[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 194 (Friday, October 7, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60975-60978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21807]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 221003-0209]
RIN 0648-BL62


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagics Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic 
Region; Framework Amendment 11

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to implement management measures 
described in Framework Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources of the Gulf of 
Mexico and Atlantic Region (CMP FMP), as prepared and submitted by the 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council). This proposed 
rule and Framework Amendment 11 would revise the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) 
migratory group of king mackerel (Gulf king mackerel) catch limits. The 
purpose of this proposed rule and Framework Amendment 11 is to update 
catch limits to be consistent with the best scientific information 
available.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2022-0078,'' by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2022-0078'', in the Search 
box. Click the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and 
enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Kelli O'Donnell, 
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, 
FL 33701.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of Framework Amendment 11, which includes a 
regulatory impact review, may be obtained from the Southeast Regional 
Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/framework-11-management-gulf-king-mackerel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O'Donnell, telephone: 727-824-
5305, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Gulf king mackerel is managed under the CMP 
FMP prepared by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils 
(Councils) and implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under 
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
    All weights in this proposed rule are in round and eviscerated 
weight combined, unless otherwise specified.

Background

    Under the CMP FMP, the Gulf Council manages fishing for Gulf king 
mackerel in Federal waters from Texas to the Florida Monroe/Miami-Dade 
County boundary. The Gulf king mackerel stock annual catch limit (ACL) 
is allocated between the commercial and recreational sectors.
    The current overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch 
(ABC) are 8,950,000 lb (4,059,652 kg) and 8,550,000 lb (3,878,215 kg), 
respectively. The current stock ACL is equal to the ABC. The OFL, ABC, 
and stock ACL were established in 2017 in Amendment 26 to the CMP FMP 
(82 FR 17387; April 11, 2017). These catch limits are based on 
projections from the Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 38 
stock assessment and recommendations by the Council's Scientific and 
Statistical Committees (SSCs). The recreational landings estimates used 
in SEDAR 38 included data from the Marine Recreational Information 
Program's (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS). MRIP now 
generates recreational landings estimates using the Fishing Effort 
Survey (FES) and the historical time series of king mackerel 
recreational landings has been calibrated to be consistent with the 
MRIP-FES estimates. The estimates generated using MRIP-FES are 
generally higher than those produced using CHTS because the new survey 
is designed to more accurately measure fishing activity.
    In 2020, NMFS completed an update to SEDAR 38 that included 
calibrated MRIP-FES recreational landings. The Update indicated that 
Gulf group king mackerel was not overfished or undergoing overfishing, 
but recruitment had been low in recent years. In September 2020, the 
Gulf Council's SSC reviewed the SEDAR 38 Update and recommended a new 
OFL and ABC for Gulf group king mackerel that would address reduced 
recruitment and allow harvest to increase over time. The SSC's 
recommendation for the revised OFL is 11,050,000 lb (5,012,196 kg) for 
2022, and 11,180,000 lb (5,071,163 kg) for 2023 and subsequent years. 
The SSC's recommendation for ABC is 9,720,000 lb (4,408,918 kg) for 
2022, and 9,990,000 lb (4,531,388 kg) for 2023 and subsequent years. 
These OFL and ABC recommendations represent a reduction in the 
allowable harvest when compared to the current OFL and ABC. Had MRIP-
FES data been available when SEDAR 38 was completed in 2014, the 
current OFL would have been 11,960,000 lb (5,424,965 kg) and the 
current ABC would have been 11,540,000 (5,234,456 kg). The Gulf Council 
and NMFS developed Framework Amendment 11 to update catch levels based 
on the results of the SEDAR 38 Update and Gulf SSC recommendations.
    The Gulf Council manages Gulf king mackerel with sector 
allocations. In Amendment 1 to the FMP (50 FR 34840; August 25, 1985), 
the Councils allocated the total Gulf king mackerel ACL to 32 percent 
to the commercial sector and 68 percent to the recreational sector 
based on the average of available commercial and recreational landings 
data from 1975-1979. In Amendment 26, the Councils allocated the Gulf 
king mackerel total commercial ACL between the commercial Gulf zones: 
western zone (40 percent), northern (18 percent), and southern zone (42 
percent). The southern zone was further divided by gear components with 
50 percent of the southern zone allocation going to the hook and line 
component and 50 percent going to the gillnet component.
    The fishing year for commercial harvest varies by zone: July 
through June for the Southern and Western zones, and October through 
September for the Northern zone. For the purpose

[[Page 60976]]

of comparing landings to the total ACL, recreational landings are 
monitored based on the commercial fishing year of July through June. 
Therefore, the sector ACLs and commercial quotas reflect that these 
fishing years occur in two calendar years, as noted below.

