[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10158-10159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-835]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02]
RIN 0648-XF68


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 fishery for king mackerel in the 
Florida east coast subzone. This closure is necessary to protect the 
Gulf king mackerel resource.

DATES: The closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, February 21, 
2008, through 12:01 a.m., local time, March 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, 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)).
    Under 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3), NMFS is required to close any segment of 
the

[[Page 10159]]

king mackerel commercial fishery when its quota has been reached, by 
filing a notification at the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has 
determined that the commercial quota of 1,040,625 lb (472,000 kg) for 
Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone will be 
reached on February 20, 2008. Accordingly, the commercial fishery for 
king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone is closed at 12:01 
a.m., local time, February 21, 2008, through 12:01 a.m., local time, 
March 31, 2008.
    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/Monroe 
County, FL, boundary) to 29[deg]25' N. lat. (a line directly east from 
the Flagler/Volusia County, FL, boundary). Beginning April 1, the 
boundary between Atlantic and Gulf groups of king mackerel shifts south 
and west to the Monroe/Collier County boundary on the west coast of 
Florida. From April 1 through October 31, king mackerel harvested along 
the east coast of Florida, including all of Monroe County, are 
considered to be Atlantic group king mackerel.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, finds that the need to immediately implement this action to close 
the fishery constitutes good cause to waive the requirements 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 procedures would be 
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.
    NMFS also finds good cause that the implementation of this action 
cannot be delayed for 30 days. There is a need to implement this 
measure in a timely fashion to prevent an overrun of the commercial 
fishery for king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone, given the 
capacity of the fishing fleet to harvest the quota quickly. Any delay 
in implementing this action would be contrary to the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act and the FMP. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the 
effective date is waived.
    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: February 20, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08-835 Filed 2-20-08; 3:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P