Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Amendment 15 to Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan

摘要

The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) requests public comments on Amendment 15 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fisheries Management Plan (Plan) in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action is intended to provide management flexibility in times of low Klamath River fall-run Chinook (KRFC) abundance, while preserving the long-term productive capacity of the stock and thereby ensuring it continues to contribute meaningfully to ocean and river fisheries in the future. The plan amendment would allow the Council to implement de minimis fisheries in years of low abundance, which: permit an ocean impact rate of no more than 10 percent on age-4 Klamath River fall Chinook, if the projected natural spawning escapement associated with a 10 percent age- 4 ocean impact rate, including river recreational and tribal impacts, is between 22,000 and 35,000. If the projected natural escapement associated with a 10 percent age-4 ocean impact rate is less than 22,000, the Council would further reduce the allowable age-4 ocean impact rate to reflect the status of the stock.