NOAA Fisheries announces 7 inseason actions in the ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modified the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon.
The effective dates for the inseason action are set out in this document under the heading Inseason Actions. Comments will be accepted through October 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2012-0079, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0079 in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
Mail: William W. Stelle, Jr., Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA, 98115-6349
Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Peggy Mundy
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Mundy at 206-526-4323.
Background
In the 2012 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries
(77 FR 25915, May 2, 2012), NMFS announced the commercial and
recreational fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada Border to the
U.S./Mexico Border, beginning May 1, 2012, and 2013 salmon seasons
opening earlier than May 1, 2013.
NMFS is authorized to implement inseason management actions to
modify fishing seasons and quotas as necessary to provide fishing
opportunity while meeting management objectives for the affected
species (50 CFR 660.409). Prior to taking inseason action, the Regional
Administrator (RA) consults with the Chairman of the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) and the appropriate State Directors (50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)). Management of the salmon fisheries is generally
divided into two geographic areas: north of Cape Falcon (U.S./Canada
Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon) and south of Cape Falcon (Cape Falcon,
Oregon to the U.S./Mexico Border).
Inseason Actions
The table below lists the inseason actions announced in this
document.
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Inseason action no. Effective date Salmon fishery affected
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15...................................... August 29, 2012............ Commercial and Recreational fisheries
from U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon,
Oregon.
16...................................... September 1, 2012.......... Recreational fishery from Queets River to
Leadbetter Point (Westport subarea).
17...................................... September 3, 2012.......... Recreational fishery from Leadbetter
Point to Cape Falcon, Oregon (Columbia
River subarea).
18...................................... August 31, 2012............ Commercial fishery from U.S./Canada
Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon.
19...................................... September 5, 2012.......... Commercial and Recreational fisheries
from U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon,
Oregon.
20...................................... September 7, 2012.......... Commercial fishery from U.S./Canada
Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon.
21...................................... September 5, 2012.......... Commercial fishery from U.S./Canada
Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon.
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Inseason actions 15, 16, 17, and 18
The RA consulted with representatives of the Council, Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife (ODFW) on August 29, 2012. The information considered
during this consultation related to catch and effort to date in the
commercial and recreational salmon fisheries north of Cape Falcon. Four
inseason actions were implemented as a result of this consultation.
Inseason action 15 transferred 1,000 coho salmon from the
north of Cape Falcon commercial mark-selective coho salmon fishery
quota to the north of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery quota.
The quota transfer was distributed 80 percent (800 fish) to the Neah
Bay subarea (U.S./Canada Border to Cape Alava) and 20 percent (200
fish) to the La Push subarea (Cape Alava to Queets River). This action
resulted in the following quota adjustments: north of Cape Falcon
commercial quota decreased from 13,280 to 12,280 marked coho salmon;
Neah Bay recreational quota increased from 7,250 to 8,050 coho salmon;
and La Push recreational quota increased from 1,760 to 1,960 coho
salmon. This action was taken to prevent closure of recreational
fisheries, due to projected attainment of quota, by transferring
unutilized quota from the commercial fishery. On August 29, 2012, the
states recommended this action and the RA concurred; inseason action
15 took effect on August 29, 2012, and remains in effect until
the end of the fishing season. Inseason modification of quotas and/or
fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason action 16 adjusted the daily bag limit for the
recreational salmon fishery in the Westport subarea (Queets River to
Leadbetter Point) to allow retention of unmarked coho, as anticipated
in the 2012 annual management measures (77 FR 25915, May 2, 2012).
