[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2504]



[[Page 13304]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02; I.D. 030906E]


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: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king 
mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the southern Florida 
west coast subzone. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king 
mackerel resource.

DATES: The closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 12, 2006, 
until the start of the 2006-2007 fishing year at 12:01 a.m., July 1, 
2006.

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 and west coast subzones. 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) along the west coast of Florida to 87[deg]31.1' W. long. 
(a line directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary). The Florida 
west coast subzone is further divided into a northern and southern 
subzone. 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. The quota implemented for the southern Florida west coast 
subzone is 1,040,625 lb (472,020 kg). That quota is further divided 
into two equal quotas of 520,312 lb (236,010 kg) for vessels in each of 
two groups fishing with run-around gillnets and hook-and-line gear (50 
CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(i)).
    Under 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3), NMFS is required to close any segment of 
the king mackerel commercial fishery when its quota has been reached, 
or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification at the Office 
of the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota 
of 520,312 lb (236,010 kg) for Gulf group king mackerel for vessels 
using hook-and-line gear in the southern Florida west coast subzone has 
been met. Accordingly, the commercial fishery for king mackerel for 
such vessels in the southern Florida west coast subzone is closed at 
12:01 a.m., local time, March 12, 2006, through 12:01 a.m., July 1, 
2006, the beginning of the next fishing season.

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 at 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 would be unnecessary because the rule itself already has 
been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify 
the public of the closure. Allowing prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment is contrary to the public interest because of the need 
to immediately implement this action in order to protect the fishery 
since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the 
quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment will require 
time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the 
established quota.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to 
waive the 30 day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3).
    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: March 9, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2504 Filed 3-10-06; 3:02 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S