Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modifications of the West Coast Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #22 through #29, 53015-53018 [2015-21770]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 170 / Wednesday, September 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
prescribed under Part 581 of this
chapter, if applicable, and furnish
certification to the Administrator
pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section,
within 120 calendar days after such
entry. For each motor vehicle, the
Registered Importer must furnish to the
Secretary of Homeland Security at the
time of importation a bond in an
amount equal to 150 percent of the
dutiable value of the vehicle, as
determined by the Secretary of
Homeland Security, to ensure that such
vehicle either will be brought into
conformity with all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety and bumper
standards or will be exported (at no cost
to the United States) by the importer or
the Secretary of Homeland Security or
abandoned to the United States.
However, if the Registered Importer has
procured a continuous entry bond, it
must furnish the Administrator with
such bond, and must furnish the
Secretary of Homeland Security (acting
on behalf of the Administrator) with a
paper or electronic copy, in a format
accepted by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, of such bond at the time of
importation of each motor vehicle.
*
*
*
*
*
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 25,
2015 under authority delegated in 49 CFR
Part 1.95.
Mark R. Rosekind,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015–21505 Filed 9–1–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 140117052–4402–02]
RIN 0648–XE096
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery;
Quota Transfer
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
AGENCY:
NMFS approves the transfer
of 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish
quota from the State of North Carolina
and the Commonwealth of Virginia to
the State of Rhode Island. These
transfers comply with the Bluefish
Fishery Management Plan quota transfer
provisions, specified in federal
SUMMARY:
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19:00 Sep 01, 2015
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regulations. This announcement also
informs the public of the revised
commercial quota for each state
involved.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Effective September 1, 2015,
through December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid
Lichwell, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9112.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the bluefish
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648.
The regulations require annual
specification of a commercial quota that
is apportioned among the coastal states
from Florida through Maine. The
process to set the annual commercial
quota and the percent allocated to each
state are described in § 648.162.
The final rule implementing
Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery
Management Plan published in the
Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 FR
45844), provided a mechanism for
transferring bluefish quota from one
state to another. Two or more states,
under mutual agreement and with the
concurrence of the Administrator,
Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), can transfer or
combine bluefish commercial quota
under § 648.162(e). The Regional
Administrator is required to consider
the criteria in § 648.162(e) in the
evaluation of requests for quota transfers
or combinations.
North Carolina has agreed to transfer
100,000 lb (45,359 kg), and Virginia
50,000 lb (22,680 kg) of their 2015
commercial bluefish quotas to Rhode
Island. This transfer was requested by
state officials in Rhode Island to ensure
their commercial bluefish quota is not
exceeded. The Regional Administrator
has determined that the criteria set forth
in § 648.162(e)(1) are met and approves
these transfers. The revised bluefish
quotas for calendar year 2015 are: North
Carolina, 1,380,371 lb (626,126 kg);
Virginia, 422,629 lb (191,701 kg); and
Rhode Island 506,826 lb (229,892 kg),
based on quota defined in the final 2015
Atlantic Bluefish Specifications (80 FR
46848, published on August 6, 2015).
53015
50 CFR Part 660
DATES:
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 27, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21638 Filed 9–1–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 150316270–5270–01]
RIN 0648–XE121
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Modifications of the West Coast
Commercial and Recreational Salmon
Fisheries; Inseason Actions #22
through #29
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of fishing seasons;
request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces eight
inseason actions in the ocean salmon
fisheries. These inseason actions
modified the commercial and
recreational salmon fisheries in the area
from the U.S./Canada border to the U.S./
Mexico border.
DATES: The effective dates for the
inseason actions are set out in this
document under the heading Inseason
Actions. Comments will be accepted
through September 17, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2015–0001,
by any one of the following methods:
• Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20150001, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: William W. Stelle, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, West Coast
Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE, Seattle, WA 98115–6349.
Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peggy Mundy at 206–526–4323.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 170 / Wednesday, September 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the 2015 annual management
measures for ocean salmon fisheries (80
FR 25611, May 5, 2015), 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, 2015,
and 2016 salmon fisheries opening
earlier than May 1, 2016. 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).
