BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 230508-0124; RTID 0648-XD952]
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries;
Inseason Actions #32 through #35
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason modification of 2023-2024 management measures.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces four inseason actions for the 2024 portion of the 20232024 ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modify the recreational and
commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the United States/Canada border to the
United States/Mexico border.
DATES: The effective dates for these inseason actions are set out in this document under
the heading “Inseason Actions” and the actions remain in effect until superseded or
modified.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Penna, 562-980-4239,
Shannon.Penna@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The annual management measures for the 2023-2024 ocean salmon fisheries (88
FR 30235, May 11, 2023) govern the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area
from the United States/Canada border to the United States/Mexico border, effective from
0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), May 16, 2023, until the effective date of the
2024-2025 management measures, as published in the Federal Register. These measures

include early season fisheries in March through mid-May of 2024 that may be adjusted
through inseason action when abundance forecasts for 2024 salmon returns become
available. NMFS is authorized to implement inseason management actions to modify
fishing seasons, catch limits, 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 Chairman of the
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), and the appropriate State Directors (50
CFR 660.409(b) – Flexible inseason management provisions).
Management of the salmon fisheries is divided into two geographic areas: north of
Cape Falcon (NOF) (United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR), and south of
Cape Falcon (SOF) (Cape Falcon, OR, to the United States/Mexico border). The actions
described in this document affect the SOF and NOF commercial and recreational
fisheries, as set out under the heading Inseason Actions below.
Consultation with the Council Chairman on these inseason actions occurred on
March 10, 2024, and April 23, 2024. These consultations included representatives from
NMFS, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Representatives from the
Salmon Advisory Subpanel and Salmon Technical Team (STT) were also present. A
Council representative was present on March 10, 2024, and April 23, 2024.
These inseason actions were announced on NMFS’ telephone hotline and U.S.
Coast Guard radio broadcast on the date of the consultations (50 CFR 660.411(a)(2)).
Inseason Actions
Reason and authorization for inseason actions #32 - #34
At its March 5-11, 2024, meeting, the STT presented updated stock abundance
forecasts for salmon stocks managed under the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery

Management Plan (FMP). Based on the STT’s report, SOF ocean salmon fisheries will be
constrained in 2024 by the very low abundance forecasts for Klamath River fall-run
Chinook (KRFC) salmon and Sacramento River fall-run Chinook (SRFC) salmon. KRFC
salmon continue to meet the criteria for overfished, which was determined under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) in 2018. In 2021,
NMFS determined that SRFC had achieved rebuilt status (87 FR 25429) due to several
years of higher escapements. However, the Sacramento River has been experiencing low
flows and high temperatures in recent years associated with decades of frequent droughts;
these conditions have adversely affected the stock. KRFC Chinook salmon expected
abundance is low enough that the stock will be managed under the de minimus provisions
of the harvest control rule in the FMP. In addition, the abundance of these stocks has
been substantially over-forecast in recent years, and escapement have been much lower
than anticipated preseason. To reduce the impacts on KRFC salmon and SRFC salmon
given the low forecasts, NMFS took three inseason actions on March 11, 2024,
concurrent with the March Council meeting to restrict some fisheries that were previously
scheduled to open prior to May 16, 2023 (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023).
The NMFS West Coast Regional Administrator (RA) considered the abundance
forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks and the projected impacts in the ocean salmon
fisheries, as modeled by the STT, and determined that the inseason actions described
below are necessary to meet management and conservation goals set preseason. These
inseason actions modify landing and possession limits, quotas and/or fishing seasons
under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i).
Inseason Action #32
Description of the action: Inseason action #32 modifies the SOF commercial
salmon troll fishery. In the area between Cape Falcon, OR, and Humbug Mountain, OR,

the commercial salmon troll fishery, is closed from March 15, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
through April 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Effective dates: Inseason action #32 takes effect on March 15, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
and remains in effect until April 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Inseason Action #33
Description of the action: Inseason action #32 modifies the SOF commercial
salmon troll fishery. In the area between Humbug Mountain and the Oregon/California
border, the commercial salmon troll fishery is closed from March 15, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
through April 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Effective dates: Inseason action #33 takes effect on March 15, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
and remains in effect until April 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Inseason Action #34
Description of the action: Inseason action #34 modifies the ocean salmon
recreational fishery and the ocean salmon troll commercial fishery from the
Oregon/California border to the United States/Mexico border. These fisheries are closed
through May 15, 2024 or until superseded.
Effective dates: Inseason action #34 takes effect for the following areas and dates,
and remains in effect until superseded.
•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon troll commercial
fishery from the Oregon/California border to Humboldt South Jetty (California
Klamath Management Zone).

•

Effective April 16, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon troll commercial
fishery from lat. 40ÌŠ 10Ì› N to Point Arena, CA (Fort Bragg management area).

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon troll commercial
fishery from Point Arena, CA, to Pigeon Point, CA (San Francisco management
area).

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon troll commercial
fishery from Pigeon Point, CA, to the United States/Mexico border (Monterey
management area).

