[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15784-15785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8561]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 970930235-8028-02; I.D. 032598E]
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 fishery for Atlantic migratory
group king mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
Atlantic. This closure is necessary to protect the Atlantic group king
mackerel resource.
DATES: The closure is effective 12:01 a.m., March 29, 1998, through
March 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark 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 Atlantic migratory group of king mackerel of 2.52 million lb (1.14
million kg).
In accordance with 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3), 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
[[Page 15785]]
the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota of
2.52 million lb (1.14 million kg) for the Atlantic migratory group of
king mackerel was reached on March 28, 1998. Accordingly, the
commercial fishery for Atlantic group king mackerel is closed effective
12:01 a.m., local time, March 29, 1998, through March 31, 1998, the end
of the fishing year.
From November 1 through March 31, the boundary separating the
Atlantic and Gulf migratory groups of king mackerel is 29 deg.25'' N.
lat., which is a line directly east from the Volusia/Flagler County,
FL, boundary to the outer limit of the EEZ. The boundary off the
northern Atlantic coastal states is between the New England Fishery
Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council as
specified in Sec. 600.105(a).
Except for a person aboard a charter vessel or headboat, during the
closure, no person aboard a vessel permitted to fish under a commercial
quota may fish for Atlantic group king mackerel in the EEZ of the
closed migratory group or retain Atlantic group king mackerel in or
from the EEZ of the closed migratory group. A person aboard a vessel
for which the permit indicates both commercial king mackerel and
charter/headboat for coastal migratory pelagic fish may continue to
retain king mackerel under the bag and possession limit set forth in 50
CFR 622.39(c)(1)(i), provided the vessel is operating as a charter
vessel or headboat.
During the closure, king mackerel from the closed migratory group
taken in the EEZ, including those harvested under the bag limit, may
not be purchased or sold. This prohibition does not apply to trade in
king mackerel from the closed migratory group that were harvested,
landed ashore, and sold prior to the closure and were held in cold
storage by a dealer or processor.
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: March 26, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8561 Filed 3-27-98; 3:25 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
