Rule2026-05504
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Action #21-#22 (2024) and #9-#22 (2025)
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
March 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces 2 inseason actions for the 2025 portion of the 2024-2025 ocean salmon fisheries and 14 inseason actions for the 2025 portion of the 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modify the commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the area from the United States/Canada border to Pigeon Point, CA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 54 (Friday, March 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13520-13525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05504]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 250512-0084; RTID 0648-XF120]
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast
Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Action #21-#22 (2024) and #9-#22 (2025)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason modification of 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 management
measures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces 2 inseason actions for the 2025 portion of the
2024-2025 ocean salmon fisheries and 14 inseason actions for the 2025
portion of the 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions
modify the commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the area
from the United States/Canada border to Pigeon Point, CA.
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remain in effect until superseded or modified.
[[Page 13521]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Penna, (562) 980-4239,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96c5fef7f8f8f9f8b8c6f3f8f8f7d6f8f9f7f7b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eab9828b84848584c4ba8f84848baa84858b8bc48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The annual management measures for the 2024-2025 (89 FR 44553, May
21, 2024) and 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries (90 FR 20810, May 16,
2025) govern the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area from
the United States/Canada border to the United States/Mexico border. The
2024 management measures were effective from 0001 hours Pacific
Daylight Time (PDT), May 16, 2024, until the effective date of the
2025-2026 management measures, and the 2025 management measures are
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). This notice describes inseason actions
from the 2024-2025 management cycle (actions #21 and #22) and actions
from the 2025-2026 management cycle (actions #9 through #22). These
actions affected the NOF commercial and recreational salmon fishery and
the SOF commercial and recreational salmon fishery, as set out under
the heading Inseason Actions below.
Consultations on these inseason actions took place with the Council
Chairman and representatives for the appropriate State Directors.
Consultations for the 2024 actions occurred on May 7, 2025, and May 14,
2025. Consultations for the 2025 actions occurred on July 30, 2025,
August 7, 2025, August 14, 2025, August 20, 2025, August 26, 2025,
August 29, 2025, September 4, 2025, and September 17, 2025. These
consultations included representatives from NMFS, Council staff, Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
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 United States Coast Guard radio broadcast when the actions became
effective. (50 CFR 660.411(a)(2)).
Inseason Actions
2024-2025 Management Measures
Reason and authorization for actions #21-#22: There was higher
effort than anticipated in the first 2 weeks (May 1 through May 7,
2025, and May 8 through May 14) of the NOF commercial spring troll
fishery, which resulted in more catch than originally projected. Due to
the higher catch and the expectation that effort would remain at the
same level, through inseason actions #21 and #22, NMFS lowered landing
and possession limits for the entire NOF area and for individual
subareas as described below. These actions were taken to preserve the
quota for the length of the season, consistent with the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). The combined catch from multiple subareas
counted toward the entire NOF limit. Together with the reduced subarea
limits, this overall landing and possession limit was intended to
further slow the fishery as it would avoid fishery participants
catching the full subarea limit in multiple subareas in excess of the
overall limit, and thus contribute further to preserving the quota for
the length of the season. Additionally, the individual subarea limits
allowed for greater access to the quota based on the availability of
fish in each subarea, which allows for more equitable fishing
opportunity.
Inseason #21 adjusted landing and possession limits for the second
fishing week in May (May 8-14, 2025). Inseason #22 reduced the landing
and possession limits for the remaining day in the 2024-2025 season,
May 15, 2025. This action was necessary to avoid harvesters taking the
entire landing and possession limit for the fishing week of May 15-21
(125 Chinook salmon) on May 15, as the 2025-2026 management measures
would become effective on May 16 and re-set these limits. With the trip
limits in effect for May 15, and considering the high catch rates in
the first 2 weeks of May, it was projected that around 6,000 Chinook
salmon may have been landed on May 15, 2025. The downward adjustment to
the May 15 trip limits was thus necessary to avoid a severe impact to
the fishery goal to provide economical Chinook salmon landing and
possession limits through June. This inseason action adjusted the
landing and possession limits for this single day to avoid an excessive
level of catch on that day that would jeopardize the length of the
season, taking into account the relevant quota and the higher observed
catch rates during May 1-14.
The Regional Administrator (RA) considered the quotas for Chinook
salmon stocks, the timing of the action relative to the length of the
season, and the projected effort and catch rates against the remaining
quota, and determined that these inseason actions described below are
necessary to meet management and conservation goals set preseason.