Inseason actions in the salmon fishery
may be taken directly by NMFS (50 CFR
660.409(a)—Fixed inseason
management provisions) or upon
consultation with the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) and the
appropriate State Directors (50 CFR
660.409(b)—Flexible inseason
management provisions). The state
management agencies that participated
in the consultations described in this
document were: Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and
Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW).
Management of the salmon fisheries is
generally divided into two geographic
areas: north of Cape Falcon (U.S./
Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR) and
south of Cape Falcon (Cape Falcon, OR,
to the U.S./Mexico border). The
inseason actions reported in this
document affect fisheries north and
south of Cape Falcon. All times
mentioned refer to Pacific daylight time.
Inseason Actions
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Inseason Action #22
Description of action: Inseason action
#22 adjusted the daily bag limit in the
recreational salmon fishery in the
Westport Subarea (Queets River, WA to
Leadbetter Point, WA) to allow retention
of two Chinook salmon; previously,
only one Chinook salmon could be
retained daily.
Effective dates: Inseason action #22
took effect on August 15, 2015, and
remains in effect until the end of the
2015 recreational salmon fishery, or
until modified by further inseason
action.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The Regional Administrator (RA)
considered fishery effort and Chinook
salmon landings to date, and
determined that sufficient quota
remained to allow an increase in the
Chinook salmon bag limit without
exceeding the quota. Inseason action to
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19:00 Sep 01, 2015
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modify recreational bag limits is
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #22
occurred on August 12, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
Inseason Action #23
Description of action: Inseason action
#23 modified the daily bag limit in the
recreational salmon fishery in the Neah
Bay Subarea (U.S./Canada border to
Cape Alava, WA) to allow retention of
one Chinook salmon per day for two
days, beginning at 12:01 a.m., August
14, 2015 through 11:59 p.m., August 15,
2015. Effective 12:01 a.m., August 16,
2015, non-retention of Chinook salmon
in this subarea resumed. This action
superseded inseason action #18.
Effective dates: Inseason action #23
took effect on August 14, 2015, and
remained in effect until it was
superseded by inseason action #28 on
August 21, 2015.
Reason and authorization for the
action: Under inseason action #18,
which took effect August 2, 2015, NMFS
implemented non-retention of Chinook
salmon in the recreational salmon
fishery in the Neah Bay Subarea, to
prevent exceeding the subarea guideline
for Chinook salmon harvest. In the
consultation on August 12, 2015, that
lead to inseason action #23, the RA
considered fishery effort and updated
Chinook salmon landings to date and
determined that the subarea guideline
had sufficient Chinook salmon available
to allow limited Chinook salmon
retention. This action also made
regulations in the Neah Bay Subarea
consistent with regulations in adjacent
state waters that allow Chinook
retention through August 15, 2015.
Inseason action to modify recreational
bag limits is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #23
occurred on August 12, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
Inseason Action #24
Description of action: Inseason action
#24 adjusted the summer quota (July
through September) for the commercial
salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon.
Unutilized quota from the spring season
was rolled over to the summer season.
The adjusted summer quota is 27,830
Chinook salmon.
Effective dates: Inseason action #24
took effect August 12, 2015, and
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Fmt 4700
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remains in effect until the end of the
2015 commercial salmon fishery.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The quota for the spring
commercial salmon fishing season north
of Cape Falcon was 40,200 Chinook
salmon, of which, 39,170 Chinook
salmon were harvested, leaving 1,030
Chinook salmon unutilized. The STT
calculated the quota rollover from the
spring fishing season to the summer
fishing season on an impact-neutral
basis for the lower Columbia River
natural tule Chinook salmon stock, and
determined the rollover could be
implemented on a 1 to 1 basis, with no
adjustment needed. Therefore, 1,030
Chinook salmon were added to the
summer quota that was set preseason at
26,800 Chinook salmon, resulting in an
adjusted summer quota of 27,830
Chinook salmon. Modification of quotas
and/or fishing seasons is authorized by
50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #24
occurred on August 12, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
Inseason Action #25
Description of action: Inseason action
#25 modified the landing and
possession limit for Chinook salmon in
the commercial salmon fishery north of
Cape Falcon to 50 Chinook salmon per
vessel per open period in all areas north
of Cape Falcon. This action superseded
inseason action #15 (80 FR 43336).
