King Mackerel Trip Limit Increased to 75 Fish/Day for Commercial Hook-and-Line Vessels Fishing in the Florida East Coast Subzone King Mackerel Trip Limit Increased to 75 Fish/Day for Commercial Hook-and-Line Vessels Fishing in the Florida East Coast Subzone
NOTE: The following is an excerpt from a Fishery Bulletin from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office. The complete notice, including maps and landings information, will be posted in 1-3 working days at http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov or contact:
The daily vessel trip limit is increased to 75 fish beginning 12:01 a.m., February 1, 2004, for commercial hook-and-line vessels fishing for Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone. The 75-fish daily trip limit will remain in effect until March 31, 2004, unless the subzone’s quota is reached and the fishery is closed prior to that date. If the 1,040,625-pound quota is harvested during February or March 2004, the subzone will be closed and the daily trip limit reduced to zero king mackerel until the 2003/2004 season ends on March 31, 2004. Such a closure would be effective upon filing the notification with the Office of the Federal Register.
In compliance with the federal regulations for Gulf group king mackerel, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) increased the trip limit from 50 to 75 king mackerel per day after determining that less than 75 percent (or 478,469 pounds) of the 1,040,625-pound quota would be harvested for this fishery segment before February 1, 2004. The 75-fish trip limit is a daily landing/possession limit that applies to commercial vessels fishing for king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone. 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% 20.4′ N. lat. (a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida, boundary). From April 1 through October 31, the Atlantic group king mackerel occurs in this area. During the latter period, the boundary separating the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel is shifted from the east coast to the west coast of Florida to 25% 48′ N. lat.(a line directly west from the Monroe/Collier County, Florida, boundary).
A vessel fishing under the commercial trip limits and quotas for king mackerel must possess on board a valid federal commercial vessel permit for king mackerel. Quotas, trip limits (see reverse side of this bulletin), and permits implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic are necessary to protect and rebuild the Gulf group king mackerel resource.
To report violations of commercial trip limits or closures, contact NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement Division at 727/570-5344 or 1-800/853-1964. NOAA Fisheries, is an agency of the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOTE: The following is an excerpt from a Fishery Bulletin from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office. The complete notice, including maps and landings information, will be posted in 1-3 working days at http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov or contact:
The daily vessel trip limit is increased to 75 fish beginning 12:01 a.m., February 1, 2004, for commercial hook-and-line vessels fishing for Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone. The 75-fish daily trip limit will remain in effect until March 31, 2004, unless the subzone’s quota is reached and the fishery is closed prior to that date. If the 1,040,625-pound quota is harvested during February or March 2004, the subzone will be closed and the daily trip limit reduced to zero king mackerel until the 2003/2004 season ends on March 31, 2004. Such a closure would be effective upon filing the notification with the Office of the Federal Register.
In compliance with the federal regulations for Gulf group king mackerel, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) increased the trip limit from 50 to 75 king mackerel per day after determining that less than 75 percent (or 478,469 pounds) of the 1,040,625-pound quota would be harvested for this fishery segment before February 1, 2004. The 75-fish trip limit is a daily landing/possession limit that applies to commercial vessels fishing for king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone. 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% 20.4′ N. lat. (a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida, boundary). From April 1 through October 31, the Atlantic group king mackerel occurs in this area. During the latter period, the boundary separating the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel is shifted from the east coast to the west coast of Florida to 25% 48′ N. lat.(a line directly west from the Monroe/Collier County, Florida, boundary).
A vessel fishing under the commercial trip limits and quotas for king mackerel must possess on board a valid federal commercial vessel permit for king mackerel. Quotas, trip limits (see reverse side of this bulletin), and permits implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic are necessary to protect and rebuild the Gulf group king mackerel resource.
To report violations of commercial trip limits or closures, contact NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement Division at 727/570-5344 or 1-800/853-1964. NOAA Fisheries, is an agency of the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
