View Rule

This action would implement fishery management measures in accordance with the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s recommendation for the 2023 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California, and any 2024 salmon seasons opening prior to implementation of 2024 management measures.  While specific measures vary by fishery and area, the management measures generally establish fishing areas, seasons, quotas, permissible gear, recreational fishing days and catch limits, possession and landing restrictions, and minimum lengths for salmon fishing in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off Washington, Oregon, and California.  These measures are intended to prevent overfishing and to apportion the ocean harvest equitably among treaty Indian, non-treaty commercial, and recreational fisheries.  These measures are also intended to allow a portion of the salmon runs to escape the ocean fisheries in order to provide for escapement to spawning grounds and fisheries occurring in state waters.  This is a routine, annual action and the measures are expected to be similar to those in previous years.  NMFS typically finds good cause to waive prior notice and public comment because annual preseason forecasts for stock abundance are not available until shortly before the fishery would need to open to prevent significant loss of fishing opportunity.  The authority for this action is the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act section 305(d); the regulatory authority for the annual management measures is 50 CFR 660.408.