Effective dates: Inseason action #25
took effect on August 14, 2015, and
remained in effect until it was
superseded by inseason action #29 on
August 21, 2015.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The annual management
measures (80 FR 25611) set the landing
and possession limits for the summer
commercial salmon fishery north of
Cape Falcon at 50 Chinook salmon and
50 marked coho per vessel per open
period. Inseason action #15, which took
effect on July 10, 2015 (80 FR 43336),
modified the Chinook salmon landing
and possession limit to 60 Chinook
salmon north of the Queets River or 75
Chinook salmon south of the Queets
River. On August 12, the RA considered
fishery effort and Chinook salmon and
coho landings to date, and determined
that adjusting the Chinook salmon
landing limit to 50 Chinook salmon per
vessel per open period, in all areas
north of Cape Falcon, would allow
access to remaining quota without
exceeding the quota. Inseason action to
modify quotas and/or fishing seasons is
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
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02SER1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 170 / Wednesday, September 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #25
occurred on August 12, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
Inseason Action #26
Description of action: Inseason action
#26 adjusted the quota for the Cape
Falcon to Humbug Mountain
recreational non-mark-selective coho
fishery that begins September 4, 2015.
Unutilized quota from the June through
August mark-selective coho fishery was
rolled over to the non-mark-selective
coho fishery on an impact-neutral basis.
The adjusted quota is 20,700 non-markselective coho.
Effective dates: Inseason action #26 is
effective from September 4, 2015 to the
end of the 2015 recreational salmon
fishery.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The annual management
measures (80 FR 25611) provide that
any remainder of the quota from the
Cape Falcon to Oregon/California border
mark-selective coho fishery (June 27,
2015 through August 9, 2015) will be
transferred on an impact-neutral basis to
the September non-selective coho quota
from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.
The mark-selective coho fishery had
40,092 unutilized mark-selective coho.
The STT calculated that the impactneutral rollover of that remainder from
the mark-selective coho fishery yielded
8,219 non-mark-selective coho. The
state of Oregon requested a reduced
rollover of 8,200 non-mark-selective
coho, to allow a buffer for assumed, but
not yet accounted impacts. The RA
concurred with the rollover, which
adjusted the non-mark-selective quota
from 12,500 to 20,700 non-markselective coho. Modification of quotas
and/or fishing seasons is authorized by
50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #26
occurred on August 19, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Inseason Action #27
Description of action: Inseason action
#27 terminated retention of Pacific
halibut caught incidental to the
commercial salmon fishery, at 11:59
p.m., August 20, 2015, due to
attainment of the allocation that was set
by the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC). All halibut must be
landed within 24 hours of this closure.
Effective dates: Inseason action #27
took effect August 20, 2015 and remains
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19:00 Sep 01, 2015
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in effect through the end of the 2015
commercial salmon fishery.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The RA considered landings and
effort to date, and took action to
terminate retention of Pacific halibut
caught incidental to the commercial
salmon fishery due to projected
attainment of the allocation set by the
IPHC. Inseason action to modify fishing
seasons is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #27
occurred on August 19, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW,
ODFW, and IPHC.
Inseason Action #28
Description of action: Inseason action
#28 modified the daily bag limit in the
recreational salmon fishery in the Neah
Bay Subarea (U.S./Canada border to
Cape Alava, WA) to allow retention of
one Chinook salmon per day. This
action superseded inseason action #23.
Effective dates: Inseason action #28
took effect August 21, 2015, and
remains in effect until the end of the
2015 recreational salmon fishery, or
until modified by further inseason
action.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The RA considered landings and
effort to date and took this action to
allow access to remaining Chinook
salmon without exceeding the guideline
in the Neah Bay Subarea. Inseason
action to modify recreational bag limits
is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #28
occurred on August 19, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
Inseason Action #29
Description of action: Inseason action
#29 modified the landing and
possession limit for Chinook salmon in
the commercial salmon fishery north of
Cape Falcon to 40 Chinook salmon per
vessel per open period in all areas north
of Cape Falcon. This action superseded
inseason action #25.
