[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 689-690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33403]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 950725189-6245-04; I.D. 123096B]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
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 in the hook-and-line 
fishery for king mackerel in the Florida west coast sub-zone to 50 king 
mackerel 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 50-fish commercial trip limit is effective 12:01 
a.m., local time, January 1, 1997, and remains in effect through June 
30, 1997.

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 Gulf of Mexico only, bluefish) is

[[Page 690]]

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 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 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 west coast 
sub-zone of 865,000 lb (392,357 kg). That quota was further divided 
into two equal quotas of 432,500 lb (196,179 kg) for vessels in each of 
two groups by gear types--vessels using run-around gillnets and vessels 
using hook-and-line gear.
    In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B), from the date that 
75 percent of the subzone's hook-and-line gear quota has been harvested 
until the west coast subzone's hook-and-line fishery is closed, or the 
fishing year ends, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may be possessed on 
board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts not exceeding 50 per 
day.
    NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the hook-and-line quota for 
Gulf group king mackerel from the Florida west coast subzone was 
reached on December 30, 1996. Accordingly, a 50-fish trip limit applies 
to vessels in the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in 
or from the EEZ in the Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., 
local time, January 1, 1997.
    The Florida west coast subzone extends from 87 deg.31'06'' W. long. 
(due south of the Alabama/Florida boundary) to: (1) 25 deg.20.4' N. 
lat. (due east of the Dade/Monroe County, FL, boundary) through March 
31, 1997; and (2) 25 deg.48' N. lat. (due west of the Monroe/Collier 
County, FL, boundary) from April 1, 1997, through October 31, 1997.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(iii) and is exempt 
from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 30, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33403 Filed 12-31-96; 2:35 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F