[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 4172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1807]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 970930235-7235-01; I.D. 012100A]


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 subzone 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 group king mackerel resource.

DATES:  This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, January 24, 
2000, through June 30, 2000, unless changed by further notification in 
the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mark Godcharles, telephone: 727-570-
5305, fax: 727-570-5583, e-mail: [email protected].

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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 
by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    Based on the Councils' recommended total allowable catch and the 
allocation ratios in the FMP, on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8353), NMFS 
implemented a commercial quota for the Gulf migratory group of king 
mackerel in the Florida west coast subzone of 1.17 million lb (0.53 
million kg). That quota was further divided into two equal quotas of 
585,000 lb (265,352 kg) for vessels in each of two groups by gear 
types--vessels using run-around gillnets and vessels using hook-and-
line gear (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)).
    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 was 
reached on January 23, 2000. 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, January 24, 2000.
    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 Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL, boundary) through 
March 31, 2000; and (2) 25 deg.48' N. lat. (due west of the Monroe/
Collier County, FL, boundary) from April 1, 2000 through October 31, 
2000.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The reduced trip limit must be implemented 
immediately because 75 percent of the quota has been harvested. Any 
delay in implementing this action would be impractical and contrary to 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FMP, and the public interest. NMFS finds 
for good cause that the implementation of this action cannot be delayed 
for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the 
effective date is hereby waived.
    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: January 21, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-1807 Filed 1-21-00; 3:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F