Saltwater Report - NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the 2008 Ocean Salmon fisheries of WA, OR, & CA

NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the 2008 Ocean Salmon fisheries of WA, OR, & CA

by Chad Woods
5-9-2008
(775) 624-7778
Website

Saltwater Report. NACO author. Begin forwarded message: > From: "NACO-Info" > Date: May 2, 2008 8:30:04 AM PDT > To: "Undisclosed Recipients" > Subject: NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the 2008 Ocean Salmon fisheries of WA, OR, & CA > > Dear NACO Member, > > > NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the 2008 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, California and the 2009 > salmon seasons opening earlier than May 1, 2009. The temporary rule for emergency action (emergency rule), under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), implements the 2008 annual management measures for the west coast ocean salmon fisheries for the area from Cape Falcon, OR, to the Oregon/California Border from June 22 to August 31, 2008. The emergency rule is required because Sacramento River fall Chinook (SRFC) are projected to not meet their conservation objective of 122,000 to 180,000 natural and hatchery adult spawners established in the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (Salmon FMP). Specific fishery management measures vary by fishery and by area. The measures establish fishing areas, seasons, > quotas, legal gear, recreational fishing days and catch limits, possession and landing restrictions, and minimum lengths for salmon > taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (3-200 nm) off Washington, Oregon, and California. > > Final rule is effective from 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time, May 1, 2008, until the effective date of the 2009 management measures, > as published in the Federal Register. Temporary rule is effective from 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time June 22, 2008, to 1159 hours Pacific Daylight Time August 31, 2008 or the attainment of the specific quota as listed below in section two of this rule. Comments must be received by May 16, 2008. > > RECREATIONAL MEASURES FOR 2008 > A. Season Description > > North of Cape Falcon, OR U.S./Canada Border to Leadbetter Point June 1 through earlier of June 28 or a quota of 8,200 Chinook > (c.5). Tuesday through Saturday north of the Queets River (Neah Bay and La Push Subareas) and Sunday through Thursday south of the Queets River (Westport subarea). Chinook only, one fish per day. Chinook 24-inch (60.96 cm) total length minimum size limit (B). See gear restrictions (c.2). Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook recreational TAC for north of Cape Falcon (c.5). > > Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon (Columbia River Subarea) June 1 through earlier of June 28 or a subarea guideline of 5,300 > Chinook (c.5). Seven days per week. Chinook only, one fish per day. Chinook 24-inch (60.96 cm) total length minimum size limit (B). See > gear restrictions (c.2). Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook recreational TAC for north of Cape Falcon (c.5). U.S./Canada Border to Cape Alava (Neah Bay) > > > July 1 through earlier of September 13 or 2,060 marked coho subarea quota with a subarea guideline of 950 Chinook (c.5). Tuesday through Saturday. All salmon two fish per day, no more than one of which can be a Chinook and no chum retention August 1 through Sept. 13. Chinook 24-inch total length minimum size limit (B). All retained coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip. See gear restrictions (c.2). Closed east of a true north-south line running through Sail Rock in July. Beginning August 1, Chinook non-retention east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (C.4.a) during Council managed ocean fishery. Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook recreational TAC for north of Cape Falcon (C.5).Cape Alava to Queets River (La Push Subarea) > > > July 1 through earlier of September 13 or 540 marked coho subarea quota with a subarea guideline of 350 Chinook (C5). September 20 > through earlier of October 5 or 50 marked coho quota or 100 Chinook quota (C5): In the area north of 47[deg]50[min]00[sec] N. lat. and > south of 48[deg]00[min]00[sec] N. lat. (C.6). Tuesday through Saturday through September 13. All salmon, two fish per day, no more than one of which can be a Chinook. Chinook 24-inch (60.96 cm) total length minimum size limit (B). All retained coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip. See gear restrictions (C.2). Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook recreational TAC for north of Cape Falcon (C.5). Queets River to Leadbetter Point (Westport Subarea) > > > June 29 through earlier of September 13 or 7,520 marked coho subarea quota with a subarea guideline of 5,100 Chinook (C.5). Sunday > through Thursday. All salmon, two fish per day, no more than one of which can be a Chinook. Chinook 24-inch total length minimum size limit (B). All retained coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip. See gear restrictions and definitions (C.2, C.3). Grays Harbor Control Zone closed beginning August 1 (C.4.b). Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook recreational TAC for north of Cape Falcon (C.5). Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon (Columbia River Subarea) > > > June 29 through earlier of September 30 or 10,180 marked coho subarea quota with any remainder of the 5,300 Chinook subarea guideline from the June Chinook directed fishery (C.5). Sunday through Thursday. All salmon, two fish per day, no more than one of which can be a Chinook. Chinook 24-inch (60.96 cm) total length minimum size limit (B). All retained coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip. See gear restrictions and definitions (C.2, C.3). Columbia Control Zone closed (C.4.c). Inseason management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook recreational TAC for north of Cape Falcon (C.5). South of Cape Falcon, OR Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California Border > > > June 22 through earlier of August 31 or a landed catch of 9,000 marked coho (C.6). Seven days per week. All salmon except Chinook, two > fish per day (C.1). All retained coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip. Fishing in the Stonewall Bank groundfish conservation > area restricted to trolling only on days the all depth recreational halibut fishery is open (see 70 FR 20304, June 24, 2005, and call the > halibut fishing hotline 1-800-662-9825 for additional dates) (C.3, C.4.d). Open days may be adjusted inseason to utilize the available > quota (C.5). > > > In 2009, the season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will open March 15 for all salmon except coho, two fish per day (C.1). Chinook > minimum size limit of 24 inches (60.96 cm) total length (B). Oregon/California Border to U.S./Mexico Border Closed. > > Minimum size Chinook 24 inches, Coho 16 inches. > > C. Special Requirements, Definitions, Restrictions, or Exceptions > > C.1. Compliance With Minimum Size and Other Special Restrictions > All salmon on board a vessel must meet the minimum size or other special requirements for the area being fished and the area in which > they are landed if that area is open. Salmon may be landed in an area that is closed only if they meet the minimum size or other special > requirements for the area in which they were caught. > > > Ocean Boat Limits: Off the coast of Washington, Oregon, and California, each fisher aboard a vessel may continue to use angling > gear until the combined daily limits of salmon for all licensed and juvenile anglers aboard has been attained (additional state > restrictions may apply). > > > C.2. Gear Restrictions: Salmon May be Taken Only by Hook and Line Using Barbless Hooks > All persons fishing for salmon, and all persons fishing from a boat with salmon on board, must meet the gear restrictions listed below for > specific areas or seasons. > a. U.S./Canada Border to Point Conception, California: No more than one rod may be used per angler; and no more than two single point, > single shank barbless hooks are required for all fishing gear. [Note: ODFW regulations in the state-water fishery off Tillamook Bay may allow the use of barbed hooks to be consistent with inside regulations.] > b. Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Conception, California: Anglers must use no more than two single point, single shank, barbless hooks. > c. Horse Mt., California, to Point Conception, California: Single point, single shank, barbless circle hooks (below) are required when > fishing with bait by any means other than trolling, and no more than two such hooks shall be used. When angling with two hooks, the distance between the hooks must not exceed five inches when measured from the top of the eye of the top hook to the inner base of the curve of the lower hook, and both hooks must be permanently tied in place (hard tied). Circle hooks are not required when artificial lures are used without bait. > > > C.3. Gear Definitions > a. Recreational fishing gear defined: Angling tackle consisting of a line with no more than one artificial lure or natural bait attached. > Off Oregon and Washington, the line must be attached to a rod and reel held by hand or closely attended; the rod and reel must be held by hand while playing a hooked fish. No person may use more than one rod and line while fishing off Oregon or Washington. Off California, the line must be attached to a rod and reel held by hand or closely attended. Weights directly attached to a line may not exceed four pounds (1.8 kg). While fishing off California north of Point Conception, no person fishing for salmon, and no person fishing from a boat with salmon on board, may use more than one rod and line. Fishing includes any activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, > taking, or harvesting of fish. > b. Trolling defined: Angling from a boat or floating device that is making way by means of a source of power, other than drifting by means of the prevailing water current or weather conditions. > c. Circle hook defined: A hook with a generally circular shape and a point which turns inward, pointing directly to the shank at a 90[deg] > angle. > > > C.4. Control Zone Definitions > a. The Bonilla-Tatoosh Line: A line running from the western end of Cape Flattery to Tatoosh Island Lighthouse (48[deg]23'30'' N. lat., > 124[deg]44'12'' W. long.) to the buoy adjacent to Duntze Rock (48[deg]28'00'' N. lat., 124[deg]45'00'' W. long.), then in a straight > line to Bonilla Point (48[deg]35'30'' N. lat., 124[deg]43'00'' W. long.) on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. > b. Grays