Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Changes in Catch Limits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 642

[Docket No. 950725189-6182-03; I.D. 060696A]

RIN 0648-AI92

Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and

South Atlantic; Changes in Catch Limits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the framework procedure for adjusting

management measures of the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal

Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic

(FMP), NMFS proposes commercial vessel trip limits for the Atlantic

migratory group of king mackerel. The intended effects of this rule are

to preclude an early closure of the commercial fishery, protect king

mackerel from overfishing, and maintain healthy stocks while still

allowing catches by important commercial fisheries.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 18, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to Mark F. Godcharles, Southeast

Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 9721 Executive Center Drive

N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

Send requests for copies of the regulatory amendment document

(dated June 1995) and its supplement (dated February 1996), which

include the environmental assessment and regulatory impact review for

this action, to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council,

Southpark Building, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC

29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark F. Godcharles, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fisheries for coastal migratory pelagic

resources are regulated under the FMP. The FMP was prepared jointly by

the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and

is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 642.

ding, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC

29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark F. Godcharles, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fisheries for coastal migratory pelagic

resources are regulated under the FMP. The FMP was prepared jointly by

the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and

is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 642.

In accordance with the framework procedures of the FMP, the South

Atlantic Council (Council) recommended to the Director, Southeast

Region, NMFS (Regional Director), a regulatory amendment, which, among

other changes, included establishment of commercial vessel trip limits

for the Atlantic migratory group of king mackerel. These vessel trip

limits were included in a proposed rule published on August 3, 1995 (60

FR 39698). A final decision by NMFS on whether the trip limits were

consistent with the National Standards of the Magnuson Fishery

Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) was deferred, and the

reasons for the deferral were published in the final rule implementing

the approved measures of the regulatory amendment (60 FR 5768, November

17, 1995). The Council revised the proposed trip limits to address

cited deficiencies, took additional public comment, and resubmitted a

supplemented regulatory amendment for NMFS' review and approval.

The Council proposes daily trip limits for vessels harvesting under

the commercial allocation for Atlantic group king mackerel. This

segment of the fishery has not been subject to trip limits. As revised,

the daily possession/landing limit for a vessel using non-prohibited

gear and having a Federal commercial mackerel permit would be 3,500 lb

(1,588 kg) of king mackerel in or from the exclusive economic zone

(EEZ) year-round in the northern area (i.e., between the New York/

Connecticut and Flagler/Volusia County, FL boundaries)

ent of the fishery has not been subject to trip limits. As revised,

the daily possession/landing limit for a vessel using non-prohibited

gear and having a Federal commercial mackerel permit would be 3,500 lb

(1,588 kg) of king mackerel in or from the exclusive economic zone

(EEZ) year-round in the northern area (i.e., between the New York/

Connecticut and Flagler/Volusia County, FL boundaries). Off Volusia

County, FL, the daily trip limit would be 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) of king

mackerel in or from the EEZ from April 1 through October 31. South of

there, between the Volusia/Brevard and Dade/Monroe County boundaries,

the daily trip limit would be 500 lb (227

kg) of king mackerel in or from the EEZ from April 1 through October

31. In the southernmost area, off Monroe County (Florida Keys), the

daily trip limit would be 1250 lb (567 kg) of king mackerel in or from

the EEZ from April 1 through October 31. All trip limits proposed for

the Atlantic group king mackerel are daily landing/possession limits

that would be reduced to zero for that group when the annual commercial

allocation is reached.

The Council desires implementation as soon as possible in the

fishing year that began April 1, 1996, to preclude excessive early

season harvest of king mackerel, early closure, disproportionate

harvest of the allocation by regional fisheries, subsequent negative

socioeconomic impacts, recruitment overfishing, and waste.

In its resubmitted proposal, the Council revised the original trip

limit proposals by converting limits on the number of fish that may be

possessed or landed to equivalent pounds of fish. The Council

determined that this change was necessary to prevent waste caused by

high-grading (i.e., the act of discarding smaller fish and replacing

them with larger ones to maximize aggregate poundage landed while

complying with the daily trip limit on the number of fish landed)

roposals by converting limits on the number of fish that may be

possessed or landed to equivalent pounds of fish. The Council

determined that this change was necessary to prevent waste caused by

high-grading (i.e., the act of discarding smaller fish and replacing

them with larger ones to maximize aggregate poundage landed while

complying with the daily trip limit on the number of fish landed). Such

waste causes estimates of release and fishing mortality to be lower

than the actual mortality and results in an inaccurate evaluation of

the status of the stocks and of the fishery impacts on the resource.