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon recreational fishery
from the Oregon/California border to latitude 40°10’ N (California Klamath
Management Zone).

•

Effective April 6, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon recreational fishery
from latitude 40°10’ N and Point Arena, CA (Fort Bragg management area).

•

Effective April 6, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon recreational fishery
from Point Arena, CA to Pigeon Point, CA (San Francisco Management Area),

•

Effective April 6, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. for the ocean salmon recreation fishery
from Pigeon Point, CA to the United States/Mexico border (Monterey
Management Area),

Inseason Action #35
Reason and authorization for the action: The 2023-2024 annual management
measures for ocean salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023) established a MayJune commercial salmon fishery that included NOF subarea quotas that were based on
information available at the time the 2023 management measures were adopted. The
2023 management measures allow for inseason action to adjust fisheries scheduled to
occur from March 15, 2024, through May 15, 2024 (or until the effective date of the 2024
management measures), in response to new information on 2024 salmon stock abundance
forecasts and northern salmon fisheries impacts, to keep fisheries impacts within
management objectives and consistent with conservation needs. In addition to adjusted
quotas, the Council adopted a weekly landing and possession limit based on the calendar
week (Thursday – Wednesday). Under the 2023-2024 regulations, the fishery opens on
May 1, 2024, with an 8-day calendar week (Wednesday – Wednesday). Inseason action

adjusts the landing and possession limits for the week of May 1, 2024, through May 8,
2024. Beginning May 9, 2024, the fishery reverts to the Thursday – Wednesday landing
week.
The RA considered the abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks, the
timing of the action relative to the length of the season, and determined that the inseason
action described above is necessary to meet management and conservation goals set
preseason. This inseason action modifies quotas and/or fishing seasons, and landing
boundaries under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(i) and (v).
Description of the action: Inseason action #35 modifies the ocean salmon troll
commercial fishery from the United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR.
Effective dates: Inseason action #35 takes effect for the following areas and dates,
and remains in effect until superseded.
•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., the quota for the May-June fishery is
modified to 24,600 Chinook salmon, no more than 5,600 of which may be caught
in the area between the United States/Canada border and the Queets River and no
more than 5,710 of which may be caught in the area between Leadbetter Point and
Cape Falcon.

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., the landing and possession limit for the
entire area between Cape Falcon and the United States/Canada border is 150
Chinook salmon per vessel for the period May 1, 2024, through May 8, 2024, and
150 Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday)
beginning May 9, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., the landing and possession limit in the area
between the United States/Canada border and the Queets River is 60 Chinook
salmon per vessel for the period May 1, 2024, through May 8, 2024, and 60

Chinook salmon per vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday)
beginning May 9, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., the landing and possession limit in the area
between the Queets River and Leadbetter Point is 150 Chinook salmon per vessel
for the period May 1, 2024, through May 8, 2024, and 150 Chinook salmon per
vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday) beginning May 9, 2024,
at 12:01 a.m.

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., the landing and possession limit in the area
between Leadbetter Point and Cape Falcon is 60 Chinook salmon per vessel for
the period May 1, 2024, through May 8, 2024, and 60 Chinook salmon per vessel
per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday) beginning May 9, 2024, 12:01
a.m.

•

Effective May 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., vessels fishing in a subarea north of Cape
Falcon with a higher landing and possession limit may transit through and land in
a subarea with a lower landing and possession limit, provided they meet reporting
requirements when crossing the subarea boundary lines at Leadbetter Point or
Queets River.
All other restrictions and regulations remain in effect as announced for the 2023-

2024 ocean salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023; 88 FR 44737, July 13, 2023;
88 FR 51250, August 3, 2023; 88 FR 53813, August 9, 2023; 88 FR 58522, August 28,
2023; 88 FR 65824, September 26, 2023; 88 FR 77533, November 13, 2023) except as
previously modified by inseason actions.
The states and Tribes manage the fisheries in state waters adjacent to the areas of
the U.S. exclusive economic zone (3–200 nautical miles; 5.6–370.4 kilometers) off the
coasts of the States of Washington, Oregon, and California consistent with these Federal
actions. As provided by the inseason notice procedures at 50 CFR 660.411, actual notice

of the described regulatory actions was given, prior to the time the actions became
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
NMFS issues these actions pursuant to section 305(d) of the MSA. These actions
are authorized by 50 CFR 660.409, which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the
MSA, and are exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and
an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment would be
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment on this action was impracticable because NMFS had insufficient time to
provide for prior notice and the opportunity for public comment between the time
Chinook and coho salmon abundance, catch, and effort information 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 scientific
information available. As previously noted, actual notice of the regulatory action was
provided to fishers through telephone hotlines and radio notifications. These actions
comply with the requirements of the annual management measures for ocean salmon
fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2024), the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan
(FMP), and regulations implementing the FMP under 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in
effective date, as a delay in effectiveness of this action would allow fishing at levels
inconsistent with the goals of the FMP and the current management measures.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 24, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 2024-14113 Filed: 6/26/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/27/2024]