[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11345-11346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6596]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 642
[Docket No. 950725189-5260-02; I.D. 031496B]
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 of king mackerel in the
Florida east coast sub-zone to 25 per day in or from the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect
the overfished Gulf king mackerel resource.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The 25-fish commercial trip limit is effective March
15, 1996, and remains in effect through March 31, 1996.
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
[[Page 11346]]
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.
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 east coast
sub-zone at 865,000 lb (392,357 kg). In accordance with 50 CFR
642.28(a), from the date that 75 percent of the sub-zone's commercial
quota has been harvested, provided that the date occurs before March 1,
until a closure of the Florida east coast sub-zone has been effected,
king mackerel in or from the EEZ may be possessed on board or landed
from a permitted vessel in amounts not exceeding 25 per day. The 25-
fish trip limit remains in effect through March 31, 1996, when the
boundary of the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel shifts from the
east coast to the west coast of Florida, unless 100 percent of the
commercial quota is reached before March 31, in which case the
commercial fishery for king mackerel in the Florida east coast sub-zone
is closed by publication of a notification in the Federal Register.
NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the commercial quota for
Gulf group king mackerel from the Florida east coast sub-zone was
reached by March 1, 1996. Accordingly, a 25-fish trip limit applies to
king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the Florida east coast sub-zone
effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 15, 1996.
The Florida east coast sub-zone extends from the Dade/Monroe
County, FL boundary (25 deg.20.4' N. lat.) to the Volusia/Flagler
County, FL boundary (29 deg.25' N. lat.) from November 1 through March
31.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 642.28(c) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 14, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-6596 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
