Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modifications of the West Coast Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #12 Through #18, 51166-51168 [2017-24019]
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51166
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 161222999–7413–01]
RIN 0648–XF715
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Modifications of the West Coast
Commercial and Recreational Salmon
Fisheries; Inseason Actions #12
Through #18
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of fishing seasons.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces seven
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 Humbug
Mountain, OR.
DATES: The effective dates for the
inseason actions are set out in this
document under the heading Inseason
Actions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peggy Mundy at 206–526–4323.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
Background
In the 2017 annual management
measures for ocean salmon fisheries (82
FR 19630, April 28, 2017), 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, 2017,
and 2018 salmon fisheries opening
earlier than May 1, 2018. 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: California Department
of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW), and Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
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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 affected fisheries north and
south of Cape Falcon. All times
mentioned refer to Pacific daylight time.
Inseason Actions
Inseason Action #12
Description of action: Inseason action
#12 transferred 2,600 coho from the
north of Falcon commercial fishery to
the recreational fishery in the Westport
subarea. The adjusted coho quota for the
north of Falcon commercial fishery is
3,000. The adjusted coho quota for the
Westport subarea is 18,140.
Effective dates: Inseason action #12
took effect on August 10, 2017, and
remained in effect through the end of
the 2017 salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The purpose of this action was
to provide additional coho quota to the
north of Cape Falcon recreational
fishery in the Westport subarea in order
to extend the season and avoid closing
this subarea while adjacent subareas
remained open. The commercial fishing
representatives on the Council’s Salmon
Advisory Subpanel (SAS) supported the
quota transfer. The Regional
Administrator (RA) considered fishery
effort and coho landings to date in the
recreational and commercial fisheries,
and determined that this inseason
action was necessary to meet the
management objectives set preseason.
Inseason actions to modify quotas or
fishing seasons are authorized by 50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #12
occurred on August 10, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, WDFW,
ODFW, and the Council participated in
this consultation.
Inseason Action #13
Description of action: Inseason action
#13 transferred 500 coho from the north
of Cape Falcon commercial salmon
fishery and 1,027 coho from the north
of Cape Falcon recreational salmon
fishery in the Westport subarea to the
north of Cape Falcon recreational
salmon fishery in the Columbia River
subarea. The revised recreational coho
quota for the Westport subarea is
17,113, and the Columbia River subarea
is 22,527. The revised coho quota for the
north of Cape Falcon commercial
fishery is 2,500.
Effective dates: Inseason action #13
took effect on August 17, 2017, and
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Fmt 4700
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remained in effect through the end of
the 2017 salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The purpose of this action was
to provide additional coho quota to the
north of Cape Falcon recreational
fishery in the Columbia River subarea in
order to extend the season and allow the
adjacent Columbia River and Westport
subareas to remain open for recreational
salmon fishing until these subareas
could be closed simultaneously through
inseason action #16, below. The
commercial fishing representatives on
the Council’s SAS supported the quota
transfer. The RA considered fishery
effort and coho landings to date in the
recreational and commercial fisheries,
and determined that this inseason
action was necessary to meet the
management objectives set preseason.
Inseason actions to modify quotas or
fishing seasons are authorized by 50
CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #13
occurred on August 17, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, WDFW,
ODFW, and the Council participated in
this consultation.
Inseason Action #14
Description of action: Inseason action
#14 transferred 400 coho from the north
of Cape Falcon recreational salmon
fishery in the Neah Bay subarea to the
north of Cape Falcon recreational
salmon fishery in the La Push subarea.
The revised coho quota for Neah Bay is
3,970, and for La Push 1,490.
Effective dates: Inseason action #14
took effect on August 17, 2017, and
remained in effect through the end of
the 2017 salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The purpose of this action was
to provide additional coho quota to the
north of Cape Falcon recreational
fishery in the La Push subarea in order
to extend the season in that subarea and
allow the adjacent La Push and Neah
Bay subareas to remain open for
recreational salmon fishing until these
subareas could be closed
simultaneously on September 4, 2017,
as scheduled preseason. The RA
considered fishery effort and coho
landings to date in the recreational
fisheries, and determined that this
inseason action was necessary to meet
the management objectives set
preseason. Inseason actions to modify
quotas or fishing seasons are authorized
by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #14
occurred on August 17, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, WDFW,
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ODFW, and the Council participated in
this consultation.
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
Inseason Action #15
Description of action: Inseason action
#15 modified the open period in the
commercial salmon fishery from the
U.S./Canada border to the Queets River,
WA, from five days per week (Friday
through Tuesday) to seven days per
week. Inseason action #15 also modified
the landing and possession limit from
75 Chinook and 10 coho per vessel per
open period to 100 Chinook and 10
coho per vessel per open period; this
landing limit modification superseded
inseason action #7 (82 FR 43192,
September 14, 2017).