These inseason actions modified quotas, catch limits and/or fishing
seasons under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason Action #21
Description of the action: Inseason action #21 modified the ocean
salmon troll commercial fishery from the United States/Canada border to
Cape Falcon, OR.
Effective dates: Inseason action #21 took effect for the following
areas and dates and remained in effect until superseded by the 2025-
2026 management measures.
<bullet> Effective May 8, 2025, until superseded, the landing and
possession limit for the entire area between the United States/Canada
border and Cape Falcon, OR, was modified from 250 Chinook salmon per
vessel per landing week to 125 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing
week (Thursday through Wednesday).
<bullet> Effective May 8, 2025, until superseded, the landing and
possession limit in the subarea between the United States/Canada border
and the Queets River was modified from 70 Chinook salmon per vessel per
landing week to 60 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week (Thursday
through Wednesday).
<bullet> Effective May 8, 2025, until superseded, the landing and
possession limit in the subarea between the Queets River and Leadbetter
Point was modified from 250 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week
to 125 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week (Thursday through
Wednesday).
Inseason Action #22
Description of the action: Inseason action #22 modified the ocean
salmon troll commercial fishery from the United
[[Page 13522]]
States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR.
Effective dates: Inseason action #22 took effect for the following
areas and dates and remained in effect until superseded by the 2025-
2026 management measures.
<bullet> Effective May 15, 2025, until superseded, the landing and
possession limit for the entire area NOF was modified from 125 Chinook
to 60 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday).
<bullet> Effective May 15, 2025, until superseded, the landing and
possession limit in the combined subareas between the United States/
Canada border and the Leadbetter Point was modified to 50 Chinook per
vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday).
All other restrictions and regulations remained in effect as
announced for the 2024-2025 ocean salmon fisheries (89 FR 44553, May
21, 2024; 89 FR 53529, June 27, 2024; 89 FR 61355, July 31, 2024; 89 FR
104895, December 26, 2024; 90 FR 13840, March 27, 2025; 90 FR 16090,
April 17, 2025; 90 FR 26769, June 24, 2025) except as previously
modified by inseason actions.
2025-2026 Management Measures
Inseason Action #9
Description of the action: Inseason action #9 modified the landing
and possession limit for the commercial salmon troll fishery in the
area between the United States/Canada border and Cape Falcon, OR,
regardless of subarea, from 50 Chinook salmon to 80 Chinook salmon and
from 60 adipose marked coho salmon to 45 adipose marked coho salmon per
vessel per landing week (Thursday-Wednesday).
Effective dates: Inseason action #9 took effect at 12:01 a.m., on
July 31, 2025, and remained in effect until August 7, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: As of July 30, 2025, the
harvest of Chinook salmon was projected to be at 57.5 percent of the
total 24,450 Chinook salmon quota. To enable the commercial salmon
troll fishery to fully achieve its objectives and utilize the remaining
Chinook salmon quota, the landing limit for Chinook salmon was
increased. The harvest for adipose marked coho salmon was projected to
be at 50.4 percent of the 8,820 coho salmon quota. To ensure the
fishery remained within its coho salmon quota objective to allow coho
salmon retention to remain open for the full season duration, the coho
salmon landing limit was decreased. Chinook salmon leave the ocean
earlier than coho salmon given their different life histories which
meant the fishery had less time to harvest the remaining 43 percent of
Chinook salmon quota remaining at this point in the season than it had
to harvest the remaining 50 percent of the coho salmon quota.
Increasing the landing and possession limits for Chinook while
decreasing the landing and possession limits for coho facilitated
access to the remaining Chinook salmon quota while simultaneously
preventing an exceedance of the coho salmon quota and maintaining the
duration of the fishing season planned pre-season.
The RA considered the quotas for Chinook salmon and coho 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 modified the
number of species that may be caught and landed during specific seasons
and the establishment or modification of limited retention regulations
under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Inseason Action #10
Description of the action: Inseason action #10 modified the landing
and possession limit for the commercial salmon troll fishery in the
area between the United States/Canada border and Cape Falcon, OR, from
80 Chinook salmon to 100 Chinook salmon. The landing and possession
limit for coho salmon remained the same.
