Rule2025-15198
Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2025 Catch Sharing Plan; Inseason Action
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 11, 2025
Effective
August 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces inseason action for the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds fishing dates in August and September in the Columbia River and Washington subareas and transfers allocation from the Oregon Central Coast subarea to the Columbia River subarea. These actions are intended to provide opportunity for anglers and are necessary to achieve the overall recreational fishery allocation in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2025 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 152 (Monday, August 11, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 152 (Monday, August 11, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38610-38612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15198]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[RTID 0648-XF034]
Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2025 Catch Sharing
Plan; Inseason Action
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces inseason action for the Pacific halibut
recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's
(IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds fishing dates in August and
September in the Columbia River and Washington subareas and transfers
allocation from the Oregon Central Coast subarea to the Columbia River
subarea. These actions are intended to provide opportunity for anglers
and are necessary to achieve the overall recreational fishery
allocation in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2025
Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan.
DATES: Effective August 16, 2025, through September 30, 2025 in the
Washington and Columbia River subareas, and August 16, 2025, through
October 31, 2025 in the Oregon Central Coast subarea. Comments due on
or before August 26, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2024-0139, by
either of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0139 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
<bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Jennifer Quan, Regional
Administrator, c/o Heather Fitch, West Coast Region, NMFS, 501 W Ocean
Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public
record and NMFS will post them for public viewing on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
Docket: This rule is accessible via the internet at the Office of
the Federal Register website at <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov">https://www.federalregister.gov</a>.
Background information and documents are available at the NOAA
Fisheries website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/2025-pacific-halibut-recreational-fishery">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/2025-pacific-halibut-recreational-fishery</a> and at the Council's website at
<a href="https://www.pcouncil.org">https://www.pcouncil.org</a>. Other comments received may be accessed
through <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Fitch, (360) 867-8608, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93fbf6f2e7fbf6e1bdf5fae7f0fbd3fdfcf2f2bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="49212c283d212c3b672f203d2a210927262828672e263f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 2, 2025, NMFS published a final rule (90 FR 14422)
implementing the 2025 Area 2A recreational (sport) fishing dates
(fishing periods) and subarea allocations. The final rule (90 FR 14422,
April 2, 2025) stated that, if sufficient subarea allocations remain
for at least another full day of fishing after June 30, NMFS may take
inseason action to reopen the Columbia River and Washington subareas in
August, up to 7 days per week, through September.
[[Page 38611]]
Pacific halibut regulations for Area 2A provide NMFS with the authority
to make inseason modifications to recreational fishing periods and
subarea allocations (50 CFR 300.63(c)(6)(ii)), following consultation
with the Council, IPHC and the affected states. Inseason modifications
may be implemented to allow for allocation objectives to be met, as
long as they do not result in exceeding the allocation for the area (50
CFR 300.63(c)(6)(i)).
In accordance with 50 CFR 300.63(c), inseason actions are announced
in the Federal Register and also on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667
or (800) 662-9825. Weekly catch reports are available on their
respective state Fish and Wildlife agency websites. NMFS will continue
to monitor recreational catch estimates obtained via state sampling
procedures until NMFS has determined that there is not sufficient
subarea allocation for another full day of fishing or until there are
no more open fishing dates, whichever is earlier.
After consulting with the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW),
and other appropriate entities, NMFS has determined that the following
actions are necessary to meet the management objective of achieving,
but not exceeding, the Area 2A recreational fishery subarea
allocations. These actions are intended to provide opportunity for
anglers to achieve the overall Area 2A recreational fishery allocation.
Inseason Actions
Washington Puget Sound and the U.S. Convention Waters in the Strait of
Juan de Fuca (Puget Sound Subarea)
The Puget Sound subarea recreational fishery opened on April 3,
2025. Through June 30, 2025, anglers in the Puget Sound subarea
harvested 69,134 pounds (31.36 metric tons (mt)) of the 79,772-pound
(36.18-mt) allocation, leaving 10,638 pounds (4.83 mt) remaining (13
percent). Sufficient allocation remains for at least another full day
of fishing, therefore the Puget Sound subarea will be open for 7 days
per week from August 16 through September 30, 2025, or until there is
not sufficient allocation for another full day of fishing and the area
is therefore closed.
Washington North Coast Subarea
The North Coast subarea recreational fishery opened on May 1, 2025.
Through June 30, 2025, anglers in the North Coast subarea harvested
87,690 pounds (39.78 mt) of the 130,409-pound (59.15-mt) allocation,
leaving 42,719 pounds (19.38 mt) remaining (33 percent). Sufficient
allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing, therefore
the North Coast subarea will be open for 7 days per week from August 16
through September 30, 2025, or until there is not sufficient allocation
for another full day of fishing and the area is therefore closed.
Washington South Coast Subarea
The South Coast subarea recreational fishery opened on May 1, 2025.
Through June 30, 2025, anglers in the South Coast subarea harvested
36,675 pounds (16.64 mt) of the 65,117-pound (29.54-mt) allocation,
leaving 28,443 pounds (12.90 mt) remaining (44 percent). Sufficient
allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing, therefore
the South Coast subarea will be open Sunday through Friday, August 17
through September 30, 2025, as follows:
<bullet> August 17-22, 24-29, and 31;
<bullet> September 1-5, 7-12, 14-19, 21-26, and 28-30; or
<bullet> until there is not sufficient allocation for another full
day of fishing and the area is therefore closed.