Inseason action 16 set the daily bag limit at two fish per day
only one of which can be a coho salmon and unmarked coho may be
retained. This action was taken to allow greater access to available
coho quota in the recreational fishery. On August 29, 2012, the states
recommended this action and the RA concurred; inseason action
16 took effect on September 1, 2012, superseding that portion
of inseason action 13 that applied to the Westport subarea (77
FR 55426, September 10, 2012), and remained in effect until superseded
by inseason action 23 on September 13, 2012. Modification of
recreational bag limits is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Inseason action 17 adjusted the daily bag limit for the
recreational salmon fishery in the Columbia River subarea (Leadbetter
Point to Cape Falcon) to allow retention of unmarked coho, as
anticipated in the 2012 annual management measures (77 FR 25915, May 2,
2012). Inseason action 17 set the daily bag limit at two fish
per day and unmarked coho salmon may be retained. This action was taken
to allow greater access to available coho quota in the recreational
fishery. On August 29, 2012, the states recommended this action and the
RA concurred; inseason action 17 took effect on September 3,
2012, superseding inseason action 14 (77 FR 55426, September
10, 2012), and remains in effect until the end of the fishing season or
subsequent inseason action. Modification of recreational bag limits is
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Inseason action 18 adjusted the landing limit in the
commercial salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon from 120 Chinook salmon
and 40 marked coho per vessel per open period to 150 Chinook salmon and
40 marked coho per vessel per open period. This action was taken to
allow greater access to available Chinook salmon. On August 29, 2012,
the states recommended this action and the RA concurred; inseason
action 18 took effect on August 31, 2012, superseding the
portion of inseason action 12 that applied to landing limit
(77 FR 55426, September 10, 2012) and remained in effect until
superseded by inseason action 20 on September 7, 2012.
Inseason modification of landing limits is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Inseason actions 19, 20, and 21
The RA consulted with representatives of the Council, Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife (ODFW) on September 5, 2012. The information considered
during this consultation related to catch and effort to date in the
commercial and recreational salmon fisheries north of Cape Falcon.
Three inseason actions were taken as a result of this consultation.
Inseason action 19 transferred 500 coho salmon from the
north of Cape Falcon commercial mark-selective coho salmon fishery
quota to the north of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery quota.
The quota transfer was distributed 60 percent (300 fish) to the Neah
Bay subarea (U.S./Canada Border to Cape Alava) and 40 percent (200
fish) to the La Push subarea (Cape Alava to Queets River). This action
resulted in the following quota adjustments: north of Cape Falcon
commercial quota decreased from 12,280 to 11,780 marked coho salmon;
Neah Bay recreational quota increased from 7,250 to 8,350 coho salmon;
and La Push recreational quota increased from 1,760 to 2,160 coho
salmon. This action was taken to prevent closure of recreational
fisheries, due to projected attainment of quota, by transferring
unutilized quota from the commercial fishery. On September 5, 2012, the
states recommended this action and the RA concurred; inseason action
19 took effect on September 5, 2012, and remains in effect
until the end of the fishing season. Inseason modification of quotas
and/or fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason action 20 took effect on Friday, September 7,
2012, to close the commercial salmon fishery in marine area 4 (U.S./
Canada Border to Cape Alava); marine areas 1, 2, and 3 (Cape Alava to
Cape Falcon) remain open with a landing and possession limit of 150
Chinook and 50 coho per vessel per open period, unmarked coho may be
retained. Vessels fishing, or in possession of salmon while fishing,
north of Leadbetter Point must land and deliver their fish north of
Leadbetter Point in any port in marine areas 2, 3, or 4. Vessels
fishing, or in possession of salmon while fishing, south of Leadbetter
Point must land and deliver their fish south of Leadbetter Point.
Inseason action 20 superseded inseason action 18, and
remains in effect until the end of the fishing season or subsequent
inseason action. Inseason modification of quotas and/or fishing seasons
is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason action 21 adjusted the Chinook salmon quota in
the commercial salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon for the summer
season (July 1 through September 17, 2012) by rolling over unused quota
from the spring season (May 1 through June 30, 2012) on an impact-
neutral basis, effective September 5, 2012. The net effect of inseason
action 21 was to increase the summer quota by 850 Chinook
salmon to 16,650. Transfer of unused quota from the spring commercial
fishery to the summer commercial fishery is anticipated in the 2012
annual management measures (77 FR 25915, May 2, 2012). Inseason
modification of quotas and/or fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i).
All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as
announced for the 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (77 FR 25915, May 2,
2012) and subsequent inseason actions (77 FR 55426) not otherwise
modified herein.
The RA determined that the best available information indicated
that the stock abundance, and catch and effort projections supported
the above inseason actions recommended by the states. The states manage
the fisheries in state waters adjacent to the areas of the U.S.
exclusive economic zone in accordance with these Federal actions. As
provided by the inseason notice procedures of 50 CFR 660.411, actual
notice of the described regulatory actions was given, prior to the date
the action was effective, 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.