[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5013-5014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-886]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02; I.D. 012406A]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic; Trip Limit Increase

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason trip limit increase.

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SUMMARY: NMFS increases the trip limit in the commercial hook-and-line 
fishery for king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone to 75 fish 
per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit 
increase is necessary to maximize the socioeconomic benefits of the 
quota.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, February 1, 2006, 
through March 31, 2006, unless changed by further notification in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Branstetter, telephone: 727-824-
5305, fax: 727-824-5308, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic 
fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cero, cobia, little tunny, and, 
in the Gulf of Mexico only, dolphin and 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 April 30, 2001 (66 FR 17368, March 30, 
2001) NMFS implemented a commercial quota of 2.25 million lb (1.02 
million kg) for the eastern zone (Florida) of the Gulf migratory group 
of king mackerel. That quota is further divided into separate quotas 
for the Florida east coast subzone and the northern and southern 
Florida west coast subzones. The quota implemented for the Florida east 
coast subzone is 1,040,625 lb (472,020 kg) (50 CFR 
622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(1)).
    In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(i), beginning on February 1, 
if less than 75 percent of the Florida east coast subzone quota has 
been harvested by that date, king mackerel in or from that subzone may 
be possessed on board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts not 
exceeding 75 fish per day. The 75-fish daily trip limit will continue 
until a closure of the subzone's fishery has been effected or the 
fishing year ends on March 31, 2006.
    NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the quota for Gulf group 
king mackerel for vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Florida east 
coast subzone will not be reached before February 1, 2006. Accordingly, 
a 75-fish trip limit applies to vessels in the commercial hook-and-line 
fishery for king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the Florida east coast 
subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local time, February 1, 2006. The 75-fish 
trip limit will remain in effect until the fishery closes or until the 
end of the current fishing season (March

[[Page 5014]]

31, 2006) for this subzone. From November 1 through March 31, the 
Florida east coast subzone of the Gulf group king mackerel is that part 
of the eastern zone north of 25[deg]20.4' N. lat. (a line directly east 
from the Miami-Dade County, FL, boundary).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, (AA) finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such 
procedures are unnecessary because the rule itself already has been 
subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the 
public of the trip limit increase. Allowing prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment for this trip limit increase is contrary 
to the public interest because it requires time, thus delaying 
fishermen's ability to catch more king mackerel than the present trip 
limit allows and preventing fishermen from reaping the socioeconomic 
benefits derived from this increase in daily catch.
    As this action allows fishermen to increase their harvest of king 
mackerel from 50 fish to 75 fish per day in or from the EEZ of the 
Florida east coast subzone, the AA finds it relieves a restriction and 
may go into effect on its effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(1). This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt 
from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 25, 2006.
Margo Schulze-Haugen
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-886 Filed 1-26-06; 1:25 pm]
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