Trip limits were first proposed in conjunction with a proposed

decrease in total allowable catch (TAC) from 10.0 million lb (4,536

metric tons (mt)) to 7.3 million lb (3,311 mt) for the Atlantic group

king mackerel for the 1995/96 fishing year (August 3, 1995, 60 FR

39698). The reduced TAC was approved by NMFS and implemented through a

final rule (November 17, 1995, 60 FR 57686). Further decreases were

expected for the 1996/97 fishing year . The 7.3-million lb TAC

decreased the commercial allocation for the 1995-96 fishing year from

the previous level of 3.71 million lb (1,683 mt) to 2.70 million lb

(1,225 mt). The Council reduced TAC to the lower range of the

acceptable biological catch (ABC) in anticipation of a lower ABC for

the 1996/97 fishing year, and expressed concerns about the status of

both the Atlantic and Gulf groups of king mackerel and recent low

catches.

As the Council expected and the 1995 Mackerel Stock Assessment

Panel Report projected, the 1996 Report of the Mackerel Stock

Assessment Panel presented lower estimates of the spawning potential

ratio (SPR) and the ABC for Atlantic group king mackerel

the 1996/97 fishing year, and expressed concerns about the status of

both the Atlantic and Gulf groups of king mackerel and recent low

catches.

As the Council expected and the 1995 Mackerel Stock Assessment

Panel Report projected, the 1996 Report of the Mackerel Stock

Assessment Panel presented lower estimates of the spawning potential

ratio (SPR) and the ABC for Atlantic group king mackerel. Although some

of the decreases in these parameters may be attributed to new

analytical methods, most are attributable to the inclusion of more

accurate estimates for the mortality of juvenile and subadult mackerels

taken as incidental bycatch in the Atlantic shrimp trawl fishery off

southeastern states. The 1996 modal SPR estimate of 32 percent is down

by about 36 percent from the approximate 50 percent level estimated for

previous years, and the 1996 ABC is about half of 1995 estimates. The

1996 ABC range estimate is 4.1 - 6.8 million lb (mode: 5.5 million lb)

(1,860 - 3,084 mt, mode: 2,495 mt) compared to the 1995 estimate of 7.3

- 15.5 million lb (mode: 10.9 million lb) (3,311 - 7,031 mt, mode:

4,944 mt). The Council sets TAC within the ABC range usually at or

below the modal value suggesting that the 1996/97 TAC will be even

lower than last year's 7.3 million lb (3,311 mt) that yielded

commercial and recreational allocations of 2.70 (1.225 mt) and 4.60 M

(2.087 mt), respectively.

Although the 1996 estimate of SPR indicates that the Atlantic group

king mackerel is not overfished, the lower SPR value suggests, as the

Council previously suspected, that stock size may not be as large as

previous estimates indicated. The modal 1996 SPR estimate is reduced to

32 percent, well below the 1995 estimate of 55 percent and just above

the 30 percent overfished level currently defined in the FMP

996 estimate of SPR indicates that the Atlantic group

king mackerel is not overfished, the lower SPR value suggests, as the

Council previously suspected, that stock size may not be as large as

previous estimates indicated. The modal 1996 SPR estimate is reduced to

32 percent, well below the 1995 estimate of 55 percent and just above

the 30 percent overfished level currently defined in the FMP. Even

though the estimated 32 percent SPR level is well above the overfishing

level of 20 percent SPR proposed in FMP Amendment 8, it is below the

Council's proposed target SPR of 40 percent for achieving maximum

sustainable yield or long-term optimum yield (OY). Moreover, the actual

total catch (commercial and recreational combined) may have reached its

lowest level (5.92 million lb; 2,685 mt) in 15 years during the 1994/95

season; preliminary estimates indicate that the 1995/96 catch will

remain at this same low level. In the past nine years, total catch has

exceeded 7.30 million lb (3,311 mt) four times.

The Council also proposed the trip limits, in anticipation of

increased effort in the fishery, to prevent excessive harvest of pre-

spawning and spawning fish and recruitment overfishing. The Council is

concerned that a number of new entrants may join the fishery as a

result of the recent prohibition on gillnet use in Florida waters (July

1, 1995) and New England fishery closures.