Harbor Control Zone--The area defined by a line drawn from the Westport Lighthouse (46[deg]53[min]18[sec] N. lat., > 124[deg]07[min]01[sec] W. long.) to Buoy 2 (46[deg]52[min]42[sec] N. lat., 124[deg]12'42'' W. long.) to Buoy 3 (46[deg]55[min]00[sec] N. lat., 124[deg]14'48'' W. long.) to the Grays Harbor north jetty (46[deg]36[min]00[sec] N. lat., 124[deg]10'51'' W. long.). > c. Columbia Control Zone: An area at the Columbia River mouth, bounded on the west by a line running northeast/southwest between the red lighted Buoy 4 (46[deg]13'35'' N. lat., 124[deg]06'50'' W. long.) and the green lighted Buoy 7 (46[deg]15'09'' N. lat., 124[deg]06'16'' W. long.); on the east, by the Buoy 10 line which bears north/south at 357[deg] true from the south jetty at 46[deg]14'00'' N. lat., 124[deg]03'07'' W. long. to its intersection with the north jetty; on the north, by a line running northeast/southwest between the green lighted Buoy 7 to the tip of the north jetty (46[deg]15'48'' N. lat., 124[deg]05'20'' W. long. and then along the north jetty to the point of intersection with the Buoy 10 line; and on the south, by a line running northeast/southwest between the red lighted Buoy 4 and tip of the south jetty (46[deg]14'03'' N. lat., 124[deg]04'05'' W. long.), and then along the south jetty to the point of intersection with the Buoy > 10 line. > d. Stonewall Bank Groundfish Conservation Area: The area defined by the following coordinates in the order listed: > > 44[deg]37.46' N. lat.; 124[deg]24.92' W. long.; > 44[deg]37.46' N. lat.; 124[deg]23.63' W. long.; > 44[deg]28.71' N. lat.; 124[deg]21.80' W. long.; > 44[deg]28.71' N. lat.; 124[deg]24.10' W. long.; > 44[deg]31.42' N. lat.; 124[deg]25.47' W. long.; > > and connecting back to 44[deg]37.46' N. lat.; 124[deg]24.92' W. long. > > e. Klamath Control Zone: The ocean area at the Klamath River mouth bounded on the north by 41[deg]38'48[sec] N. lat. (approximately six nautical miles north of theKlamath River mouth); on the west, by 124[deg]23'00[sec] W. long. (approximately 12 nautical miles off > shore); and, on the south, by 41[deg]26'48[sec] N. lat. (approximately 6 nautical miles south of the Klamath River mouth). > C.5. Inseason Management > Regulatory modifications may become necessary inseason to meet preseason management objectives such as quotas, harvest guidelines, and season duration. In addition to standard inseason actions or modifications already noted under the season description, the following > inseason guidance is provided by NMFS: > a. Actions could include modifications to bag limits, or days open to fishing, and extensions or reductions in areas open to fishing. > b. Coho may be transferred inseason among recreational subareas north of Cape Falcon on an impact neutral basis to help meet the > recreational season duration objectives (for each subarea) after conferring with representatives of the affected ports and the Council's > SAS recreational representatives north of Cape Falcon. > c. Chinook and coho may be transferred between the recreational and commercial fisheries north of Cape Falcon on an impact neutral basis if there is agreement among the representatives of the Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS). > d. If retention of unmarked coho is permitted in the area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon, by inseason action, the > allowable coho quota will be adjusted to ensure preseason projected mortality of critical stocks is not exceeded. > C.6. Additional Seasons in State Territorial Waters Consistent with Council management objectives, the States of Washington, Oregon, and California may establish limited seasons in state waters. Oregon State-water fisheries are limited to Chinook salmon. Check state regulations for details. > > ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-AW60, by any one of the following methods: > Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. > Fax: 206-526-6736. Attn: Sarah McAvinchey, or 562-980-4047 Attn: Eric Chavez. > Mail: D. Robert Lohn, Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070 or to > Rod McInnis, Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. > > > Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without > change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly > accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept > anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. > > > Copies of the documents cited in this document are available from Dr. Donald O. McIsaac, Executive Director, Pacific Fishery Management > Council, 7700 NE., Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384, and are posted on its Web site (http://www.pcouncil.org). > > > Send comments regarding the reporting burden estimate or any other aspect of the collection-of-information requirements in these > management measures, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to one of the NMFS addresses listed above and to David Rostker, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), by e-mail at David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or by fax at (202) 395-7285. > > FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McAvinchey at 206-526-4323, or Eric Chavez at 562-980-4064. > > > Keeping You Informed > National Association of Charterboat Operators

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