[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 43 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4789]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02]
RIN 0648-XN55


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, March 6, 2009, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824-
5305, 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 commercial 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 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 for Gulf group king mackerel 
in the Florida east coast subzone will be reached on March 6, 2009. 
Accordingly, the commercial fishery for king mackerel in the Florida 
east coast subzone is closed at 12:01 a.m., local time, March 6, 2009, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2009.
    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, (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 has already 
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 
because 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 the 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 2, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4789 Filed 3-3-09; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S