Rule2025-20016
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #6-#8
Primary source
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Published
November 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces three inseason actions for the 2025 portion of the 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modify the commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon and the recreational salmon fisheries in the area from the Oregon/California border to the U.S./Mexico border.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51205-51207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20016]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 250512-0084; RTID 0648-XF028]
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast
Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #6-#8
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason modification of 2025-2026 management measures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces three inseason actions for the 2025 portion of
the 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modify the
commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the United States/Canada
border to Cape Falcon, Oregon and the recreational salmon fisheries in
the area from the Oregon/California border to the U.S./Mexico border.
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remain in effect until superseded or modified.
[[Page 51206]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Heeter, (971) 361-8895,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f0e21212e61072a2a3b2a3d0f21202e2e61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="50113e3e317e183535243522103e3f31317e373f26">[email protected]</span></a>, or Shannon Penna, (562) 980-4239,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a49727b74747574344a7f74747b5a74757b7b347d756c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5f6cdc4cbcbcacb8bf5c0cbcbc4e5cbcac4c48bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The annual management measures for the 2025-2026 ocean salmon
fisheries (90 FR 20810, May 16, 2025; 90 FR 26943, June 25, 2025)
govern the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area from the
United States/Canada border to the United States/Mexico border,
effective from 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), May 16, 2025,
until the effective date of the 2026-2027 management measures, as
published in the Federal Register. NMFS is authorized to implement
inseason management actions to modify fishing seasons, catch limits,
and quotas as necessary to provide fishing opportunities 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) (United States/Canada border to Cape
Falcon, OR) and south of Cape Falcon (SOF) (Cape Falcon, OR, to the
United States/Mexico border). These actions affected the NOF commercial
salmon fishery and the SOF recreational salmon fishery, as set out
under the heading Inseason Actions below.
Consultation with the Council Chairman and representatives for the
appropriate State Directors on these inseason actions occurred on June
23, 2025. This consultation included representatives from NMFS, Council
staff, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW). Representatives from the Salmon Advisory Subpanel and
the Salmon Technical Team (STT) were also present.
These inseason actions were announced on NMFS' telephone hotline
and U.S. Coast Guard radio broadcast when the actions became effective
(50 CFR 660.411(a)(2)).
Inseason Actions
Inseason Action #6
Description of the action: Inseason action #6 modifies the
recreational ocean salmon fishery from the OR/CA border to the United
States/Mexico border. Subareas in the recreational ocean salmon fishery
between the OR/CA border to the United States/Mexico Border previously
scheduled for July 5, 2025 through July 6, 2025; July 31, 2025 through
August 3, 2025; and August 25, 2025 through August 31, 2025 are closed.
Effective dates: Inseason action #6 took effect at 12:01 a.m. on
July 5, 2025, and remains in effect for the remainder of the summer
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The 2025 California
recreational ocean salmon season was structured under a 7,000 Chinook
salmon statewide harvest guideline applicable to the June through
August season dates. Some subareas in the fishery opened June 7, 2025
and June 8, 2025 and if the harvest guideline was not met, were
scheduled to continue for July 5, 2025 through July 6, 2025; July 31,
2025 through August 3, 2025; and August 25, 2025 through August 31,
2025. CDFW estimates that 9,165 Chinook salmon were taken statewide by
10,505 anglers aboard both charter vessels and private skiffs,
exceeding the summer fishery harvest guideline of 7,000 Chinook salmon.
Therefore, CDFW recommended closure of the remaining July, 2025 and
August, 2025 season dates previously scheduled if there were fish
remaining in the 7,000 Chinook salmon summer harvest guideline and NMFS
concurred and implemented the closure.
The Regional Administrator (RA) considered the 2025 abundance
forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks, the timing of the action relative
to the length of the season, catch and effort to date, and other
relevant factors 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).
Inseason Action #7
Description of the action: Inseason action #7 modifies the
commercial salmon troll fishery in the area north of Cape Falcon. This
action opened the commercial salmon troll fishery in the area between
the United States/Canada border and Cape Falcon, OR until 11:59 p.m. on
June 29, 2025, and set the Chinook salmon landing and possession limit
for the entire area, regardless of subarea, at 10 Chinook salmon per
vessel for the entire open period.