The Council recommended the trip limits not only to provide

increased protection for Atlantic group king mackerel but also for the

Gulf group. The trip limits would prevent the detrimental effects of

excessive catches of the Atlantic group throughout the spring/summer

spawning season and of the Gulf group during April. King mackerel

harvest in April, unrestricted by daily vessel trip limits, could

result in the unintentional taking of large quantities of Gulf group

king mackerel when such fish are still located within the boundaries of

the Atlantic group

revent the detrimental effects of

excessive catches of the Atlantic group throughout the spring/summer

spawning season and of the Gulf group during April. King mackerel

harvest in April, unrestricted by daily vessel trip limits, could

result in the unintentional taking of large quantities of Gulf group

king mackerel when such fish are still located within the boundaries of

the Atlantic group. Tag and recapture information indicate that king

mackerel off south Florida from late fall through early spring,

particularly off the Florida Keys, mostly belong to the Gulf migratory

group.

The fishing season for Atlantic group king mackerel fishery opens

annually on April 1, and vessels targeting fish with hook-and-line,

run-around gillnet, and purse seine gear are not restricted by trip

limits. Consequently, excessive capture of Gulf group king mackerel

could occur off south Florida in April if conditions delay emigration

to spring/summer spawning grounds.

The Council considers such catches ``double-dipping'' (i.e.,

overrunning of quotas that have already been harvested). In the past

two years, hook-and-line and run-around gillnet quotas for Gulf group

king mackerel were reached or exceeded, and respective fisheries were

closed, after large February catches off the Florida Keys. The Gulf

group king mackerel stock is still considered overfished; preliminary

calculations for the 1996/97 fishing year suggest that this group would

remain in the overfished status even under the less restrictive

overfished/overfishing definitions proposed in Amendment 8.

Excessive capture of king mackerel, unrestrained by trip limits and

under a reduced commercial allocation, could result in a

disproportionately large harvest off south Florida and an early closure

of the commercial fishery for the Atlantic group. Fishery participants

in the northern area might then lose the opportunity to harvest their

traditional and equitable share of the allocation

ent 8.

Excessive capture of king mackerel, unrestrained by trip limits and

under a reduced commercial allocation, could result in a

disproportionately large harvest off south Florida and an early closure

of the commercial fishery for the Atlantic group. Fishery participants

in the northern area might then lose the opportunity to harvest their

traditional and equitable share of the allocation. Atlantic group king

mackerel support an important fall fishery off North Carolina. An early

fishery closure would adversely affect these traditional fisheries and

could lead to severe socioeconomic impacts and subsequent requests for

relief through emergency action.

To keep the recreational catch within the reduced allocation of 4.6

million lb (2,087 mt), the recreational bag limit for the EEZ from New

York through Georgia was reduced on January 1, 1996, from

five to three fish per person. The Council determined that this

reduction would be sufficient to maintain catch within the decreased

allocation without changing the two-fish bag limit off Florida.

Recreational catch estimates indicated that the bag limit reduction in

the northern area (Georgia through New York) would provide about a 10

percent reduction in catch. In addition, 1995 catch estimates for the

1988/89 through 1990/91 fishing years, when the bag limit was three

fish in the northern area and two fish off Florida, were below 4.6

million lb (2,087 mt).

Although a recreational bag limit reduction was approved to reduce

catch in alignment with the decreased 1995/96 recreational allocation,

NMFS deferred the decision to approve or disapprove the collateral

commercial vessel trip limits until certain analytical and procedural

deficiencies were corrected. The Council has addressed the deficiencies

and revised and resubmitted the trip limit proposals. In conjunction

with the public review of Amendment 8 to the FMP, additional public

hearings were conducted to review the proposed trip limits

rred the decision to approve or disapprove the collateral

commercial vessel trip limits until certain analytical and procedural

deficiencies were corrected. The Council has addressed the deficiencies

and revised and resubmitted the trip limit proposals. In conjunction

with the public review of Amendment 8 to the FMP, additional public

hearings were conducted to review the proposed trip limits. Thereafter,

the Council revised its proposal to convert the units for the trip

limits from numbers of fish to pounds of fish to reduce waste from the

practice of high-grading and to allow vessels operating in the

commercial fishery off Monroe County (Florida Keys) from April 1 though

October 31 to possess or land up to 1250-lb (567-kg) per trip, thus

reducing socioeconomic impacts on that sector. Preliminary review of

the revised supporting documents indicates that the Council has

addressed the deficiencies previously noted in the initial analyses. As

discussed below, NMFS' preliminary review of the Council's re-

submission did not reveal any inconsistencies with the national

standards.

