[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 19 (Friday, January 30, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5623-5624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2017]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02]
RIN 0648-XM85


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 run-around gillnet 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 6 a.m., local time, January 30, 2009, 
through 6 a.m., January 19, 2010.

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. On April 27, 2000, NMFS implemented the 
final rule (65 FR 16336, March 28, 2000) that divided the Florida west 
coast subzone of the eastern zone into northern and southern subzones, 
and established their separate quotas. 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)).
    The southern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast 
subzone, which from November 1 through March 31, extends south and west 
from 26[deg]19.8' N. lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/Collier 
County, FL, boundary) to 25[deg]20.4' N. lat. (a line directly east 
from the Monroe/Miami-Dade 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

[[Page 5624]]

which is between 26[deg]19.8' N. lat. (a line directly west from the 
Lee/Collier County, FL, boundary) and 25[deg]48' N. lat. (a line 
directly west from the Collier/Monroe County, FL, boundary), i.e., the 
area off Collier County (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(3)).
    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 run-around gillnet gear in the southern Florida west coast 
subzone was reached on January 29, 2009. Accordingly, the commercial 
fishery for king mackerel for such vessels in the southern Florida west 
coast subzone is closed at 6 a.m., local time, January 30, 2009, 
through 6 a.m., January 19, 2010, the beginning of the next fishing 
season, i.e., the day after the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Federal 
holiday.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fisheries. 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 a quota overrun of the 
commercial run-around gillnet fishery for king mackerel in the southern 
Florida west 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: January 27, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2017 Filed 1-27-09; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S