Effective dates: Inseason action #7 took effect at 4:00 p.m. on
June 23, 2025, and remained in effect until 11:59 p.m. on June 29,
2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: After assessing available
quota after the landing week of June 12, 2025 through June 18, 2025,
WDFW recommended re-opening the spring season after the initial closure
under the quota for the spring season to give vessels an opportunity to
access the remaining quota, NMFS concurred and implemented this
inseason. The very limited amount of quota remaining required a low
landing and possession limit. Effort was expected to be low until the
end of the spring season as many industry members had indicated they
had concluded fishing for the spring season and a vessel limit of 10
Chinook salmon would not be economically viable for some vessels to
participate. Due to this projected drop in effort, NMFS determined that
the fishery could re-open for the remaining days without exceeding the
remaining limited amount of quota.
The RA considered the 2025 abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon
stocks, the timing of the action relative to the length of the season,
catch and effort to date, projected catch and effort under the proposed
action relative to the remaining quota, and other relevant factors 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 as well as species caught
and landed during specific seasons and the establishment or
modification of limited retention regulations under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i) and (ii).
Inseason Action #8
Description of the action: Inseason action #8 modified the landing
and possession limit for the commercial salmon troll fishery across the
entire north of Cape Falcon area, regardless of subarea, from the
United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR.
Effective dates: Inseason action #8 took effect for the following
areas and dates, and will remain in effect until stated or superseded.
<bullet> Effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2025, until 11:59 p.m.
on July 9, 2025, for the commercial salmon troll fishery in the area
between the United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR, the landing
and possession limit was set to 60 Chinook salmon per vessel per vessel
per landing week (Thursday-Wednesday).
[[Page 51207]]
<bullet> Effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 10, 2025, until superseded
for the commercial salmon troll fishery in the area between the United
States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR, the landing and possession
limit was modified from 60 Chinook salmon to 50 Chinook salmon per
vessel per landing week (Thursday-Wednesday).
Reason and authorization for the action: In the 2025 annual
management measures, for the July through September fishery, there are
no set landing and possession limits for Chinook salmon for this area.
Given the high participation by the troll fleet and the high catch
rates observed for much of the spring season, it was deemed prudent to
establish a landing and possession limit for the summer season in order
to preserve the quota for the length of the season and meet
conservation goals. NMFS took the high effort and catch rates seen
during the spring season into account when setting these landing limits
and the summer season began with a 60 Chinook salmon landing a
possession limit for the first week (July 1, 2025 through July 9,
2025). area. To meet season length objectives and preserve later
fishing opportunity, the limit was reduced to a 50 Chinook landing and
possession limit for the following week (starting July 10, 2025).
The RA considered the 2025 abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon
stocks, the timing of the action relative to the length of the season,
catch and effort to date, projected catch and effort under the proposed
action, and other relevant factors like weather, and determined that
the inseason action described above is necessary to meet management and
conservation goals set preseason. This inseason action modifies species
caught and landed during specific seasons and the establishment or
modification of limited retention regulations under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(ii).
All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as
announced for the 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries (90 FR 20810, May
16, 2025; 90 FR 26943, June 25, 2025) except as previously modified by
inseason 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 are 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.
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 fishing
opportunity consistent with conservation needs and management
objectives is made available, and/or fisheries are managed consistent
with quotas and conservation objectives. There is a heightened need to
respond quickly to inseason information about the salmon fishery
because fish migrate quickly through the EEZ and the mix of stocks in
the EEZ shifts throughout the season, thus the time available between
the time new information about the fishery becomes available and the
opportunity to act effectively on that information exists is short. By
the time public notice and comment would be completed, the mix of
stocks in the fishery would have changed such that inseason action
would be ineffective and potentially harmful. Therefore, NMFS
determined waiving notice and comment in order to respond to updated
information indicating immediate action to provide fishing opportunity
consistent with quotas and conservation objectives, or to avoid
exceeding quotas, served the public interest. 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 (90 FR 20810, May 16, 2025), 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: November 13, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-20016 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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