Management Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule

    For Gulf king mackerel, this proposed rule would revise sector ACLs 
and the commercial zone quotas.

ACLs and Quotas

    The current total ACL for Gulf king mackerel is equal to the ABC of 
8,550,000 lb (3,878,215 kg). This rulemaking would modify the total ACL 
for Gulf king mackerel to 9,720,000 lb (4,408,918 kg) for 2022 and 
9,990,000 lb (4,531,388 kg) for 2023 and subsequent years, which is 
also equal to the ABCs recommended by the Gulf Council's SSC. The 2022 
total ACL would be used to establish the sector and zone catch limits 
for the 2022-2023 fishing year and the 2023 total ACL would be used the 
sector and zone catch limits for 2023-2024 and subsequent fishing 
years. As noted previously, the proposed ACLs represent a decrease in 
the allowable harvest of Gulf king mackerel because had the current 
total ACL been derived from an assessment using MRIP-FES data, the 
current total ACL would have been 11,540,000 lb (5,234,456 kg).
    The current commercial ACL for the 2022-2023 fishing year is 
2,740,000 lb (1,242,843 kg). Applying the current commercial allocation 
of 32 results in the proposed commercial ACLs of 3,110,400 lb 
(1,410,854 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 3,196,800 lb 
(1,450,044 kg) for the 2023-2024 and subsequent years. The current 
recreational ACL for the 2022-2023 fishing year is 5,810,000 lb 
(2,635,372 kg). Applying the current recreational allocation of 68 
percent results in proposed recreational ACLs of 6,609,600 lb 
(2,998,064 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 6,793,200 lb 
(3,081,344 kg) for the 2023-2024 and subsequent years. Because the 
proposed recreational ACL will now be monitored using landings 
estimates generated by MRIP-FES this represents a decrease in the 
allowable recreational harvest. However, recreational landings, as 
estimated using MRIP-FES, have been well below the proposed ACLs since 
the 2016-2017 fishing year and NMFS does not expect the reduction in 
the recreational ACL to reduce recreational opportunities.
    The current zone quotas for the 2022-2023 fishing year are 
1,096,000 lb (497,137 kg) for the western zone, 493,200 lb (223,712 kg) 
for the northern zone, 575,400 lb (260,997 kg) for the southern zone 
hook-and-line component, and 575,400 lb (260,997 kg) for the southern 
zone gillnet component. The current total commercial hook-and-line ACL 
for the entire Gulf for the 2022-2023 fishing year is 2,164,600 lb 
(981,846 kg). Using the current commercial zone allocations, this 
proposed rule would revise the western zone quota to 1,244,160 lb 
(564,341 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 1,278,720 lb (580,017 
kg) for 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent fishing years. The 
northern zone quota would be 559,872 lb (253,954 kg) for the 2022-2023 
fishing year and 575,424 lb (261,008 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing year 
and subsequent fishing years. The southern zone hook and line component 
quota would be 653,184 lb (296,279 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, 
and 671,328 lb (304,509 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing year and 
subsequent years. The southern zone gillnet component quota would be 
653,184 lb (296,279 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 671,328 lb 
(304,509 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years. The total commercial hook and line ACL (entire Gulf) would be 
2,457,216 lb (1,114,574 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 
2,525,472 lb (1,145,535 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years. The southern zone gillnet component quota 
would be 653,184 lb (296,279 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 
671,328 lb (304,509 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent 
fishing years.

