[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2079]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 642

[Docket No. 930791-3191; I.D. 123093D]

 

Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and 
South Atlantic

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 fishery in the exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ) for king mackerel in the Florida west coast zone. This 
closure is necessary to protect the overfished Gulf king mackerel 
resource.

EFFECTIVE DATES: January 27, 1994, through June 30, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark F. Godcharles, 813-893-3161.

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 for the current 
fishing year (July 1, 1993, through June 30, 1994, 58 FR 58509, 
November 2, 1993) set the commercial quota of king mackerel in the 
Florida west coast zone at 865,000 pounds (392,361 kg). 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 notice in the Federal 
Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota for Gulf group 
king mackerel from the Florida west coast zone was reached on January 
26, 1994. Hence, the commercial fishery for king mackerel in the 
Florida west coast zone is closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, 
January 27, 1994, through June 30, 1994, the end of the fishing year.
    The Florida west coast zone extends from the Alabama/Florida 
boundary (87 deg.31'06''W. longitude) to: (1) The Dade/Monroe County, 
Florida boundary 25 deg.20.4'N. latitude) from November 1 through March 
31; and (2) the Monroe/Collier County, Florida boundary (25 deg.48'N. 
latitude) 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 October 1, 1993 (58 FR 51579, 
October 4, 1993). Thus, with this closure of the Florida west coast 
zone, the commercial fisheries in the EEZ for Gulf group king mackerel 
are closed from the U.S./Mexico border through the Florida west coast 
zone through June 30, 1994.
    Except for a person aboard a charter vessel, during the closure, no 
person aboard a vessel permitted to fish under a commercial allocation 
may fish for, retain, or have in possession in the EEZ Gulf group king 
mackerel from the closed zones. A person aboard a charter vessel may 
continue to fish for king mackerel in the closed zones under the bag 
limit set forth in Sec. 642.24(a)(1)(i), provided the vessel is under 
charter and the vessel has an annual charter vessel permit, as 
specified in Sec. 642.4(a)(2). A charter vessel with a permit to fish 
on a commercial allocation is under charter when it carries a passenger 
who fishes for a fee or when there are more than three persons aboard, 
including operator and crew.
    During the closure, king mackerel from the closed zones taken in 
the EEZ, including those harvested under the bag limit, may not be 
purchased, bartered, traded, or sold. This prohibition does not apply 
to trade in king mackerel from the closed zones that were harvested, 
landed, and bartered, traded, or sold prior to the closure and held in 
cold storage by a dealer or processor.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 642.26(a).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 642

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: January 26, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-2079 Filed 1-26-94; 2:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M