[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25872-25873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12211]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 960429120-6120-01; I.D. 042997A]
Fisheries Off West Coast and Western Pacific States; West Coast
Salmon Fisheries; Closure from Point Lopez to Point Mugu, CA
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area
from Point Lopez to Point Mugu, CA, was closed at 12 midnight (local
time), April 22, 1997. The Regional Administrator, Northwest Region,
NMFS, has determined that the commercial quota of 10,000 chinook salmon
has been reached. This action is necessary to conform to the 1996
announcement of management measures for 1997 salmon seasons opening
earlier than May 1 and is intended to ensure conservation of chinook
salmon.
DATES: Effective 2400 hours local time, April 22, 1997, through 2400
hours local time April 30, 1997. Comments will be accepted through May
27, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE.,
Seattle, WA 98115-0070, or William Hogarth, Acting Regional
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200,
Long Beach, CA 90802-4132. Information relevant to this notice is
available for public review during business hours at the Office of the
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson, 206-526-6140, or
Rodney McInnis, 562-980-4030.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the ocean salmon
fisheries at 50 CFR 660.409(a)(1) state that when a quota for the
commercial or the recreational fishery, or both, for any salmon species
in any portion of the fishery management area is projected by the
Regional Administrator to be reached on or by a certain date, NMFS
will, by an inseason action issued under 50 CFR 660.411, close the
commercial or recreational fishery, or both, for all salmon species in
the portion of the fishery management area to which the
[[Page 25873]]
quota applies as of the date the quota is projected to be reached.
In the 1996 management measures for 1997 ocean salmon fisheries
opening earlier than May 1 (61 FR 20175, May 6, 1996), NMFS announced
that the April 1997 commercial fishery in the area between Point Lopez
and Point Mugu, CA, would open on April 15 and continue through April
28 or attainment of the 10,000 chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred
first.
The best available information on April 21 indicated that catch and
effort data and projections supported closure of the commercial fishery
in this area at 12 midnight, April 22. The Regional Administrator
consulted with representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management
Council and the California Department of Fish and Game in making this
determination. The State of California will manage the commercial
fishery in state waters adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic
zone in accordance with this Federal action. As provided by the
inseason action procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to
fishermen of this action was given prior to 2400 hours local time,
April 22, 1997, by telephone hotline number 206-526-6667 or 800-662-
9825 and by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners broadcasts on Channel
16 VHF-FM and 2182 kHz. Because of the need for immediate action to
stop the fishery upon achievement of the quota, NMFS has determined
that good cause exists for this action to be issued without affording a
prior opportunity for public comment. This action does not apply to
other fisheries that may be operating in other areas.
Classification
This action is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 5, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-12211 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