Effective dates: Inseason action #29
took effect on August 21, 2015, and
remains in effect until the end of the
2015 commercial salmon fishery, or
until modified by further inseason
action.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The RA considered fishery effort
and Chinook salmon and coho landings
to date, and determined that adjusting
the Chinook salmon landing limit
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53017
would allow access to remaining quota
without exceeding the quota. Inseason
action to modify quotas and/or fishing
seasons is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #28
occurred on August 19, 2015.
Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and
ODFW.
All other restrictions and regulations
remain in effect as announced for the
2015 ocean salmon fisheries and 2016
salmon fisheries opening prior to May 1,
2016 (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015).
The RA determined that the best
available information indicated that
halibut, coho, and Chinook salmon
catch to date and fishery effort
supported the above inseason actions
recommended by the states of
Washington and Oregon. 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 time the action was
effective, by telephone hotline numbers
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.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that good
cause exists for this notification to be
issued without affording prior notice
and opportunity for public comment
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) because such
notification would be impracticable. As
previously noted, actual notice of the
regulatory actions was provided to
fishers through telephone hotline and
radio notification. These actions comply
with the requirements of the annual
management measures for ocean salmon
fisheries (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015),
the West Coast Salmon Fishery
Management Plan (Salmon FMP), and
regulations implementing the Salmon
FMP, 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment was impracticable because
NMFS and the state agencies had
insufficient time to provide for prior
notice and the opportunity for public
comment between the time Chinook
salmon catch and effort assessments and
projections were developed and
fisheries impacts were calculated, and
the time the fishery modifications had
to be implemented in order to ensure
that fisheries are managed based on the
best available scientific information,
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ensuring that conservation objectives
and ESA consultation standards are not
exceeded. The AA also finds good cause
to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness required under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3), as a delay in effectiveness of
these actions would allow fishing at
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19:00 Sep 01, 2015
Jkt 235001
levels inconsistent with the goals of the
Salmon FMP and the current
management measures.
These actions are authorized by 50
CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and are
exempt from review under Executive
Order 12866.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 28, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21770 Filed 9–1–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53015-53018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21770]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 150316270-5270-01]
RIN 0648-XE121
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modifications of the West Coast
Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #22
through #29
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of fishing seasons; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces eight inseason actions in the ocean salmon
fisheries. These inseason actions modified the commercial and
recreational salmon fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border
to the U.S./Mexico border.
DATES: The effective dates for the inseason actions are set out in this
document under the heading Inseason Actions. Comments will be accepted
through September 17, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0001,
by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0001, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: William W. Stelle, Jr., Regional Administrator, West
Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-6349.
Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Mundy at 206-526-4323.
[[Page 53016]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the 2015 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries
(80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015), 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, 2015, and 2016 salmon fisheries
opening earlier than May 1, 2016. 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). Inseason actions
in the salmon fishery may be taken directly by NMFS (50 CFR
660.409(a)--Fixed inseason management provisions) or upon consultation
with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and the
appropriate State Directors (50 CFR 660.409(b)--Flexible inseason
management provisions). The state management agencies that participated
in the consultations described in this document were: Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW).
Management of the salmon fisheries is generally divided into two
geographic areas: north of Cape Falcon (U.S./Canada border to Cape
Falcon, OR) and south of Cape Falcon (Cape Falcon, OR, to the U.S./
Mexico border). The inseason actions reported in this document affect
fisheries north and south of Cape Falcon. All times mentioned refer to
Pacific daylight time.
Inseason Actions
Inseason Action #22
Description of action: Inseason action #22 adjusted the daily bag
limit in the recreational salmon fishery in the Westport Subarea
(Queets River, WA to Leadbetter Point, WA) to allow retention of two
Chinook salmon; previously, only one Chinook salmon could be retained
daily.
Effective dates: Inseason action #22 took effect on August 15,
2015, and remains in effect until the end of the 2015 recreational
salmon fishery, or until modified by further inseason action.
Reason and authorization for the action: The Regional Administrator
(RA) considered fishery effort and Chinook salmon landings to date, and
determined that sufficient quota remained to allow an increase in the
Chinook salmon bag limit without exceeding the quota. Inseason action
to modify recreational bag limits is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#22 occurred on August 12, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
Inseason Action #23
Description of action: Inseason action #23 modified the daily bag
limit in the recreational salmon fishery in the Neah Bay Subarea (U.S./
Canada border to Cape Alava, WA) to allow retention of one Chinook
salmon per day for two days, beginning at 12:01 a.m., August 14, 2015
through 11:59 p.m., August 15, 2015. Effective 12:01 a.m., August 16,
2015, non-retention of Chinook salmon in this subarea resumed. This
action superseded inseason action #18.