Effective dates: Inseason action #10 took effect at 4:00 p.m., on
August 7, 2025, and remained in effect until August 20, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: As of August 6, 2025, the
harvest of Chinook salmon was estimated to be at 70 percent of the
24,450 Chinook salmon quota in the area NOF. The landing and possession
limit was increased to utilize the remaining Chinook salmon quota while
Chinook salmon were still accessible to the fishery. This allowed the
commercial salmon troll fishery to fully achieve its quota.
The RA considered the quotas for Chinook and coho 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 modified species
that may be caught and landed during specific seasons or modified
limited retention regulations consistent with the regulations under 50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Inseason Action #11
Description of the action: Inseason action #11 modified the
recreational fishery. The area between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter Point
(Columbia River Subarea) was closed to fishing for salmon. Possession
of salmon on board a vessel was prohibited in the Columbia River
subarea.
Effective dates: Inseason action #11 took effect at 12:01 a.m.,
August 19, 2025, and remained in effect until August 29, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: For the area between Cape
Falcon and Leadbetter Point (Columbia River subarea), for Chinook
salmon, the cumulative season total reached 6,525 Chinook salmon on a
guideline of 16,600, which was 39 percent of the guideline. For coho
salmon, the cumulative season total reached 43,049 on a quota of
49,860, which was 86 percent of the coho quota. The subarea was closed,
as it was anticipated that the coho salmon quota would be reached based
on projected catch and effort, consistent with 50 CFR 660.409(a).
Inseason Action #12
Description of the action: Inseason action #12 modified the
commercial salmon troll fishery in the area between the United States/
Canada border and Cape Falcon. The landing and possession limits were
modified from 100 Chinook salmon to 45 Chinook salmon per vessel per
landing week and from 45 adipose marked coho salmon to 15 adipose
marked coho salmon per vessel per landing week (Thursday-Wednesday).
Effective dates: Inseason action #12 went into effect on August 21,
2025, and remained in effect until August 27, 2025.
Reason and authorization of the action: Inseason action #12 was
necessary because catch rates and effort would have been expected to be
similar to the previous week, and without the modification to the
landing and possession limits, the projected catch would have exceeded
both the Chinook and coho salmon quotas. The majority of the Chinook
and coho salmon quotas were landed by the end of the landing week prior
to the modification of the landing and possession limits. The reduction
in landing and possession limits was expected to result in lower
[[Page 13523]]
catch rates and effort allowing the fishery to continue while not
exceeding either quota.
The RA considered the quotas for Chinook and coho 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 modified species
caught and landed during specific seasons and the establishment or
modification of limited retention regulations under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Inseason Action #13
Description of the action: Inseason action #13 modified the
commercial salmon troll fishery. The area between the United States/
Canada border and Cape Falcon was closed.
Effective dates: Inseason action #13 went into effect on August 28,
2025, and remained in effect until the end of the summer season.
Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #12
reduced the landing and possession limits for Chinook and coho salmon
as they were both reaching their quotas. This dampened catch rates and
prolonged season length and fishing opportunity. With a limited summer
quota remaining, inseason action #13 was necessary to ensure that
Chinook and coho quotas were not exceeded, consistent with 50 CFR
660.409(a).
Inseason Action #14
Description of the action: Inseason action #14 modified the salmon
recreational fishery. The subarea between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter
Point (Columbia River subarea) was opened to fishing for salmon. Two
salmon per day, no more than one of which may be a Chinook salmon. All
coho salmon must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip.
Effective dates: Inseason action #14 went into effect at 12:01 a.m.
on August 30, 2025, and remained in effect until 11:59 p.m. on August
30, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: The recreational ocean
salmon fishery in the Columbia River subarea was closed on August 19,
2025, as it was anticipated that the coho salmon quota would be
reached. Catch and remaining quota calculations determined that 93
percent of the coho salmon quota had been taken, leaving approximately
3,400 coho salmon remaining. Reopening the fishery for 1 day over the
weekend allowed for access to the remaining quota, while minimizing the
risk of exceeding the quota.
The RA considered the quotas for Chinook and coho 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 compared with the remaining quota, 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 modified quotas and/or fishing seasons under 50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason Action #15
Description of the action: Inseason action #15 modified the
recreational fishery. The subarea between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter
Point (Columbia River subarea) was closed. Possession of salmon on
board a vessel was prohibited in the Columbia River subarea.
Effective dates: Inseason action #15 went into effect at 12:01 a.m.
on August 31, 2025, and remained in effect until September 30, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: After a 1-day opening to
access the remining coho salmon quota, it was projected that the quota
would be reached if another day of fishing was allowed, therefore the
recreational fishery in the Columbia River subarea was closed to avoid
exceeding the quota, consistent with 50 CFR 660.409(a).
