[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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