01-16467. Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closure of the Commercial Fishery from Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Closure; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

NMFS announces that the commercial fishery for all salmon (except coho) in the area from Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA, was closed on May 21, 2001, at 2359 hours local time (l.t.). The Northwest Regional Administrator of NMFS (Regional Administrator) determined that the quota of 3,000 chinook salmon had been reached. This action is necessary to conform to the 2001 management measures.

DATES:

Closure effective 2359 hours l.t., May 21, 2001. Comments will be accepted through July 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Comments on this action may be mailed to Donna Darm, Acting Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; fax [phone]; or Rebecca Lent, Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132; fax [phone]. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. Information relevant to this document is available for public review during business hours at the Office of the Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christopher Wright, 206-526-6140, Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA; or Dan Viele, 562-980-4030 Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations governing the ocean salmon fisheries at 50 CFR 660.409 (a)(1) state that, when a quota 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 notification issued under 50 CFR 660.411 (a)(2), close the fishery for all salmon species in the portion of the fishery management area to which the quota applies, as of the date the quota is projected to be reached.

In the 2001 management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (66 FR 23185, May 8, 2001), NMFS announced that the commercial fishery for all salmon (except coho) in the area from Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA, would open on May 1 through earlier of May 31 or a 3,000-chinook quota.

The Regional Administrator consulted with representatives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the California Department of Fish and Game. The best available information on May 21, 2001, indicated that the catch and effort data, as well as projections, supported closure of the commercial fishery in this area at 2359 hours l.t., May 21, 2001. The State of California will manage the fishery in state waters adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic zone in accordance with this Federal action. As provided by the inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to fishermen of these actions was given prior to 2359 hours l.t on May 21, 2001, by telephone hotline number 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.

Because of the need for immediate action to close the fishery upon achievement of the quota, NMFS has determined that good cause exists for this document to be issued without affording a prior opportunity for public comment. This document 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 Executive Order 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: June 26, 2001.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.