Inseason Action #16
Description of the action: Inseason action #16 modified the SOF
recreational fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. This action
increased the non-mark selective coho quota from 30,000 to 33,930
through an impact-neutral rollover of 3,930 unused mark-selective coho
salmon from the previous fishing period.
Effective dates: Inseason action #16 took effect on September 1,
2025, and remained in effect until September 30, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: This impact-neutral
rollover of unutilized quota was anticipated in the Pacific Salmon
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the 2025 ocean salmon regulations (50
CFR 660.409(b); see also 90 FR 20819, May 16, 2025). The STT calculated
that an impact-neutral (not affecting the level of impact on the
affected stocks) rollover of the unutilized coho salmon would add 3,930
coho salmon from the summer mark-selective (fin-clipped) fishery from
May 16, 2025, through July 15, 2025, to the non-mark-selective coho
salmon fishery from September fishery from September 1, 2025, through
September 30, 2025. This action adjusted the non-mark-selective coho
salmon fishery quota of 30,000 to an adjusted September quota of 33,930
coho salmon. An impact-neutral rollover utilized unused quota allowing
for the maximum possible opportunity to fisheries while staying within
the conservation goals set preseason.
The RA determined that this inseason action is necessary to meet
management and conservation goals for the 2025-early 2026 management
measures after considering the best available information on the quotas
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 #17
Description of the action: Inseason action #17 modified the NOF
recreational fishery. The subarea between the Queets River to Cape
Alava (La Push subarea) was closed.
Effective dates: Inseason action #17 was effective at 12:01 a.m.,
on September 2, 2025, and remained in effect until the end of the
summer season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The recreational catches
in the La Push subarea between August 18, 2025, through August 24,
2025, had a cumulative Chinook salmon total of 1,166 (51 percent of the
Chinook salmon guideline) and a cumulative coho salmon total of 2,029
(78 percent of the coho quota). Based on season projections, WDFW
proposed, and NMFS concurred, that closing the recreational salmon
fishery September 2, 2025, allowed the fishery to maximize catch of the
remaining available coho salmon guideline and Chinook salmon quota
while remaining within conservation objectives. This inseason action
modified quotas and/or fishing seasons under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason Action #18
Description of the action: Inseason action #18 modified the landing
and possession limit for the commercial salmon troll fishery in the
area NOF.
Effective dates: Inseason action #18 took effect for the following
areas and dates and remained in effect until stated.
<bullet> Effective at 1:00 p.m., August 29, 2025, through 11:59
p.m., September 15, 2025, the commercial salmon troll fishery in the
subareas between the
[[Page 13524]]
United States/Canada border and Leadbetter Point (Neah Bay, La Push,
and Westport subareas) was open Fridays through Tuesdays, closed
Wednesdays and Thursdays. The landing and possession limit was 15
Chinook salmon and 7 adipose-marked coho salmon per vessel per open
period (Friday-Tuesday).
<bullet> Effective at 1:00 p.m., August 29, 2025, through 11:59
p.m., September 30, 2025, the commercial salmon troll fishery in the
subarea between Leadbetter Point and Cape Falcon (Columbia River
subarea) was open Fridays through Tuesdays, closed Wednesdays and
Thursdays. The landing and possession limit was 15 Chinook salmon and 7
adipose-marked coho salmon per vessel per open period (Friday-Tuesday).
Reason and authorization for the action: As of August 29, 2025, in
the area NOF, the Chinook salmon catch was 24,012 on a summer season
quota of 24,450, with 438 Chinook salmon remaining on the quota. The
adipose-marked coho salmon cumulative total was 8,112 on an adipose-
marked coho quota of 8,280, with 168 remaining on the adipose-marked
coho quota. Reopening the commercial salmon troll fishery with very
restrictive landing and possession limits for Chinook and coho salmon
allowed the fishery to re-open without exceeding the remaining limited
amount of quota.
The RA considered the quotas for Chinook and coho 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 modified species
caught and landed during specific seasons and the establishment or
modification of limited retention regulations under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Inseason Action #19
Description of the action: Inseason action #19 modified the
commercial salmon troll fishery in the area between the United States/
Canada border and Cape Falcon, OR. The landing and possession limits
for all subareas NOF were modified to 10 Chinook salmon and 4 adipose-
marked coho salmon per vessel for the entire open period.