Effective dates: Inseason action #15
took effect on August 21, 2017, and
remained in effect through the end of
the 2017 salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The purpose of this action was
to increase access to the available quota,
as Chinook landings in the affected area
were well below the level anticipated
preseason. The RA considered Chinook
landings to date and fishery effort, and
determined that this inseason action
was necessary to meet the management
objectives set preseason. Inseason
actions to modify quotas and/or fishing
seasons are authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(i) and inseason actions to
modify regulations limiting retention
are authorized by 50 CFR
660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #15
occurred on August 17, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, WDFW,
ODFW, and the Council participated in
this consultation.
Inseason Action #16
Description of action: Inseason action
#16 closed the north of Cape Falcon
recreational salmon fisheries in the
Columbia River and Westport subareas
at 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Effective dates: Inseason action #16
took effect August 22, 2017, and
remains in effect through the end of the
2017 salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The purpose of this action was
to avoid exceeding the coho quota for
recreational fisheries from Leadbetter
Point, WA, to Cape Falcon, OR. The RA
considered coho landings to date and
fishery effort, and determined that this
inseason action was necessary to meet
the management objectives for fishery
impacts set preseason. Inseason actions
to modify quotas or fishing seasons are
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #16
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:05 Nov 02, 2017
Jkt 244001
occurred on August 17, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, WDFW,
ODFW, and the Council participated in
this consultation.
Inseason Action #17
Description of action: Inseason action
#17 modified the quota in the
recreational fishery in the area from
Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.
Unused coho quota from the markselective coho season, June 24, 2017
through July 31, 2017, was transferred,
on an impact-neutral basis, to the nonmark-selective coho fishery, scheduled
for September 2, 2017 through
September 30, 2017. The adjusted quota
for the non-mark-selective coho fishery
is 7,900 coho.
Effective dates: Inseason action #17
took effect August 28, 2017 and remains
in effect through the end of the 2017
salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: This action was taken consistent
with the annual management measures
(82 FR 19630, April 28, 2017) which
provided that any remainder of the
mark-selective quota may be transferred
on an impact-neutral basis to the
September non-mark-selective quota
from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.
The STT calculated that the quota
transfer would add 1,900 coho to the
6,000 non-mark-selective coho quota set
preseason, for an adjusted quota of
7,900 coho. The RA considered the
landings from the mark-selective fishery
and the STT’s calculations and
determined that this inseason action
was necessary to meet the management
objectives set preseason. 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 #17
occurred on August 28, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, ODFW,
and CDFW participated in this
consultation. Council staff were
unavailable to participate but were
notified of the RA’s decision
immediately after the consultation.
Inseason Action #18
Description of action: Inseason action
#18 closed the non-mark-selective coho
recreational salmon fishery from Cape
Falcon, OR, to Humbug Mountain, OR,
at 11:59 p.m., September 7, 2017, due to
projected attainment of the non-markselective coho quota.
Effective dates: Inseason action #18
took effect September 7, 2017, and
remains in effect through the end of the
2017 salmon fishing season.
Reason and authorization for the
action: The purpose of this action was
to prevent exceeding the quota for the
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51167
non-mark-selective coho fishery. The
RA considered coho landings to date,
and determined that this inseason
action was necessary to meet the
management objectives for fishery
impacts set preseason. Inseason actions
to modify quotas or fishing seasons are
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants:
Consultation on inseason action #18
occurred on September 6, 2017.
Representatives from NMFS, ODFW,
and CDFW participated in this
consultation. Council staff were
unavailable to participate but were
notified of the RA’s decision
immediately after the consultation.
All other restrictions and regulations
remain in effect as announced for the
2017 ocean salmon fisheries and 2018
salmon fisheries opening prior to May 1,
2018 (82 FR 19631, April 28, 2017) and
as modified by prior inseason actions.
The RA determined that the best
available information indicated that
Chinook and coho salmon abundance
forecasts, Chinook and coho salmon
landings, and expected 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 (82 FR 19631, April 28, 2017),
the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery
Management Plan (FMP), and
regulations implementing the 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
between the time Chinook and coho
salmon catch and effort 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, ensuring that
conservation objectives and Endangered
Species Act 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
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: October 31, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–24019 Filed 11–2–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02]
RIN 0648–XF808
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is exchanging unused
flathead sole and rock sole Community
Development Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin
sole CDQ acceptable biological catch
(ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area. This
action is necessary to allow the 2017
total allowable catch of yellowfin sole in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area to be harvested by the
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community
Development Association (APICDA).
