[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31582]
[[Page 63677]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 961204340-7087-02; I.D. 112597A]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Trip limit reduction.
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SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit in the hook-and-line
fishery for king mackerel in the Florida west coast sub-zone to 500 lb
(227 kg) of king mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic
zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the
overfished Gulf king mackerel resource.
DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m., local time, November 28, 1997, through
June 30, 1998, unless changed by further notification in the Federal
Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark F. Godcharles, 813-570-5305.
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, NMFS implemented a commercial quota for
the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel in the Florida west coast
sub-zone of 865,000 pounds (392,357 kg). That quota was further divided
into two equal quotas of 432,500 lb (196,179 kg) for vessels in each of
two groups by gear types--vessels using run-around gillnets and vessels
using hook-and-line gear.
In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B), from the date that
75 percent of the subzone's hook-and-line gear quota has been harvested
until a closure of the west coast subzone's hook-and-line fishery has
been effected or the fishing year ends, king mackerel in or from the
EEZ may be possessed on board or landed from a permitted vessel in
amounts not exceeding 500 lb (227 kg) per day.
NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the hook-and-line quota for
Gulf group king mackerel from the Florida west coast subzone has been
reached. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit applies to vessels
in the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in or from
the EEZ in the Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local
time, November 28, 1997.
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, 1998; and (2) 25 deg.48' N. lat. (due west of the Monroe/Collier
County, FL, boundary) from April 1, 1998, through October 31, 1998.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(iii) and is exempt
from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 26, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-31582 Filed 11-26-97; 3:13 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
