[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43484-43485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21465]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 970429101-7101-01; I.D. 070297B]
Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific
States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Adjustment From the
Queets River to Leadbetter Point, WA
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the daily bag limit for the recreational
salmon fishery in the area from the Queets River to Leadbetter Point,
WA, is two fish, only one of which may be a chinook, beginning the
season opening date of July 21, 1997. This action is intended to help
meet the recreational season duration objectives for this subarea.
DATES: Effective July 21, 1997, through September 25, 1997. Comments
will be accepted through August 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 7600
Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070. Information relevant to
this action is available for public review during business hours at the
office of the Regional Administrator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Robinson, 206-526-6140.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the annual management measures for ocean
salmon fisheries (62 FR 24355, May 5, 1997), NMFS announced that the
recreational fishery in the subarea between the Queets River and
[[Page 43485]]
Leadbetter Point, WA, would open July 21, 1997 and continue through the
earlier of September 25, 1997, or attainment of the 14,000 coho subarea
quota, with a bag limit of two fish per day. Inseason management may be
used to sustain season length and keep harvest within a guideline of
3,000 chinook.
The best available information on June 4, 1997, indicated that the
1985-1993 average of recreational catch ratios is 4.7 coho to 1
chinook, which is similar to the ratio of the coho quota to the chinook
guideline for this fishery. Concern was expressed that this year's
relative abundance of coho to chinook might be lower and that the
chinook guideline could be achieved first, thus leaving a large portion
of the coho quota unharvested. To optimize angler opportunity to fish
on the available coho stocks, it is necessary to limit the retention of
chinook at the beginning of the season by changing the bag limit to two
fish, only one of which may be a chinook.
Modification of recreational bag limits is authorized by
regulations at 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii). All other restrictions that
apply to this fishery remain in effect as announced in the annual
management measures, including the restriction of no more than four
fish in 7 consecutive days.
The Regional Administrator consulted with representatives of the
Pacific Fishery Management Council, the Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding
this adjustment. The State of Washington will manage the recreational
fishery in state waters adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic
zone in accordance with this Federal action. As provided by the
inseason notification procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to
fishermen of this action was given prior to 2400 hours local time, July
20, 1997, 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 modify the
bag limit before the opening of this fishery, NMFS has determined that
good cause exists for this notice 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: August 8, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc.97-21465 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
