[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 164 (Tuesday, August 25, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 45186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22769]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 970930235-8028-02; I.D. 081898B]
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 king mackerel in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the western zone of the Gulf of
Mexico. This closure is necessary to protect the overfished Gulf king
mackerel resource.
DATES: The closure is effective 12:01 a.m., August 25, 1998, 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, NMFS implemented a commercial quota for
the Gulf of Mexico migratory group of king mackerel in the western zone
of 1.05 million lb (0.48 million kg) (63 FR 8353, February 19, 1998).
Under 50 CFR 622.43(a), 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 commercial quota
of 1.05 million lb (0.48 million kg) for the western zone of the Gulf
migratory group of king mackerel will be reached on August 24, 1998.
Accordingly, the commercial fishery for Gulf group king mackerel from
the western zone is closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, August 25,
1998, through June 30, 1999, the end of the fishing year. The boundary
between the eastern and western zones is 87 deg.31'06'' W. long., which
is a line directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary.
Except for a person aboard a charter vessel or headboat, during the
closure, no person aboard a vessel for which a commercial permit for
king and Spanish mackerel has been issued may fish for king mackerel in
the EEZ in the western zone or retain king mackerel in or from the
western zone EEZ. A person aboard a vessel that has a valid charter
vessel/headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish may continue
to retain king mackerel in or from the western zone EEZ under the bag
and possession limits set forth in 50 CFR 622.39(c)(1)(ii) and (c)(2),
provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat. A
charter vessel or headboat that also has a commercial permit is
considered to be operating as a charter vessel or headboat when it
carries a passenger who pays a fee or when there are more than three
persons aboard, including operator and crew.
During the closure, king mackerel from the western zone taken in
the EEZ, including those harvested under the bag and possession limits,
may not be purchased or sold. This prohibition does not apply to trade
in king mackerel from the western zone 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) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 19, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22769 Filed 8-20-98; 4:05 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
