[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11237-11238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4431]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 991008273-0070-02; I.D. 021601C]


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 trip limit in the commercial hook-and-line 
fishery for king mackerel in the southern 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, February 20, 
2001, 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 (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 divided the Florida west coast 
subzone of the eastern zone into northern and southern subzones and 
established a separate quota for the southern Florida west coast 
subzone of 1,082,250 lb (490,900 kg) (65 FR 16336, March 28, 2000). 
That quota was further divided into two equal quotas of 541,125 lb 
(245,450 kg) for vessels in each of two groups fishing with hook-and-
line gear and run-around gillnets (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(i)).
    In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2), from the date 
that 75 percent of the southern Florida west coast subzone's quota has 
been harvested until a closure of the subzone's 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 quota for Gulf group 
king mackerel for vessels using hook-and-line gear in the southern 
Florida west coast subzone will be reached by

[[Page 11238]]

February 19, 2001. 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 southern Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 
a.m., local time, February 20, 2001.
    The Florida west coast subzone is that part of the eastern zone 
south and west of 25 deg.20.4' N . lat., which is 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 
southern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone which 
from November 1 through March 31 extends south and west from 
25 deg.20.4' N. lat. to 26 deg.19.8' N. lat.(a line directly west from 
the Lee/Collier County, FL, boundary), i.e., the area off Collier and 
Monroe Counties. From April 1 through October 31, the southern subzone 
is that part of the Florida west coast subzone which is between 
26 deg.19.8' N. lat. and 25 deg.48' N. lat.(a line directly west from 
the Monroe/Collier County, FL, boundary), i.e., the area off Collier 
County.

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 Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: February 16, 2001.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4431 Filed 2-16-01; 3:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S