[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31582]



[[Page 63677]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 961204340-7087-02; I.D. 112597A]


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 500 lb 
(227 kg) of 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.

DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m., local time, November 28, 1997, through 
June 30, 1998, unless changed by further notification in the Federal 
Register.

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 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 migratory group of king mackerel in the Florida west coast 
sub-zone of 865,000 pounds (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 a closure of the west coast subzone's hook-and-line fishery has 
been effected 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 500 lb (227 kg) 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 has been 
reached. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-kg) 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, November 28, 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, 1998; and (2) 25 deg.48' N. lat. (due west of the Monroe/Collier 
County, FL, boundary) from April 1, 1998, through October 31, 1998.

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: November 26, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-31582 Filed 11-26-97; 3:13 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F