[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6109-6110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3066]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 961204340-7087-02; I.D. 020298B]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic; Closure

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the commercial run-around gillnet fishery for king 
mackerel in the exclusive economic

[[Page 6110]]

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

DATES: The closure is effective 12:00 noon, local time, February 3, 
1998, through June 30, 1998.

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 of Mexico migratory group of king mackerel in the Florida west 
coast subzone 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 
fishing with run-around gillnets and those using hook-and-line gear (50 
CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)).
    In accordance with 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3), 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 
notification in the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the 
commercial quota of 432,500 lb (196,179 kg) for Gulf group king 
mackerel for vessels using run-around gillnets in the Florida west 
coast subzone was reached on February 3, 1998. Accordingly, the 
commercial fishery for king mackerel for such vessels in the Florida 
west coast subzone is closed effective 12:00 noon, local time, February 
3, 1998, through June 30, 1998, the end of the fishing year.
    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.
    NMFS previously determined that the commercial quota for king 
mackerel from the western zone of the Gulf of Mexico was reached and 
closed that segment of the fishery on August 2, 1997 (62 FR 42417, 
August 7, 1997). Subsequently, NMFS determined that the commercial 
quota of king mackerel for vessels using hook-and-line gear in the 
Florida west coast subzone of the eastern zone of the Gulf of Mexico 
was reached and closed that segment of the fishery on January 7, 1998 
(63 FR 1772, January 12, 1998). Thus, with this closure, all commercial 
fisheries for king mackerel in the EEZ are closed from the U.S./Mexico 
border through the Florida west coast subzone through June 30, 1998.
    Except for a person aboard a charter vessel or headboat, during the 
closure, no person aboard a vessel permitted to fish under a commercial 
quota may fish for Gulf group king mackerel in the EEZ in the closed 
zones or retain Gulf group king mackerel in or from the EEZ of the 
closed zones. A person aboard a vessel for which the permit indicates 
both commercial king mackerel and charter/headboat for coastal 
migratory pelagic fish may continue to retain king mackerel under the 
bag and possession limit set forth in 50 CFR 622.39(c)(1)(ii), provided 
the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.
    During the closure, king mackerel from the closed zones taken in 
the EEZ, including those harvested under the bag limit, may not be 
purchased or sold. This prohibition does not apply to trade in king 
mackerel from the closed zones that were harvested, landed ashore, and 
sold prior to the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or 
processor.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: February 2, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3066 Filed 2-3-98; 2:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F