DATES: Effective November 3, 2017
through December 31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI) according to
the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
SUMMARY:
Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing fishing by
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2017 flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in
the BSAI are 1,228 metric tons (mt),
5,165 mt, and 16,677 mt as established
by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017)
and revised by flatfish exchange (82 FR
49539, October 26, 2017). The 2017
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole CDQ ABC reserves are 6,078 mt,
11,431 mt and 11,229 mt as established
by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017)
and revised by flatfish exchange (82 FR
49539, October 26, 2017).
The APICDA has requested that
NMFS exchange 100 mt of flathead sole
sole CDQ reserves and 400 mt of rock
sole CDQ reserves for 500 mt of
yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under
§ 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 100
mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves and
400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 500
mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves
in the BSAI. This action also decreases
and increases the TACs and CDQ ABC
reserves by the corresponding amounts.
Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2017 and
2018 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826,
February 27, 2017), and revised by
flatfish exchange (82 FR 49539, October
26, 2017), are further revised as follows:
TABLE 11—FINAL 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND
AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK
SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
district
TAC ..........................................................
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 80 .........................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ...............
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...................
7,900
845
100
695
6,259
3,319
2,940
Central
Aleutian
district
Flathead sole
Western
Aleutian
district
7,000
749
60
619
5,572
2,954
2,617
9,000
963
10
161
7,866
4,171
3,695
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
14,076
1,128
4,000
0
8,949
918
8,031
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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15:05 Nov 02, 2017
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03NOR1
46,825
4,765
5,000
0
37,060
9,168
27,893
154,699
17,177
4,500
18,151
114,871
45,638
69,233
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51166-51168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24019]
[[Page 51166]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 161222999-7413-01]
RIN 0648-XF715
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modifications of the West Coast
Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Actions #12
Through #18
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of fishing seasons.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces seven 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 Humbug Mountain, OR.
DATES: The effective dates for the inseason actions are set out in this
document under the heading Inseason Actions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Mundy at 206-526-4323.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the 2017 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries
(82 FR 19630, April 28, 2017), 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, 2017, and 2018 salmon fisheries
opening earlier than May 1, 2018. 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: California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), 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 affected
fisheries north and south of Cape Falcon. All times mentioned refer to
Pacific daylight time.
Inseason Actions
Inseason Action #12
Description of action: Inseason action #12 transferred 2,600 coho
from the north of Falcon commercial fishery to the recreational fishery
in the Westport subarea. The adjusted coho quota for the north of
Falcon commercial fishery is 3,000. The adjusted coho quota for the
Westport subarea is 18,140.
Effective dates: Inseason action #12 took effect on August 10,
2017, and remained in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The purpose of this action
was to provide additional coho quota to the north of Cape Falcon
recreational fishery in the Westport subarea in order to extend the
season and avoid closing this subarea while adjacent subareas remained
open. The commercial fishing representatives on the Council's Salmon
Advisory Subpanel (SAS) supported the quota transfer. The Regional
Administrator (RA) considered fishery effort and coho landings to date
in the recreational and commercial fisheries, and determined that this
inseason action was necessary to meet the management objectives set
preseason. Inseason actions to modify quotas or fishing seasons are
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#12 occurred on August 10, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, WDFW, ODFW,
and the Council participated in this consultation.
Inseason Action #13
Description of action: Inseason action #13 transferred 500 coho
from the north of Cape Falcon commercial salmon fishery and 1,027 coho
from the north of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery in the
Westport subarea to the north of Cape Falcon recreational salmon
fishery in the Columbia River subarea. The revised recreational coho
quota for the Westport subarea is 17,113, and the Columbia River
subarea is 22,527. The revised coho quota for the north of Cape Falcon
commercial fishery is 2,500.
Effective dates: Inseason action #13 took effect on August 17,
2017, and remained in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The purpose of this action
was to provide additional coho quota to the north of Cape Falcon
recreational fishery in the Columbia River subarea in order to extend
the season and allow the adjacent Columbia River and Westport subareas
to remain open for recreational salmon fishing until these subareas
could be closed simultaneously through inseason action #16, below. The
commercial fishing representatives on the Council's SAS supported the
quota transfer. The RA considered fishery effort and coho landings to
date in the recreational and commercial fisheries, and determined that
this inseason action was necessary to meet the management objectives
set preseason. Inseason actions to modify quotas or fishing seasons are
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#13 occurred on August 17, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, WDFW, ODFW,
and the Council participated in this consultation.
Inseason Action #14
Description of action: Inseason action #14 transferred 400 coho
from the north of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery in the Neah
Bay subarea to the north of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery in
the La Push subarea. The revised coho quota for Neah Bay is 3,970, and
for La Push 1,490.