Management Measures in Framework Amendment 11 Not Codified Through This 
Proposed Rule

OFL and ABC
    As previously discussed, the current OFL and ABC for Gulf king 
mackerel of 8,950,000 lb (4,059,652 kg) and 8,550,000 lb (3,878,214 
kg), are based on the Councils' SSCs' recommendations from SEDAR 38, 
which used recreational landings estimates from MRIP-CHTS. Framework 
Amendment 11 would adopt new OFLs and ABCs based on the Gulf Council's 
SSC recommendations from the results of the SEDAR 38 Update, which used 
MRIP-FES recreational landings estimates. The new OFLs would be 
11,050,000 lb (5,012,196 kg) for 2022, and 11,180,000 lb (5,071,163 kg) 
for 2023 and subsequent years. The new ABCs would be 9,720,000 lb 
(4,408,918 kg) for 2022, and 9,990,000 lb (4,531,388 kg) for 2023 and 
subsequent years.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the framework action, the CMP FMP, other provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 
the Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce has 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The factual basis for this determination follows.
    A description of this proposed rule, why it is being considered, 
and the objectives of this proposed rule are contained in this 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides 
the statutory basis for this proposed rule.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, would apply to all commercial 
vessels, charter vessels and headboats (for-hire vessels), and 
recreational anglers that fish for or harvest Gulf king mackerel, which 
occurs throughout the Gulf and off of Monroe County, Florida in the 
South Atlantic. The RFA does not consider recreational anglers to be 
small entities, so they are outside the scope of this analysis (5 
U.S.C. 603). Small entities include small businesses, small 
organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions (5 U.S.C. 601(6) 
and 601(3)-(5)). Recreational anglers are not businesses, 
organizations, or governmental jurisdictions.
    For-hire vessels sell fishing services to recreational anglers. The 
proposed changes to the Gulf migratory group king mackerel catch limits 
would not directly alter the services sold by these for-hire vessels. 
Any change in anglers' demand for these fishing services (and 
associated economic effects) as a result of the proposed action would 
be secondary to any direct effect on anglers and, therefore, would be 
an indirect effect of this proposed rule. Indirect effects fall outside 
the scope of the RFA. However, for-hire captains and crew are allowed 
to sell Gulf king mackerel harvested under the recreational bag limit 
when the commercial season is open, if they have both a Gulf Charter/
Headboat for Coastal Migratory Pelagics permit (Gulf CMP for-hire 
permit) and a

[[Page 60977]]