Effective dates: Inseason action #19 was effective at 12:01 a.m.,
on September 5, 2025, and remained in effect until 11:59 p.m.,
September 10, 2025.
Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #19 was
necessary to further reduce the landing and possession limit for the
area NOF to allow the commercial salmon troll fishery access to the
remaining quota. Harvest of Chinook salmon through August 28 obtained
99 percent of the 24,450 Chinook quota and obtained 99 percent of the
8,280 adipose-marked coho quota. Such low landing limits and declining
effort allowed for more fishing opportunity without exceeding what very
little remained of the quotas.
The RA considered the quotas for Chinook and coho 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 modified species
caught and landed during specific seasons and the establishment or
modification of limited retention regulations under 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Inseason Action #20
Description of the action: Inseason action #19 modified the
commercial salmon troll fishery. The area between the United States/
Canada border and Cape Falcon OR, was closed.
Effective dates: Inseason action #20 was effective at 12:01 a.m.,
on September 11, 2025, and remained in effect until the end of the
summer season.
Reason and authorization of the action: In the landing week from
September 5, 2025, through September 10, 2025, the Chinook salmon
harvest was 24,225 on a quota of 24,450 (99.1 percent of the quota) and
a coho salmon harvest of 8,217 on a quota of 8,280 (99.2 percent of the
quota). Inseason action #20 was necessary to avoid exceeding the NOF
commercial salmon troll fishery quota set preseason, consistent with 50
CFR 660.409(a).
Inseason Action #21
Description of the action: Inseason action #21 modified the
recreational salmon fishery. The area between Cape Alava and the United
States/Canada border (Neah Bay subarea) was closed.
Effective dates: Inseason action #21 went into effect on September
7, 2025, and remained in effect until the end of the summer season.
Reason and authorization of the action: In the Neah Bay subarea,
harvest of Chinook salmon through August 28, 2025, was 99 percent of
the 24,450 Chinook salmon quota, and 99 percent of the 8,280 adipose-
clipped coho salmon quota. Closing the fishing ensured that quotas were
not exceeded, consistent with 50 CFR 660.409(a).
Inseason Action #22
Description of the action: Inseason action #22 closed the
recreational ocean salmon fishery from the Point Reyes, CA to Point
Sur, CA.
Effective dates: Inseason action #22 took effect at 12:01 a.m., on
September 29, 2025, and remained in effect until stated.
<bullet> The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Point Reyes
and Pigeon Point, previously scheduled for September 29, 2025, through
September 30, 2025, October 1, 2025, through October 5, 2025, and
October 27, 2025, through October 31, 2025, was closed.
<bullet> The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Pigeon Point
and Point Sur, previously scheduled for September 29, 2025, through
September 30, 2025, was closed.
Reason and authorization of the action: The 2025 California
recreational ocean salmon fall fishery season was structured under a
7,500 Chinook salmon harvest guideline applicable to the September
through October season dates. Some subareas in the fishery opened
September 4, 2025, through September 7, 2025, and if the harvest
guideline was not met, were scheduled to continue for September 29,
2025, through September 30, 2025, between Point Reyes and Point Sur,
and for October 1, 2025, through October 5, 2025, and October 27, 2025,
through October 31, 2025, between Point Reyes and Pigeon Point. CDFW
estimates that 12,000 Chinook salmon were taken statewide by 12,400
anglers aboard both charter vessels and private skiffs, exceeding the
fall fishery harvest guideline of 7,500 Chinook salmon. Therefore, the
remaining September 2025 and October 2025 season dates previously
scheduled are closed.
The RA considered the harvest guidelines for Chinook salmon stocks,
catch and effort to date compared to the harvest guideline, and other
relevant factors and determined that the inseason action described
above was necessary given management and conservation goals set
preseason. This inseason action modified 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 2025-2026 ocean salmon fisheries (90 FR 20810, May
16, 2025; 90 FR 26943, June 25, 2025) 90 FR 51205, November 17, 2025;
90 FR 59740, December 22, 2025) except as previously modified by
inseason actions.
[[Page 13525]]
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 United States 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 MSA.
These actions were 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)(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 fishing
opportunity consistent with conservation needs and management
objectives, 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 Exclusive Economic Zone (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 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 that waiving notice and comment in order to respond to
updated information indicating the need for 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 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, because as described above, 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: March 18, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-05504 Filed 3-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 20, 2026.
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.