§ 622.388 - Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs).

§ 622.388 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs).

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 88 FR 29848, May 9, 2023.

All weights are in round and eviscerated weight combined, unless specified otherwise.

(a) Gulf migratory group king mackerel —

(1) Commercial sector.

(i) If commercial landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the applicable quota specified in § 622.384(b)(1), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for that zone, or gear type for the remainder of the fishing year.

(ii) The commercial ACL for the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel is 2,998,400 lb (1,360,051 kg) for the 2021–2022 fishing year, 3,110,400 lb (1,410,854 kg) for the 2022–2023 fishing year, and 3,196,800 lb (1,450,044 kg) for the 2023–2024 and subsequent fishing years. The ACL is further divided into a commercial ACL for vessels fishing with hook-and-line and a commercial ACL for vessels fishing with run-around gillnets. The hook-and-line ACL (which applies to the entire Gulf) is 2,368,736 lb (1,074,441 kg) for the 2021–2022 fishing year, 2,457,216 lb (1,114,574 kg) for the 2022–2023 fishing year, and 2,525,472 lb (1,145,535 kg) for the 2023–2024 and subsequent fishing years. The run-around gillnet ACL (which applies to the southern zone) is 629,664 lb (285,611 kg) for the 2021–2022 fishing year, 653,184 lb (296,279 kg) for the 2022–2023 fishing year, and 671,328 lb (304,509 kg) for the 2023–2024 and subsequent fishing years.

(iii) If commercial landings of Gulf migratory group king mackerel caught by run-around gillnet in the southern zone, as estimated by the SRD, exceed the commercial ACL, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the commercial ACL for king mackerel harvested by run-around gillnet in the southern zone in the following fishing year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the prior fishing year.

(2) Recreational sector. If recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL of 6,371,600 lb (2,890,109 kg) for the 2021–2022 fishing year, 6,609,600 lb (2,998,064 kg) for the 2022–2023 fishing year, and 6,793,200 lb (3,081,344 kg) for the 2023–2024 and subsequent fishing years, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to implement bag and possession limits for Gulf migratory group king mackerel of zero, unless the best scientific information available determines that a bag limit reduction is unnecessary.

(3) For purposes of tracking the ACL, recreational landings will be monitored based on the commercial fishing year.

(b) Atlantic migratory group king mackerel —

(1) Commercial sector.

(i) If commercial landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the applicable quota for the zone or season specified in § 622.384(b)(2), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for that zone for the remainder of the applicable fishing season or fishing year.

(ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, if the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and Atlantic migratory group king mackerel are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the commercial quota for that zone for that following year by the amount of any commercial sector overage in the prior fishing year for that zone.

(iii) The commercial ACL for the Atlantic migratory group of king mackerel is 6.5 million lb (2.9 million 11,560,360 lb (5,243,691 kg) for the 2016–2017 2022–2023 fishing year, 5.9 million lb (2.7 million 10,009,580 lb (4,540,269 kg) for the 2017–2018 2023–2024 fishing year, 5.2 million 8,952,230 lb (2.4 million 4,060,663 kg) for the 2018–2019 2024–2025 fishing year, and 4.7 million lb (2.1 million 8,212,085 lb (3,724,939 kg) for the 2025–2026 fishing year, and 7,683,410 lb (3,485,136 kg) for the 2019–2020 2026–2027 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.

(2) Recreational sector.

(i) If the recreational landings exceed the recreational ACL as specified in this paragraph and the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the bag limit by the amount necessary to ensure recreational landings may achieve the recreational ACT, but do not exceed the recreational ACL, in the following fishing year. The recreational ACT is 10.1 million lb (4.6 million ACL is 19,599,640 lb (8,890,247 kg) for the 2016–2017 2022–2023 fishing year, 9.2 million lb (4.2 million 16,970,420 lb (7,697,653 kg) for the 2017–2018 2023–2024 fishing year, 8.3 million lb (3.8 million 15,177,770 lb (6,884,521 kg) for the 2018–2019 2024–2025 fishing year, and 7.4 million lb (3.4 million 13,922,915 lb (6,315,328 kg) for the 2025–2026 fishing year, and 13,026,590 lb (5,908,762 kg) for the 2019–2020 2026–2027 fishing year and subsequent fishing years. The recreational ACL is 10.9 million lb (4.9 million ACT is 16,914,489 lb (7,672,283 kg) for the 2016–2017 2022–2023 fishing year, 9.9 14,645,472 lb (6,643,074 kg) for the 2023–2024 fishing year, 13,098,416 million lb (4.5 million 5,941,342 kg) for the 2017–2018 2024–2025 fishing year, 8.9 million lb (4.0 million 12,015,476 lb (5,450,128 kg) for the 2018–2019 2025–2026 fishing year, and 8.0 million lb (3.6 million 11,241,947 lb (5,099,261 kg) for the 2019–2020 2026–2027 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.

(ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, if the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and Atlantic migratory group king mackerel are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the recreational ACL and ACT for that following year by the amount of any recreational sector overage in the prior fishing year.

(iii) For purposes of tracking the ACL, recreational landings will be evaluated based on the commercial fishing year, March through February. Recreational landings will be evaluated relative to the ACL based on a moving multi-year average of landings, as described in the FMP.

