[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