valid commercial king mackerel permit. Therefore, for-hire businesses, 
or employees thereof, could be directly affected by this proposed rule.
    During 2020, there were a total of 1,426 valid or renewable 
commercial king mackerel permits and 17 valid or renewable king 
mackerel gillnet endorsements. Only vessels with both the commercial 
permit and gillnet endorsement are allowed to harvest king mackerel in 
the southern zone using gillnet gear. On average from 2016 through 
2020, there were 254 federally-permitted commercial vessels with 
reported landings of king mackerel in the Gulf. Their average annual 
vessel-level gross revenue from all species from 2016 through 2020, was 
approximately $93,426 (2021 dollars) and king mackerel harvested in the 
Gulf accounted for approximately 23 percent of this revenue. For 
commercial vessels that harvest Gulf king mackerel in the Gulf, it is 
estimated that economic profits are approximately 21.6 percent of 
annual gross revenue, on average. During the same period, there were 
128 federally-permitted commercial vessels with reported landings of 
Gulf king mackerel in the South Atlantic. Their average annual vessel-
level revenue from all species for 2016 through 2020 was approximately 
$40,035 (2021 dollars) and Gulf king mackerel harvested in the South 
Atlantic accounted for approximately 14 percent of this revenue. For 
commercial vessels that harvest Gulf king mackerel in the South 
Atlantic, it is estimated that economic profits are approximately 4.5 
percent of annual gross revenue, on average. The maximum annual revenue 
from all species reported by a single one of the vessels that harvested 
Gulf king mackerel from 2016 through 2020, was approximately $2.44 
million (2021 dollars).
    For anglers to fish for or possess CMP species in or from Gulf 
Federal waters on for-hire vessels, those vessels are required to have 
a limited access Gulf CMP for-hire permit. On February 1, 2022, there 
were 1,299 valid (non-expired) or renewable Gulf CMP for-hire permits 
and 4 valid or renewable Gulf CMP historical captain for-hire permits. 
For anglers to fish for or possess CMP species in or from the Mid-
Atlantic or South Atlantic Federal waters on for-hire vessels, those 
vessels are required to have an open access South Atlantic Charter/
Headboat for Coastal Migratory Pelagic permit (South Atlantic CMP for-
hire permit). On September 3, 2021, there were 1,825 valid South 
Atlantic CMP for-hire permits. Although the for-hire permit application 
collects information on the primary method of fishing operation, the 
permit itself does not identify the permitted vessel as either a 
headboat or a charter vessel and vessels may operate in both capacities 
under that permit. However, only federally permitted headboats are 
required to submit harvest and effort information to the NMFS Southeast 
Region Headboat Survey (SRHS). Participation in the SRHS is based on 
determination by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) that 
the vessel primarily operates as a headboat. As of February 22, 2022, 
69 Gulf headboats and 66 South Atlantic headboats were registered in 
the SRHS. As a result, of the 1,303 vessels with Gulf CMP for-hire 
permits (including historical captain permits), up to 69 may primarily 
operate as headboats and the remainder as charter vessels. Of the 1,825 
vessels with South Atlantic CMP for-hire permits, up to 66 may 
primarily operate as headboats.
    The average charter vessel operating in the Gulf is estimated to 
receive approximately $94,000 (2021 dollars) in gross revenue and 
$28,000 in net income (gross revenue minus variable and fixed costs) 
annually. The average Gulf headboat is estimated to receive 
approximately $451,000 (2021 dollars) in gross revenue and $84,000 in 
net income annually. The average charter vessel operating in the South 
Atlantic is estimated to receive approximately $132,000 (2021 dollars) 
in annual gross revenue. The average South Atlantic headboat is 
expected to receive approximately $234,000 (2021 dollars) in annual 
gross revenue. Estimates of annual net income for South Atlantic 
charter vessels and headboats are not available.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) code 11411) is classified as a small business if it is 
independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of 
operation (including its affiliates), and has combined annual receipts 
not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations 
worldwide. All of the commercial fishing businesses directly regulated 
by this proposed rule are believed to be small entities based on the 
NMFS size standard.
    The SBA has established size standards for all major industry 
sectors in the U.S., including for-hire businesses (NAICS code 487210). 
A business primarily involved in the for-hire fishing industry is 
classified as a small business if it is independently owned and 
operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its 
affiliates), and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $8 
million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. All of the for-
hire vessels directly regulated by this proposed rule are believed to 
be small entities based on the SBA size criteria.
    No other small entities that would be directly affected by this 
proposed rule have been identified.
    CMP Framework Amendment 11 and this proposed rule would modify the 
Gulf king mackerel OFL, ABC, and total ACL as recommended by the Gulf's 
SSC for the 2021-2022 through 2023-2024 and subsequent fishing years. 
The total ACL would be set equal to the ABC or 9,720,000 lb (4,408,918 
kg) in the 2022-2023 fishing year and then to 9,990,000 lb (4,531,388 
kg) in the 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent years. The commercial 
ACL would be set equal to 3,110,400 lb (1,410,854 kg) in the 2022-2023 
fishing year and 3,196,800 lb (1,450,044 kg) in the 2023-2024 fishing 
year and subsequent fishing years. The commercial ACL is further 
divided into zone and gear component specific quotas with 40 percent 
going to the western zone quota, 18 percent going to the northern zone 
quota, 21 percent going to the southern zone hook-and-line quota, and 
21 percent going to the southern zone gillnet quota. Overall, the 
proposed increase to the Gulf king mackerel commercial ACL, relative to 
the status quo commercial ACL of 2,740,000 lb (1,242,843 kg), would be 
370,400 lb (168,011 kg) in the 2022-2023 fishing year and 456,800 lb 
(207,201 kg) in the 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent years.
    If commercial vessels harvest the full commercial ACL proposed for 
2022-2023, it would result in an aggregate increase in annual ex-vessel 
revenue of $833,400 (2021 dollars). The western zone would be expected 
to see an increase of $333,360 (2021 dollars) in ex-vessel revenue; the 
northern zone would be expected to see an increase of $150,012 in ex-
vessel revenue; and the southern zone would be expected to see an 
increase of $350,028 in ex-vessel revenue, which would be split in half 
among the hook-and-line vessels and gillnet vessels. On average from 
2016 through 2020, there were approximately 363 federally permitted 
commercial vessels (Gulf and South Atlantic combined) that harvested 
and sold Gulf king mackerel each year. Assuming the potential aggregate 
increase in ex-vessel revenue from this proposed action is shared 
evenly by these vessels, it would result in a per-vessel increase in 
annual

