Rule2026-11249
Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2026 Catch Sharing Plan; Inseason Action
Primary source
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Published
June 4, 2026
Effective
June 8, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces an inseason action for the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds fishing dates (June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23) in the Columbia River subarea. These additional fishing dates are intended to provide additional opportunity for anglers to achieve the overall recreational fishery allocations in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2026 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan and to promote full utilization of the 2026 Area 2A Pacific halibut catch limits.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33659-33661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11249]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[RTID 0648-XF818; Docket No. 260428-0118]
Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2026 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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an inseason action for the Pacific halibut
recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's
(IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds fishing dates (June 8, 9,
15, 16, 22, 23) in the Columbia River subarea. These additional fishing
dates are intended to provide additional opportunity for anglers to
achieve the overall recreational fishery allocations in the Pacific
Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2026 Pacific Halibut Catch
Sharing Plan and to promote full utilization of the 2026 Area 2A
Pacific halibut catch limits.
DATES:
Effective date: Effective June 8, 2026.
Comments due date: Comments due on or before June 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2025-1131, 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-2025-1131 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 Melissa Mandrup, 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/2026-pacific-halibut-recreational-fishery">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/2026-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: Melissa Mandrup, phone: 562-980-3231
or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f121a13160c0c1e51121e111b0d0a0f3f11101e1e51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d3beb6bfbaa0a0b2fdbeb2bdb7a1a6a393bdbcb2b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 33660]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 30, 2026, NMFS implemented the 2026 recreational (sport)
fishery bag limits, fishing dates, and subarea allocations for subareas
off the U.S. West Coast in IPHC regulatory Area 2A via a final rule (91
FR 23369). Inseason modifications to the Area 2A recreational
fisheries, including bag limits, state and subarea allocations, and
fishing days per calendar week (i.e., fishing dates) are authorized
under 50 CFR 300.63(c)(6), if it is determined such action is necessary
to meet the Area 2A allocation objectives and if the action will not
result in exceeding the allocation.
The final rule implementing the 2026 recreational fishery
management measures for Area 2A (91 FR 23369, April 30, 2026) opened
the Columbia River subarea for recreational Pacific halibut fishing on
April 30, 2026 (Thursday) and on May 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21,
22, 24, 28, 29, 31 (Thursday, Friday, Sunday); and June 4, 5, 7, 11,
12, 14, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26, 28 (Thursday, Friday, Sunday). The final
rule also stated that, if NMFS determines that sufficient allocation is
available to add fishing dates for the Columbia River subarea in June
2026, based on an assessment by NMFS based on catch effort in May and
projections for June, NMFS may take inseason action to open the fishery
the following additional days in June: June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
(Monday, Tuesday).
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 the respective
state Fish and Wildlife agency websites.
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 this action is
necessary to meet the management objective of achieving, but not
exceeding, the Area 2A subarea allocations. This action was not
previously implemented in the final rule setting the open dates and
management measures for 2026 (91 FR 23369, April 30, 2026) and is
intended to provide additional opportunity for anglers to achieve the
annual recreational fishery allocation. NMFS will continue to monitor
the recreational catch estimates for all subareas obtained via state
sampling procedures, until NMFS has determined that there is not
sufficient allocation for another full day of fishing and the subarea
is closed by NMFS, or until there are no more open fishing dates,
whichever is earlier.
Inseason Action
The Pacific halibut fishery regulations for Area 2A at 50 CFR
300.63(c)(6) provide NMFS with the authority to modify annual
management measures inseason, including fishing periods, following
consultation with the Council, the IPHC, and the affected states, where
such inseason action is necessary to allow allocation objectives to be
met and will not result in exceeding the allocation for Area 2A (50 CFR
300.63(c)(6)(i)(A), (i)(B) and (ii)(A)).
The Columbia River subarea recreational fishery opened on April 30,
2026. NMFS has determined, through an assessment of recreational catch
and effort in May and projections for June, that there is sufficient
allocation to open additional fishing dates in June. Catch and effort
estimates through May 17, 2026, indicate that 4,579 pounds (2.1 metric
tons) of the 19,299 pound (8.8 metric tons) allocation for the Columbia
River subarea recreational fishery, or approximately 24 percent of the
allocation, have been landed. Additionally, catch projections through
June estimate that 15,774 pounds 7.2 metric tons) of the total
allocation would be landed by June 30, or approximately 82 percent,
without the opening of additional fishing dates. The projected
remaining allocation of 18 percent is sufficient to warrant opening
additional fishing days in June. Accordingly, this inseason action
implements the following additional fishing dates for the Columbia
River subarea all-depth recreational fishery:
<bullet> June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23.
If the subarea allocation is projected to be reached prior to June
30, the subarea will be closed by NMFS when there is not sufficient
subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. However, if the
subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing
after June 30, NMFS may take additional inseason action to reopen the
fishery in August through September, up to 7 days per week.
