National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 26, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 103 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). If approved, Amendment 103 would allow NMFS to reapportion unused Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) within and among specific trawl sectors in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska (GOA), based on specific criteria and within specified limits. Amendment 103 would not increase the current combined annual PSC limit of 32,500 Chinook salmon that applies to Central and Western GOA trawl sectors under the FMP. Amendment 103 would provide for more flexible management of GOA trawl Chinook salmon PSC, increase the likelihood that groundfish resources are more fully harvested, reduce the potential for fishery closures, and maintain overall Chinook salmon PSC use in the Central and Western GOA within limits established under the FMP. Amendment 103 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.

We, NMFS, announce a 12-month finding on a petition to delist the Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (Snake River fall-run Chinook) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Snake River fall-run Chinook ESU was listed as threatened under the ESA in 1992. We have completed a comprehensive review of the status of the species in response to the petition. Based on the best scientific and commercial data available, we have determined that delisting of the Snake River fall-run Chinook ESU is not warranted at this time. We conclude that the Snake River fall-run Chinook is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range, and will remain listed as a threatened species under the ESA. We also announce the availability of 5-year reviews, prepared pursuant to ESA, for four Snake River salmonid species: The Snake River fall-run Chinook ESU, the Snake River sockeye salmon ESU, the Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon ESU, and the Snake River steelhead distinct population segment (DPS). We combined our evaluations and findings for these four species into a joint report. This 5-Year Review Report determined that the four Snake River salmon species, including the Snake River fall-run Chinook ESU, should retain their current listed status under the ESA.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue final regulations to amend the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to implement the Endangered Species Act (ESA) regarding experimental populations. This rule amends the CFR to establish definitions and procedures for: Establishing and/or designating certain populations of species otherwise listed as endangered or threatened as experimental populations; determining whether experimental populations are ``essential'' or ``nonessential;'' and promulgating appropriate protective measures for experimental populations.