[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3650-3651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1588]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 961204340-7087-02; I.D. 011999D]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic; Closure
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the commercial run-around gillnet fishery for king
mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Florida west coast
subzone. This closure is necessary to protect the overfished Gulf king
mackerel resource.
DATES: Effective 12:00 noon, local time, January 20, 1999, through June
30, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Godcharles, 727-570-5305.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic
fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cero, cobia, little tunny,
dolphin, and, in the Gulf of Mexico only, bluefish) is managed under
the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). The FMP was prepared by
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
(Councils) and is implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by regulations at 50
CFR part 622.
Based on the Councils' recommended total allowable catch and the
allocation ratios in the FMP, on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8353), NMFS
implemented a commercial quota for the Gulf of Mexico migratory group
of king mackerel in the Florida west coast subzone of 1.17 million lb
(0.53 million kg). That quota was further divided into two equal quotas
of 585,000 lb (265,352 kg) for vessels in each of two groups by gear
types--vessels fishing with run-around gillnets and those using hook-
and-line gear (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)).
Under 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3), NMFS is required to close any segment of
the king mackerel commercial fishery when its quota has been reached or
is projected to be reached by filing a notification at the Office of
the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the
[[Page 3651]]
commercial quota of 585,000 lb (265,352 kg) for Gulf group king
mackerel for vessels using run-around gillnets in the Florida west
coast subzone was reached on January 19, 1999. Accordingly, the
commercial fishery for king mackerel for such vessels in the Florida
west coast subzone is closed effective 12:00 noon, local time, January
20, 1999, through June 30, 1999, the end of the fishing year.
The Florida west coast subzone extends from 87 deg.31'06'' W. long.
(due south of the Alabama/Florida boundary) to: (1) 25 deg.20.4' N.
lat. (due east of the Dade/Monroe County, FL, boundary) through March
31, 1999; and (2) 25 deg.48' N. lat. (due west of the Monroe/Collier
County, FL, boundary) from April 1, 1999, through October 31, 1999.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 20, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1588 Filed 1-20-99; 1:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F