Effective dates: Inseason action #23 took effect on August 14,
2015, and remained in effect until it was superseded by inseason action
#28 on August 21, 2015.
Reason and authorization for the action: Under inseason action #18,
which took effect August 2, 2015, NMFS implemented non-retention of
Chinook salmon in the recreational salmon fishery in the Neah Bay
Subarea, to prevent exceeding the subarea guideline for Chinook salmon
harvest. In the consultation on August 12, 2015, that lead to inseason
action #23, the RA considered fishery effort and updated Chinook salmon
landings to date and determined that the subarea guideline had
sufficient Chinook salmon available to allow limited Chinook salmon
retention. This action also made regulations in the Neah Bay Subarea
consistent with regulations in adjacent state waters that allow Chinook
retention through August 15, 2015. Inseason action to modify
recreational bag limits is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#23 occurred on August 12, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
Inseason Action #24
Description of action: Inseason action #24 adjusted the summer
quota (July through September) for the commercial salmon fishery north
of Cape Falcon. Unutilized quota from the spring season was rolled over
to the summer season. The adjusted summer quota is 27,830 Chinook
salmon.
Effective dates: Inseason action #24 took effect August 12, 2015,
and remains in effect until the end of the 2015 commercial salmon
fishery.
Reason and authorization for the action: The quota for the spring
commercial salmon fishing season north of Cape Falcon was 40,200
Chinook salmon, of which, 39,170 Chinook salmon were harvested, leaving
1,030 Chinook salmon unutilized. The STT calculated the quota rollover
from the spring fishing season to the summer fishing season on an
impact-neutral basis for the lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook
salmon stock, and determined the rollover could be implemented on a 1
to 1 basis, with no adjustment needed. Therefore, 1,030 Chinook salmon
were added to the summer quota that was set preseason at 26,800 Chinook
salmon, resulting in an adjusted summer quota of 27,830 Chinook salmon.
Modification of quotas and/or fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#24 occurred on August 12, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
Inseason Action #25
Description of action: Inseason action #25 modified the landing and
possession limit for Chinook salmon in the commercial salmon fishery
north of Cape Falcon to 50 Chinook salmon per vessel per open period in
all areas north of Cape Falcon. This action superseded inseason action
#15 (80 FR 43336).
Effective dates: Inseason action #25 took effect on August 14,
2015, and remained in effect until it was superseded by inseason action
#29 on August 21, 2015.
Reason and authorization for the action: The annual management
measures (80 FR 25611) set the landing and possession limits for the
summer commercial salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon at 50 Chinook
salmon and 50 marked coho per vessel per open period. Inseason action
#15, which took effect on July 10, 2015 (80 FR 43336), modified the
Chinook salmon landing and possession limit to 60 Chinook salmon north
of the Queets River or 75 Chinook salmon south of the Queets River. On
August 12, the RA considered fishery effort and Chinook salmon and coho
landings to date, and determined that adjusting the Chinook salmon
landing limit to 50 Chinook salmon per vessel per open period, in all
areas north of Cape Falcon, would allow access to remaining quota
without exceeding the quota. Inseason action to modify quotas and/or
fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
[[Page 53017]]
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#25 occurred on August 12, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
Inseason Action #26
Description of action: Inseason action #26 adjusted the quota for
the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain recreational non-mark-selective coho
fishery that begins September 4, 2015. Unutilized quota from the June
through August mark-selective coho fishery was rolled over to the non-
mark-selective coho fishery on an impact-neutral basis. The adjusted
quota is 20,700 non-mark-selective coho.
Effective dates: Inseason action #26 is effective from September 4,
2015 to the end of the 2015 recreational salmon fishery.
