[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 15, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68951-68952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 991008273-0070-02; I.D. 110900A]


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 fishery for king 
mackerel in the northern 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 
king mackerel resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, November 12, 
2000, through June 30, 2001, 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

[[Page 68952]]

(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 of 2.34 million lb (1.06 million kg) for 
the eastern zone (Florida) of the Gulf migratory group of king 
mackerel. On April 27, 2000, NMFS' implemented final rule (65 FR 16336, 
March 28, 2000) divided the Florida west coast subzone of the eastern 
zone into northern and southern subzones and established a separate 
quota for the northern Florida west coast subzone of 175,500 lb (79,606 
kg)(50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(ii)).
    In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B), from the date that 
75 percent of the northern Florida west coast subzone's quota has been 
harvested until a closure of the subzone's fishery has been effected or 
until 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 quota for Gulf group 
king mackerel from the northern Florida west coast subzone has been 
reached. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227 kg) trip limit applies to vessels 
in the commercial fishery for king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the 
northern Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local time, 
November 12, 2000, through June 30, 2001.
    The Florida west coast subzone is that part of the eastern zone 
south and west of 25 deg.20.4' N. lat. (a line directly east from the 
Miami-Dade County, FL, Boundary). The Florida west coast subzone is 
further divided into northern and southern subzones. The northern 
subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone that is between 
26 deg.19.8' N. lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/Collier County, 
FL boundary) and 87 deg.31'06' W. long. (a line directly south from the 
Alabama/Florida boundary).

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 
contradictory 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 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: November 9, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-29271 Filed 11-9-00; 4:18 pm]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22 -S