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)(3)(B), there is good cause to waive
prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this routine
inseason action, as notice and comment would be impracticable and
contrary to the public interest. WDFW and ODFW provided updated
landings data to NMFS through May 17, 2026, and a catch projection
through June. This information indicates that without additional open
days approximately 18 percent of the Columbia River subarea's annual
recreational fishery allocation would remain at the end of June.
Therefore, to promote the full utilization of the subarea's allocation,
and thus to create additional opportunity within the fishery achieve
the overall Area 2A allocation, additional fishing opportunity is
necessary.
The final rule implementing the 2026 recreational fishing measures
(91 FR 23369, April 30, 2026) specified that if NMFS determines
sufficient allocation is available, additional fishing dates may be
warranted in June to increase angler opportunity to achieve the 2026
subarea and Area 2A recreational fishery allocations. Further, the
final rule specified the additional dates to be opened in June: June 8,
9, 15, 16, 22, and 23 (Monday, Tuesday), and provided that the
determination of whether sufficient allocation remained to open these
dates would be based on an assessment, by NMFS, of catch and effort in
May and projections for June.
The proposed rule to implement the 2026 recreational fishing
measures for Area 2A (91 FR 14511) published on March 25, 2026, and
requested public comment through April 9, 2026. The proposed rule
identified the original dates that the Columbia River subarea would be
open in April, May and June 2026, and specifically identified the
additional dates recreational fishing in the subarea may be open in
June 2026, if sufficient subarea allocation was determined to remain in
May. Both the original open dates for the subarea and the potential
additional open dates for the subarea in June, which are identified in
the proposed rule, are the same open dates implemented in the final
rule and through this inseason action. Thus, the public had notice of
these proposed additional dates and an opportunity to comment on them
during the comment period on the proposed rule.
Based on recreational catch and effort through May 17, 2026, and
projections through June, NMFS has determined that sufficient subarea
allocation remains to open additional recreational fishing days in the
Columbia River subarea in June. Opening additional dates for
recreational fishing in the subarea is deemed necessary to allow the
opportunity for the Area 2A allocation objectives to be met in
accordance with 50 CFR 300.63(c)(6)(i)(A). Further, this action
[[Page 33661]]
should be implemented as soon as possible to allow fishery participants
time to prepare to take advantage of the additional fishing dates.
Implementing this action through proposed and final rulemaking would
reduce the benefits the action is intended to provide to fishery
participants in the subarea, as time is limited before the first
additional fishing date on June 8, 2026. It is necessary that this
rulemaking be implemented in a timely manner so that planning for
additional fishing dates can take place, and to allow for business and
personal decision making by the regulated public impacted by this
action, including recreational charter fishing operations, associated
port businesses, and private anglers who do not live near the coastal
access points for the fishery, among others. Without implementation of
additional fishing dates in 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, in
general, and obstructing the goals of the 2026 Area 2A Catch Sharing
Plan.
To ensure the regulated public is fully aware of this action,
notice of this regulatory 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 comment 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), and in the proposed and final rules implementing the 2026
management measures for the Area 2A recreational fishery.
For these reasons, 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 immediately upon filing for public inspection, as a
delay in the effectiveness of this action would constrain fishing
opportunity, be inconsistent with the goals of the 2026 Catch Sharing
Plan, and potentially limit the economic opportunity intended by this
rule to fishery participants and fishing communities. The purpose of
the 30-day delay in effectiveness provision of the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA) is generally to give the regulated community time
to adjust to new regulations. This rule does not establish any new or
unique regulations, nor otherwise make changes that would require
fishery participants to purchase new gear or make other time-consuming
adjustments. By contrast, this rule implements routine inseason action.
Waiving the 30-day delay in effectiveness will benefit the public
because it will provide additional opportunity for recreational Pacific
halibut anglers in 2026 and thus increase the likelihood of full
utilization of the 2026 allocations in Area 2A. Additionally, NMFS
regulations allow the Regional Administrator to modify sport fishing
periods, bag limits, size limits, days per calendar week, and subarea
allocations in Area 2A, when the action supports allocation objectives
being met and such action will not result in exceeding the catch limit
for the subarea or for Area 2A. The regulated public is aware of this
authority and therefore expects such inseason action throughout the
fishing year.
In conclusion, NMFS finds good cause to waive prior notice and an
opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delay in effective date
for this rule. NMFS recently received information on the progress of
landings in the recreational fisheries in the Columbia River subarea,
which indicate that additional season dates should be implemented in
order to promote the optimal harvest of the subarea's annual
allocation. Thus, it is in the public interest that this action not be
delayed.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.
Dated: June 2, 2026.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-11249 Filed 6-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 4, 2026.
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