Effective dates: Inseason action #14 took effect on August 17,
2017, and remained in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The purpose of this action
was to provide additional coho quota to the north of Cape Falcon
recreational fishery in the La Push subarea in order to extend the
season in that subarea and allow the adjacent La Push and Neah Bay
subareas to remain open for recreational salmon fishing until these
subareas could be closed simultaneously on September 4, 2017, as
scheduled preseason. The RA considered fishery effort and coho landings
to date in the recreational fisheries, and determined that this
inseason action was necessary to meet the management objectives set
preseason. Inseason actions to modify quotas or fishing seasons are
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#14 occurred on August 17, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, WDFW,
[[Page 51167]]
ODFW, and the Council participated in this consultation.
Inseason Action #15
Description of action: Inseason action #15 modified the open period
in the commercial salmon fishery from the U.S./Canada border to the
Queets River, WA, from five days per week (Friday through Tuesday) to
seven days per week. Inseason action #15 also modified the landing and
possession limit from 75 Chinook and 10 coho per vessel per open period
to 100 Chinook and 10 coho per vessel per open period; this landing
limit modification superseded inseason action #7 (82 FR 43192,
September 14, 2017).
Effective dates: Inseason action #15 took effect on August 21,
2017, and remained in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The purpose of this action
was to increase access to the available quota, as Chinook landings in
the affected area were well below the level anticipated preseason. The
RA considered Chinook landings to date and fishery effort, and
determined that this inseason action was necessary to meet the
management objectives set preseason. Inseason actions to modify quotas
and/or fishing seasons are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i) and
inseason actions to modify regulations limiting retention are
authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(ii).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#15 occurred on August 17, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, WDFW, ODFW,
and the Council participated in this consultation.
Inseason Action #16
Description of action: Inseason action #16 closed the north of Cape
Falcon recreational salmon fisheries in the Columbia River and Westport
subareas at 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Effective dates: Inseason action #16 took effect August 22, 2017,
and remains in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The purpose of this action
was to avoid exceeding the coho quota for recreational fisheries from
Leadbetter Point, WA, to Cape Falcon, OR. The RA considered coho
landings to date and fishery effort, and determined that this inseason
action was necessary to meet the management objectives for fishery
impacts set preseason. Inseason actions to modify quotas or fishing
seasons are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#16 occurred on August 17, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, WDFW, ODFW,
and the Council participated in this consultation.
Inseason Action #17
Description of action: Inseason action #17 modified the quota in
the recreational fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug
Mountain. Unused coho quota from the mark-selective coho season, June
24, 2017 through July 31, 2017, was transferred, on an impact-neutral
basis, to the non-mark-selective coho fishery, scheduled for September
2, 2017 through September 30, 2017. The adjusted quota for the non-
mark-selective coho fishery is 7,900 coho.
Effective dates: Inseason action #17 took effect August 28, 2017
and remains in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: This action was taken
consistent with the annual management measures (82 FR 19630, April 28,
2017) which provided that any remainder of the mark-selective quota may
be transferred on an impact-neutral basis to the September non-mark-
selective quota from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. The STT calculated
that the quota transfer would add 1,900 coho to the 6,000 non-mark-
selective coho quota set preseason, for an adjusted quota of 7,900
coho. The RA considered the landings from the mark-selective fishery
and the STT's calculations and determined that this inseason action was
necessary to meet the management objectives set preseason. 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
#17 occurred on August 28, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, ODFW, and
CDFW participated in this consultation. Council staff were unavailable
to participate but were notified of the RA's decision immediately after
the consultation.
Inseason Action #18
Description of action: Inseason action #18 closed the non-mark-
selective coho recreational salmon fishery from Cape Falcon, OR, to
Humbug Mountain, OR, at 11:59 p.m., September 7, 2017, due to projected
attainment of the non-mark-selective coho quota.
Effective dates: Inseason action #18 took effect September 7, 2017,
and remains in effect through the end of the 2017 salmon fishing
season.
Reason and authorization for the action: The purpose of this action
was to prevent exceeding the quota for the non-mark-selective coho
fishery. The RA considered coho landings to date, and determined that
this inseason action was necessary to meet the management objectives
for fishery impacts set preseason. Inseason actions to modify quotas or
fishing seasons are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Consultation date and participants: Consultation on inseason action
#18 occurred on September 6, 2017. Representatives from NMFS, ODFW, and
CDFW participated in this consultation. Council staff were unavailable
to participate but were notified of the RA's decision immediately after
the consultation.
All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as
announced for the 2017 ocean salmon fisheries and 2018 salmon fisheries
opening prior to May 1, 2018 (82 FR 19631, April 28, 2017) and as
modified by prior inseason actions.
The RA determined that the best available information indicated
that Chinook and coho salmon abundance forecasts, Chinook and coho
salmon landings, and expected 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 (82 FR 19631, April 28, 2017), the Pacific
Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and regulations
implementing the 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
[[Page 51168]]
between the time Chinook and coho salmon catch and effort 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, ensuring that conservation objectives and Endangered
Species Act 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 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: October 31, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24019 Filed 11-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
