico
border). The action described in this document affects the NOF
commercial salmon troll fisheries, as set out under the heading
Inseason Actions below.
Consultation with the Council Chairperson on this inseason action
occurred on April 18, 2023 and May 9, 2023. Representatives from NMFS,
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife, California Department of Fish and Wildlife participated
in these consultations. Representatives from the Salmon Advisory
Subpanel and Salmon Technical Team were also present.
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 #51
Description of the action: Inseason action #51 modifies the ocean
salmon troll commercial fishery from the U.S./Canada border to Cape
Falcon, OR.
Effective dates: Inseason action #51 takes effect for the following
areas and dates, and remains in effect until superseded.
<bullet> Effective May 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. the quota for the
May-June fishery is modified to 26,000 Chinook salmon, no more than
6,890 of which may be caught in the area between the U.S./Canada border
and the Queets River and no more than 6,040 of which may be caught in
the area between Leadbetter Point and Cape Falcon.
<bullet> Effective May 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. the landing and
possession limit for the entire area between the U.S./Canada border and
Cape Falcon is 200 Chinook salmon per vessel for the period May 1,
2023, through May 10, 2023, and 150 Chinook salmon per vessel per
landing week (Thursday-Wednesday) beginning May 11, 2023, at 12:01 a.m.
<bullet> Effective May 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. the landing and
possession limit in the area between the U.S./Canada border and the
Queets River is 105 Chinook per vessel for the period May 1, 2023,
through May 10, 2023, and 70 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week
(Thursday-Wednesday) beginning May 11, 2023, at 12:01 a.m.
<bullet> Effective May 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. the landing and
possession limit in the area between the Queets River and Leadbetter
Point is 200 Chinook salmon per vessel for the period May 1, 2023,
through May 10, 2023, and 150 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing
week (Thursday-Wednesday) beginning May 11, 2023, at 12:01 a.m.
<bullet> Effective May 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. the landing and
possession limit in the area between Leadbetter Point and Cape Falcon
is 90 Chinook per vessel for the period May 1, 2023, through May 10,
2023, and 60 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week (Thursday-
Wednesday) beginning May 11, 2023, at 12:01 a.m.
<bullet> Effective May 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. vessels may not land
salmon east of the Sekiu River or east of Tongue Point, Oregon.
Reason and authorization for the action: The 2022 annual management
measures for ocean salmon fisheries (87 FR 29690, May 16, 2022)
established a May-June commercial salmon fishery that included NOF
subarea quotas that were based on information available at the time the
2022 management measures were adopted. The 2022 management measures
allow for inseason action to adjust fisheries scheduled to occur from
March 15, 2023, through May 15, 2023, in response to new information on
2023 salmon stock abundance forecasts and northern salmon fisheries
impacts, to keep fisheries impacts within management objectives and
consistent with conservation needs. In addition, the Council adopted a
weekly landing and possession limit based on the calendar week
(Thursday-Wednesday). Under the 2022 regulations, the fishery will open
on May 1, 2023, with the week reduced to 3 days. Inseason action
adjusts the landing and possession
[[Page 37480]]
period to 10 days with a slightly higher landing limit that corresponds
to the longer period (i.e., from May 1, 2023-May 3 to May 1, 2023-May
10 to match the full Thursday-Wednesday landing week).
The NMFS West Coast Regional Administrator (RA) considered the
abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks, the timing of the action
relative to the length of the season, and determined that the inseason
action described above is necessary to meet management and
conservations goals set preseason. This inseason action modifies quotas
and/or fishing seasons, and landing boundaries under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i) and (v).
Inseason Action #52
Description of the action: Inseason action #52 modifies the ocean
salmon troll commercial fishery. The area between the U.S./Canada
border and the Queets River (La Push and Neah Bay subareas) is closed.
Effective dates: Inseason action #52 took effect on May 11, 2023,
at 12:01 a.m., and remains in effect until superseded.
Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #52 was
necessary to not exceed the Chinook salmon guideline due to high
Chinook salmon catch relative to the subarea quota for the U.S. area
north of the Queets River and to preserve the length of the season. The
RA considered the 2023 abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks,
the timing of the action relative to the length of the season, and
determined that the inseason action described above is necessary to
meet management and conservation goals set preseason. This inseason
action modifies quotas and/or fishing seasons under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i).
All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as
announced for the 2022 ocean salmon fisheries (87 FR 29690, May 16,
2022), as modified by previous inseason actions (87 FR 41260, July 12,
2022; 87 FR 49534, August 11, 2022; 87 FR 52353, August 25, 2022; 87 FR
54171, September 2, 2022; 87 FR 60105, October 4, 2022; 87 FR 66609,
November 4, 2022; 88 FR 21113, April 10, 2023).
The RA determined that these inseason actions were warranted based
on the best available information on Pacific salmon abundance
forecasts, landings to date, anticipated fishery effort and projected
catch, and the other factors and considerations set forth in 50 CFR
660.409. 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
Magnuson-Stevens 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 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. 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 (87 FR 29690, May 16,
2022), the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan (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: June 5, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12237 Filed 6-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 8, 2023.
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