NOAA
Fisheries has implemented recommendations made
earlier this month by the Pacific Fishery
Management Council, in an effort to protect
dwindling numbers of Chinook salmon returning to
the Klamath River to spawn. The emergency rule
will allow about 40 percent of the usual
commercial salmon harvest this year. North of
Cape Falcon, OR, there is a slightly lower
Chinook quota and a substantially lower coho
quota relative to the 2005 season. South of Cape
Falcon, Chinook fisheries off Oregon and
California are dramatically reduced or closed
because of concerns about the Klamath River fall
Chinook. Retention of coho is prohibited, except
for a recreational selective fishery off Oregon
with a 20,000-fish quota of marked hatchery
coho.
Please consult the
emergency rule for a detailed description of
the new measures. It specifies limitations on
commercial, recreational and treaty Indian
fisheries, including minimum size limits,
definition of fishing areas by geographic
boundaries, the open seasons for each area, the
salmon species allowed to be caught during the
seasons, and other special restrictions. More
information is posted
online.
Notice is also provided through a telephone
hotline (206-526-6667 or 800-662-9825).
Fishermen should call the telephone hotline for
current information regarding the area in which
they are fishing.
Public comments will be accepted for 15 days
following publication in the Federal Register.
Send comments to:
2006oceansalmonregs.nwr@noaa.gov.
