Rule2026-15989
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Commercial Salmon Fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area
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 6, 2026
Effective
August 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting commercial fishing for salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of the aggregate coho salmon stock complex in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 150 (Thursday, August 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 150 (Thursday, August 6, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50728-50729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15989]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 260615-0143; RTID 0648-XF878]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Commercial
Salmon Fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting commercial fishing for salmon in the Cook
Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of the aggregate
coho salmon stock complex in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area.
DATES: Effective 0700 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 5,
2026, through 1900 hours, A.l.t., August 15, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zaleski, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the Cook Inlet EEZ Area
according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in
the EEZ off Alaska (Salmon FMP). The intended effect of this action is
to conserve and manage the salmon resources in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area
in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations governing fishing by
U.S. vessels in accordance with the Salmon FMP appear at subpart H of
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2026 aggregate coho salmon stock complex TAC for the salmon
fishery in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area is 16,619 fish as established by the
final 2026 harvest specifications for salmon in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area
(91 FR 36761, June 18, 2026).
In accordance with Sec. 679.118(c)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the 2026 aggregate coho salmon stock complex TAC may be
or has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting commercial
fishing for all salmon species in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area to prevent
exceeding the aggregate coho salmon stock complex TAC. It is necessary
to close commercial fishing for all salmon species because the
commercial fishery harvests mixed
[[Page 50729]]
stocks of salmon but cannot target specific stocks and the harvest of
the aggregate coho salmon stock complex is therefore unavoidable. If
commercial salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area continued, the
aggregate coho salmon stock complex would be harvested in conjunction
with other salmon species in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area and the aggregate
coho salmon stock complex TAC would be exceeded.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 679.118(c)(1)(i), which
was issued pursuant to section 304(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 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,
as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries
data on salmon catch in a timely fashion, and would delay the closure
of the commercial fishery for salmon in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area. Any
delay in the closure of the commercial fishery for salmon could result
in the fishery exceeding the 2026 aggregate coho salmon stock complex
TAC. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent, relevant data on the commercial
harvest of salmon in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area only became available as
of July 31, 2026.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to establish an
effective date less than 30 days after date of publication. This
finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior
notice and opportunity for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 3, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-15989 Filed 8-4-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 6, 2026.
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