[[Page 60978]]

ex-vessel revenue of approximately $2,300 (2021 dollars) for the 2022-
2023 fishing year. This would represent an increase in per vessel 
average annual gross revenue of approximately 2 percent and 6 percent 
for Gulf and South Atlantic vessels, respectively. Individual vessels 
may experience varying levels of economic effects, depending on their 
fishing practices, operating characteristics, and profit maximization 
strategies.
    In the 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent years, the proposed 
increase, if harvested in full, would result in $1,027,800 in 
additional annual ex-vessel revenue (2021 dollars). The western zone 
would be expected to see an increase of $411,120 (2021 dollars) in ex-
vessel revenue; the northern zone would be expected to see an increase 
of $185,004 in ex-vessel revenue; and the southern zone would be 
expected to see an increase of $431,676 in ex-vessel revenue, which 
would be split in half among hook-and-line vessels and gillnet vessels. 
Assuming the potential increase in ex-vessel revenue from this proposed 
action is shared evenly by the 363 vessels that harvested Gulf king 
mackerel (on average from 2016 through 2020), it would result in a per-
vessel increase in annual ex-vessel revenue of $2,800 (2021 dollars) 
during the 2023-2024 fishing year and subsequent years. This would 
represent an increase in per vessel average annual gross revenue of 
approximately 3 percent and 7 percent for Gulf and South Atlantic 
vessels, respectively. Individual vessels may experience varying levels 
of economic effects, depending on their fishing practices, operating 
characteristics, and profit maximization strategies.
    In summary, the information provided above supports a determination 
that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. As a result, an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has been 
prepared.
    No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have been 
identified. In addition, no new reporting, record-keeping, or other 
compliance requirements are introduced by this proposed rule.
    This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Annual catch limits, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, King 
mackerel, Quotas.

    Dated: October 3, 2022.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH 
ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  622.384, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  622.384  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Western zone. The quota is 1,199,360 lb (544,021 kg) for the 
2021-2022 fishing year, 1,244,160 lb (564,341 kg) for the 2022-2023 
fishing year, and 1,278,720 lb (580,018 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing 
year and subsequent fishing years.
    (ii) Northern zone. The quota is 539,712 lb (244,809 kg) for the 
2021-2022 fishing year, 559,872 lb (253,954 kg) for the 2022-2023 
fishing year, and 575,424 lb (261,008 kg) for the 2023-2024 fishing 
year and subsequent fishing years.
    (iii) Southern zone. (A) The hook-and-line quota is 629,664 lb 
(285,611 kg) for the 2021-2022 fishing year, 653,184 lb (296,279 kg) 
for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 671,328 lb (304,509 kg) for the 
2023-2024 and subsequent fishing years.
    (B) The run-around gillnet quota is 629,664 lb (285,611 kg) for the 
2021-2022 fishing year, 653,184 lb (296,279 kg) for the 2022-2023 
fishing year, and 671,328 lb (304,509 kg) for the 2023-2024 and 
subsequent fishing years.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  622.388, revise paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.388  Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), 
and accountability measures (AMs).

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) The commercial ACL for the Gulf migratory group of king 
mackerel is 2,998,400 lb (1,360,051 kg) for the 2021-2022 fishing year, 
3,110,400 lb (1,410,854 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 
3,196,800 lb (1,450,044 kg) for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fishing 
years. The ACL is further divided into a commercial ACL for vessels 
fishing with hook-and-line and a commercial ACL for vessels fishing 
with run-around gillnets. The hook-and-line ACL (which applies to the 
entire Gulf) is 2,368,736 lb (1,074,441 kg) for the 2021-2022 fishing 
year, 2,457,216 lb (1,114,574 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 
2,525,472 lb (1,145,535 kg) for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fishing 
years. The run-around gillnet ACL (which applies to the southern zone) 
is 629,664 lb (285,611 kg) for the 2021-2022 fishing year, 653,184 lb 
(296,279 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 671,328 lb (304,509 
kg) for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fishing years.
* * * * *
    (2) Recreational sector. If recreational landings, as estimated by 
the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL of 
6,371,600 lb (2,890,109 kg) for the 2021-2022 fishing year, 6,609,600 
lb (2,998,064 kg) for the 2022-2023 fishing year, and 6,793,200 lb 
(3,081,344 kg) for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fishing years, the AA 
will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to 
implement bag and possession limits for Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel of zero, unless the best scientific information available 
determines that a bag limit reduction is unnecessary.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2022-21807 Filed 10-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P