(3) The stock ACL for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel is 17.4 million lb (7.9 million 31,160,000 lb (14,133,938 kg) for the 2016–2017 2022–2023 fishing year, 15.8 million lb (7.2 million 26,980,000 lb (12,237,922 kg) for the 2017–2018 2023–2024 fishing year, 14.1 million lb (6.4 million 24,130,000 lb (10,945,184 kg) for the 2018–2019 2024–2025 fishing year, and 12.7 million lb (5.8 million 22,135,000 lb (10,040,267 kg) for the 2025–2026 fishing year, and 20,710,000 lb (9,393,898 kg) for the 2019–2020 2026–2027 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.

(c) Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel.

(1) If the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, reaches or is projected to reach the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial and recreational sectors for the remainder of the fishing year. On and after the effective date of such a notification, all sale and purchase of Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel is prohibited and the harvest and possession limit of this species in or from the Gulf EEZ is zero.

(2) For purposes of tracking the ACL, recreational landings will be evaluated based on the commercial fishing year, April through March.

(3) The stock ACL for Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel is 12.7 million lb (5.76 million kg) for the 2014–2015 fishing year, 11.8 million lb (5.35 million kg) for the 2015–2016 fishing year, and 11.3 million lb (5.13 million kg) for the 2016–2017 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.

(d) Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel —

(1) Commercial sector.

(i) If commercial landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the applicable quota specified in § 622.384(c)(2), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for that zone for the remainder of the fishing year.

(ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section, if the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, and Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the commercial quota for that zone for that following year by the amount of any commercial sector overage in the prior fishing year for that zone.

(iii) The commercial ACL for the Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel is 3.33 million lb (1.51 million kg).

(2) Recreational sector.

(i) If the recreational landings exceed the recreational ACL as specified in this paragraph and the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the bag limit by the amount necessary to ensure recreational landings may achieve the recreational ACT, but do not exceed the recreational ACL, in the following fishing year. The recreational ACT for the Atlantic migratory group is 2.364 million lb (1.072 million kg). The recreational ACL for the Atlantic migratory group is 2.727 million lb (1.236 million kg).

(ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, if the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, and Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the recreational ACT for that following year by the amount of any recreational sector overage in the prior fishing year.

(iii) For purposes of tracking the ACL and ACT, recreational landings will be evaluated based on the commercial fishing year, March through February. Recreational landings will be evaluated relative to the ACL based on a moving multi-year average of landings, as described in the FMP.

(3) The stock ACL for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel is 6.063 million lb (2.76 million kg).

(e) Gulf migratory group cobia —

(1) Gulf zone.

(i) If the sum of all cobia landings, as estimated by the SRD, reaches or is projected to reach the stock quota (stock ACT), specified in § 622.384(d)(1), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to prohibit the harvest of Gulf migratory group cobia in the Gulf zone for the remainder of the fishing year. On and after the effective date of such a notification, all sale and purchase of Gulf migratory group cobia in the Gulf zone is prohibited and the possession limit of this species in or from the Gulf EEZ is zero.

(ii) The stock ACLs for Gulf migratory group cobia in the Gulf zone are 1,638,000 lb (742,984 kg) for 2022, and 1,738,800 lb (788,706 kg) for 2023 and subsequent fishing years.

(2) Florida east coast zone —

(i) The following ACLs and AMs apply to cobia that are sold.

(A) If the sum of cobia landings that are sold, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the quota specified in § 622.384(d)(1)(ii) (ACL), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to prohibit the sale and purchase of cobia in or from the Florida east coast zone for the remainder of the fishing year.

(B) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (e)(2)(i)(A) of this section, if the sum of cobia landings that are sold and not sold in or from the Florida east coast zone, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL for the Florida east coast zone, as specified in paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section, and Gulf migratory group cobia are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the quota (ACL) for the Florida east coast zone cobia that are sold for that following year by the amount of any overage in the prior fishing year.

(ii) The following ACLs and AMs apply to cobia that are not sold.

(A) If the sum of cobia landings that are sold and not sold, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the length of the following fishing season by the amount necessary to ensure landings may achieve the applicable ACT, but do not exceed the applicable ACL in the following fishing year. Further, during that following year, if necessary, the AA may file additional notification with the Office of the Federal Register to readjust the reduced fishing season to ensure harvest achieves the ACT but does not exceed the ACL. The applicable ACTs for the Florida east coast zone of cobia are 796,536 lb (361,303 kg) for 2022, and 845,554 lb (383,537 kg) for 2023 and subsequent fishing years. The applicable ACLs for the Florida east coast zone of cobia are 885,040 lb (401,447 kg) for 2022, and 939,504 lb (426,152 kg) for 2023 and subsequent fishing years.

(B) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) of this section, if the sum of the cobia landings that are sold and not sold in or from the Florida east coast zone, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section, and Gulf migratory group cobia are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the applicable ACL and applicable ACT for the Florida east coast zone for that following year by the amount of any ACL overage in the prior fishing year.

(C) Landings will be evaluated relative to the ACL based on a moving multi-year average of landings, as described in the FMP.

(iii) Stock ACLs. The stock ACLs for Florida east coast zone cobia are 962,000 lb (436,356 kg) for 2022, and 1,021,200 lb (463,209 kg) for 2023 and subsequent fishing years.

[78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 79 FR 69060, Nov. 20, 2014; 80 FR 4222, Jan. 27, 2015; 80 FR 10007, Feb. 25, 2015; 80 FR 78675, Dec. 17, 2015; 82 FR 17399, Apr. 11, 2017; 82 FR 36347, Aug. 4, 2017; 84 FR 4737, Feb. 19, 2019; 87 FR 63966, Oct. 21, 2022; 87 FR 74990, Dec. 7, 2023; 88 FR 29848, May 9, 2023]