[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7716-7717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3210]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 642
[Docket No. 940710-4292; I.D. 020395A]
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and
South Atlantic; Closure of a Commercial Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure of a commercial fishery for king mackerel.
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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
sub-zone. This closure is necessary to protect the overfished Gulf king
mackerel resource.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 3, 1995, through June 30, 1995.
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 by regulations at 50 CFR part 642 under
the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Catch limits recommended by the Councils and implemented by NMFS
for the Gulf of Mexico migratory group of king mackerel set the
commercial quota of king mackerel in the Florida west coast sub-zone at
865,000 lb (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 fishing with run-around gillnets and those using
hook and line gear.
Under 50 CFR 642.26(a), NMFS is required to close any segment of
the king mackerel commercial fishery when its allocation or quota is
reached, or is projected to be reached, by publishing a notification in
the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota of
432,500 lb (196,179 kg) for Gulf group king mackerel for vessels using
run-around gillnets in the Florida west coast sub-zone was reached on
February 3, 1995. Hence, the commercial fishery for king mackerel for
such vessels in the Florida west coast sub-zone is closed effective
6:00 p.m., local time, February 3, 1995, through June 30, 1995, the end
of the fishing year.
The Florida west coast sub-zone extends from the Alabama/Florida
boundary (87 deg.31'06'' W. long.) to: (1) The Dade/Monroe County,
Florida boundary (25 deg.20.4' N. lat.) from November 1 through March
31; and (2) the Monroe/Collier County, Florida boundary (25 deg.48' N.
lat.) from April 1 through October 31.
NMFS previously determined that the commercial quota of king
mackerel from the western zone of the Gulf of Mexico was reached and
closed that segment of the fishery on September 24, 1994
(59 FR 49356, September 28, 1994). Consequently, with this closure
the only commercial king mackerel fishery remaining open in the Gulf of
Mexico EEZ is the fishery in the Florida west coast sub-zone by vessels
using hook-and-line gear.
During the closure, no person aboard a vessel that has been issued
a gillnet endorsement may fish for or retain king mackerel in the EEZ
in the Florida west coast sub-zone.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 642.26(a) and is exempt from OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 7717]] Dated: February 3, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3210 Filed 2-6-95; 10:13 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
