[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50255-50256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24512]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 960126016-6121-04; I.D. 091796A]
Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closure from the Oregon-California Border to
Humboldt South Jetty, CA
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area
from the Oregon-California border (42 deg.00'00'' N. lat.) to Humboldt
South Jetty, CA (40 deg.45'53'' N. lat.) was closed at 2400 hours local
time (l.t.), September 14, 1996. The Regional Director, Northwest
Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has determined that the commercial
quota of 6,000 chinook salmon has been reached. This action is
necessary to conform to the preseason announcement of the 1996
management measures and is intended to ensure conservation of chinook
salmon.
DATES: Effective at 2400 hours l.t., September 14, 1996, through 2400
hours
[[Page 50256]]
l.t., September 15, 1996, at which time the season remains closed under
the terms of the preseason announcement of the 1996 management
measures. Comments will be accepted through October 9, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to William Stelle, Jr., Regional
Director, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA
98115-0070, or Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Regional Director, Southwest Region,
NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132.
Information relevant to this action has been compiled in aggregate form
and is available for public review during business hours at the
Northwest Regional Office or Southwest Regional Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, 206-526-6140, or
Rodney R. McInnis, 310-980-4030.
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 Director 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 quota applies as of the date
the quota is projected to be reached.
In the annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries (61 FR
20175, May 6, 1996), NMFS announced that the 1996 commercial fishery in
the area between the Oregon-California border and Humboldt South Jetty,
CA, would open on September 1 and continue through September 15 or
attainment of the 6,000 chinook salmon quota, whichever occurred first.
The best available information on September 12, 1996, indicated
that catch and effort data and projections supported closure of the
commercial fishery in the area between the Oregon-California border and
Humboldt South Jetty, CA, at midnight, September 14, 1996.
The Regional Director consulted with representatives of the Pacific
Fishery Management Council, the California Department of Fish and Game,
and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding this closure.
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, September 14, 1996, 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: September 19, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24512 Filed 9-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