Reason and authorization for the action: The annual management
measures (80 FR 25611) provide that any remainder of the quota from the
Cape Falcon to Oregon/California border mark-selective coho fishery
(June 27, 2015 through August 9, 2015) will be transferred on an
impact-neutral basis to the September non-selective coho quota from
Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. The mark-selective coho fishery had
40,092 unutilized mark-selective coho. The STT calculated that the
impact-neutral rollover of that remainder from the mark-selective coho
fishery yielded 8,219 non-mark-selective coho. The state of Oregon
requested a reduced rollover of 8,200 non-mark-selective coho, to allow
a buffer for assumed, but not yet accounted impacts. The RA concurred
with the rollover, which adjusted the non-mark-selective quota from
12,500 to 20,700 non-mark-selective coho. Modification of quotas and/or
fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#26 occurred on August 19, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
Inseason Action #27
Description of action: Inseason action #27 terminated retention of
Pacific halibut caught incidental to the commercial salmon fishery, at
11:59 p.m., August 20, 2015, due to attainment of the allocation that
was set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). All
halibut must be landed within 24 hours of this closure.
Effective dates: Inseason action #27 took effect August 20, 2015
and remains in effect through the end of the 2015 commercial salmon
fishery.
Reason and authorization for the action: The RA considered landings
and effort to date, and took action to terminate retention of Pacific
halibut caught incidental to the commercial salmon fishery due to
projected attainment of the allocation set by the IPHC. Inseason action
to modify fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#27 occurred on August 19, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, ODFW, and IPHC.
Inseason Action #28
Description of action: Inseason action #28 modified the daily bag
limit in the recreational salmon fishery in the Neah Bay Subarea (U.S./
Canada border to Cape Alava, WA) to allow retention of one Chinook
salmon per day. This action superseded inseason action #23.
Effective dates: Inseason action #28 took effect August 21, 2015,
and remains in effect until the end of the 2015 recreational salmon
fishery, or until modified by further inseason action.
Reason and authorization for the action: The RA considered landings
and effort to date and took this action to allow access to remaining
Chinook salmon without exceeding the guideline in the Neah Bay Subarea.
Inseason action to modify recreational bag limits is authorized by 50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#28 occurred on August 19, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
Inseason Action #29
Description of action: Inseason action #29 modified the landing and
possession limit for Chinook salmon in the commercial salmon fishery
north of Cape Falcon to 40 Chinook salmon per vessel per open period in
all areas north of Cape Falcon. This action superseded inseason action
#25.
Effective dates: Inseason action #29 took effect on August 21,
2015, and remains in effect until the end of the 2015 commercial salmon
fishery, or until modified by further inseason action.
Reason and authorization for the action: The RA considered fishery
effort and Chinook salmon and coho landings to date, and determined
that adjusting the Chinook salmon landing limit would allow access to
remaining quota without exceeding the quota. Inseason action to modify
quotas and/or fishing seasons is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#28 occurred on August 19, 2015. Participants in this consultation were
staff from NMFS, Council, WDFW, and ODFW.
All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as
announced for the 2015 ocean salmon fisheries and 2016 salmon fisheries
opening prior to May 1, 2016 (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015).
The RA determined that the best available information indicated
that halibut, coho, and Chinook salmon catch to date and fishery effort
supported the above inseason actions recommended by the states of
Washington and Oregon. 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 time the action was effective, by
telephone hotline numbers 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.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that
good cause exists for this notification to be issued without affording
prior notice and opportunity for public comment under 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B) because such notification would be impracticable. As
previously noted, actual notice of the regulatory actions was provided
to fishers through telephone hotline and radio notification. These
actions comply with the requirements of the annual management measures
for ocean salmon fisheries (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015), the West Coast
Salmon Fishery Management Plan (Salmon FMP), and regulations
implementing the Salmon FMP, 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411. Prior notice
and opportunity for public comment was impracticable because NMFS and
the state agencies had insufficient time to provide for prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment between the time Chinook salmon
catch and effort assessments and projections were developed and
fisheries impacts were calculated, and the time the fishery
modifications had to be implemented in order to ensure that fisheries
are managed based on the best available scientific information,
[[Page 53018]]
ensuring that conservation objectives and ESA consultation standards
are not exceeded. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day
delay in effectiveness required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), as a delay in
effectiveness of these actions would allow fishing at levels
inconsistent with the goals of the Salmon FMP and the current
management measures.
These actions are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and are
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 28, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21770 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P