Columbia River Subarea
The Columbia River subarea recreational fishery opened on May 1,
2025. Through June 30, 2025, anglers in the Columbia River subarea
harvested 17,014 pounds (7.72 mt) of the 19,087-pound (8.66-mt)
allocation, leaving 2,073 pounds (0.94 mt) remaining (11 percent).
Sufficient allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing,
therefore the Columbia River subarea will be open Sunday through
Friday, August 17 through September 30, 2025, as follows:
<bullet> August 17-22, 24-29, and 31;
<bullet> September 1-5, 7-12, 14-19, 21-26, and 28-30; or
<bullet> until there is not sufficient allocation for another full
day of fishing and the area is therefore closed.
Additionally, the Columbia River subarea will receive an allocation
transfer from the Oregon Central Coast subarea of 5,000 pounds (2.27
mt).
Oregon Central Coast Subarea
The Oregon Central Coast subarea opened May 1, 2025. Through June
30, 2025, anglers in the Oregon Central Coast subarea harvested 100,562
pounds (45.61 mt). Projections indicate that there is more than a
sufficient amount of the 2025 allocation remaining to support fishing
in the Oregon subareas through the end of the season, on October 31,
2025. Therefore, NMFS is taking inseason action to transfer 5,000
pounds (2.27 mt) of the Oregon Central Coast subarea's remaining 2025
allocation to the Columbia River subarea. This inseason action is not
anticipated to reduce any fishing opportunities in the Oregon subareas.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to the Northern Pacific Halibut
Act of 1982. This action is taken under the regulatory authority at 50
CFR 300.63(c)(6), and is exempt from review under Executive Order
12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(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.
WDFW and ODFW provided updated landings data to NMFS on July 15, 2025,
showing that through June 30, 2025, a combined 28 percent of the
Columbia River and Washington subareas annual allocation was remaining.
Included in the 2025 Area 2A recreational fishing regulations (90 FR
14422) was a provision that, if after June 30, 2025 sufficient
allocation remained for at least another full day of fishing in the
subareas referenced above, then NMFS may take inseason action to reopen
the various fisheries. These conditions have been met and therefore
NMFS is taking this inseason action. Because this potential inseason
action was part of the rulemaking establishing this year's regulations,
this action will not be unexpected by the public, which had previous
opportunity to comment on it. In addition, this inseason action is
necessary to allow for the Area 2A allocation objectives to be met in
accordance with 50 CFR 300.63(c)(6)(i)(A); specifically to increase the
opportunity to reach the overall Area 2A recreational fishery
allocation. As the Columbia River and Washington subareas close on
September 30, 2025, implementing this action through proposed and final
rulemaking would undermine the benefit this action is intended to
provide to fishery participants. Without timely implementation of
additional fishing dates in the Columbia River and Washington subareas,
and without a transfer of the Oregon Central Coast subarea allocation
to the Columbia River subarea, the overall Area 2A recreational fishery
allocation is unlikely to be harvested this year, thus limiting the
economic benefits of the fishery to the fishery participants and
obstructing the goals of the 2025 Catch Sharing Plan. Further, it is
necessary that this rulemaking be implemented in a timely manner, so
that proper planning for additional fishing dates can take place,
including to allow for
[[Page 38612]]
business and personal decision making by the regulated public and
others impacted by this action, which includes recreational charter
fishing operations, associated port businesses, and private anglers who
do not live near the fishery's coastal access points, among others. To
ensure the regulated public is fully aware of this action, notice of
this action will be provided to anglers through a telephone hotline,
news release, and by the relevant state Fish and Wildlife agencies.
NMFS will receive public comments for 15 days after publication of this
action, in accordance with 50 CFR 300.63(c)(6)(iv). No aspect of this
action is controversial, and changes of this nature were anticipated in
the process described in regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c).
For the reasons discussed above, there is also good cause under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effective date and make
this action effective on August 16, 2025, as a delay in effectiveness
of this action would constrain fishing opportunity, be inconsistent
with the goals of the 2025 Catch Sharing Plan, and potentially limit
the economic opportunity intended by this rule to the associated
fishing communities. NMFS regulations allow the Regional Administrator
to modify sport fishing periods, bag limits, size limits, days per
calendar week, and subarea allocations inseason, when the action
supports annual allocation objectives being met, and provided that such
action will not result in exceeding the catch limit for a subarea. NMFS
recently received information on the progress of landings in the
recreational fisheries in the Columbia River and Washington subareas,
as well as the Oregon Central Coast subarea, indicating that additional
fishing dates in the Columbia River and Washington subareas are
warranted and transferring allocation from the Oregon Central Coast
subarea to the Columbia River subarea should be implemented to ensure
the optimal harvest of the overall Area 2A allocation. As stated above,
it is in the public interest that this action not be delayed, because a
delay in the effectiveness could prevent the allocation objectives of
the recreational Pacific halibut fishery from being met. Finally, NMFS
has determined that this rule qualifies for a waiver of the 30-day
delay in effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) because absent
the delay in effectiveness participants would otherwise be able to fish
on the additional fishing dates implemented in this rule.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.
Dated: August 6, 2025.
Michael P. Ruccio,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-15198 Filed 8-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 11, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.