Consistency with the National Standards

In regard to the original trip limit proposals, as discussed in the

preamble to the final rule implementing the approved measures of the

Council's regulatory amendment (60 FR 57686; November 17, 1995),

inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the analyses of impacts and

inadequate opportunity for public comment prevented NMFS from

determining if the proposals were consistent with the National

Standards (N.S.). Some letters received during the comment period,

which was announced in the proposed rule (60 FR 39698; August 3, 1995),

contended that the trip limit proposals would preclude achievement of

OY (N.S. 1), were not based on the best available information (N.S. 2),

would be unfair and inequitable to fishery participants throughout the

management area (N.S. 4), would unnecessarily promote harvest

inefficiency (N.S

ed during the comment period,

which was announced in the proposed rule (60 FR 39698; August 3, 1995),

contended that the trip limit proposals would preclude achievement of

OY (N.S. 1), were not based on the best available information (N.S. 2),

would be unfair and inequitable to fishery participants throughout the

management area (N.S. 4), would unnecessarily promote harvest

inefficiency (N.S. 5), and would constitute unjustifiable

administrative costs and burdens (N.S. 7).

After reviewing the revised impact analyses, findings of the 1996

mackerel stock assessment concerning the status of the Atlantic group

king mackerel, and results from additional public hearings, NMFS has

made a preliminary determination that the proposed commercial vessel

trip limits are consistent with the N.S. as discussed below. Previous

problems related to the Council's analyses of the potential impacts of

the 50-fish trip limit on the Florida Keys fishery and not providing

sufficient notice to impacted fishermen appear to have been corrected.

Impact analyses were revised and the Council held additional public

hearings. In response to the comments received at those hearings, the

Council increased the proposed trip limit for the Florida Keys area

from 500 to 1250 pounds (initially proposed as 50 to 125 fish) per

vessel per day.

National Standard 1

Newly available information contained in the 1996 Report of the

Mackerel Stock Assessment Panel probably will compel the Council to

recommend further reductions in TAC for Atlantic group king mackerel.

The forthcoming TAC recommendation for the 1996/97 fishing year

probably would reduce both commercial and recreational allocations to

levels that have been harvested during the past two years.

Consequently, NMFS expects that TAC will be taken and OY achieved for

the 1996/97 fishing year even with the imposition of trip limits. To

provide the socioeconomic benefits that the Council intends while

preventing overfishing, the proposed trip limits appear necessary.

bly would reduce both commercial and recreational allocations to

levels that have been harvested during the past two years.

Consequently, NMFS expects that TAC will be taken and OY achieved for

the 1996/97 fishing year even with the imposition of trip limits. To

provide the socioeconomic benefits that the Council intends while

preventing overfishing, the proposed trip limits appear necessary.

National Standard 2

Recent review of the proposed trip limits and supporting documents,

increased effort and king mackerel landings off southwest Florida this

April (1996), and findings of the 1996 stock assessment indicate that

the proposed trip limits are based on the best available scientific

information. In a recent review, NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science

Center (Center) advised that the revised proposed trip limits appear to

be based on the best available scientific information. Further, the

Center advised that the proposals clearly are risk averse in that they

would maintain stock levels that would not be at risk of recruitment

overfishing.

Although the 1996 SPR estimate indicates that the Atlantic group

king mackerel is not overfished, the lower estimated value suggests, as

the Council previously suspected, that stock size may not be as large

as previous estimates indicated. The 1996 SPR estimate is reduced to 32

percent, near the 30 percent SPR overfished level currently defined in

the FMP and above the 20 percent level in proposed Amendment 8.

Nevertheless, the current 32 percent SPR estimate is below the proposed

SPR target of 40 percent for achieving maximum sustainable yield (MSY)

or long-term OY. Therefore, the best available scientific information

is not inconsistent with the Council's recommendations for more

conservative management measures that reduce fishing mortality and,

thus, prevent early closure and quota overruns, and decrease the risk

of recruitment overfishing.

National Standard 4

ed

SPR target of 40 percent for achieving maximum sustainable yield (MSY)

or long-term OY. Therefore, the best available scientific information

is not inconsistent with the Council's recommendations for more

conservative management measures that reduce fishing mortality and,

thus, prevent early closure and quota overruns, and decrease the risk

of recruitment overfishing.

National Standard 4

NMFS believes the revised proposed trip limits have the potential

to maintain traditional harvest and quota distribution among user

groups. Initially, the proposed trip limit for the Florida Keys fishery

was 50 fish throughout the Florida east and southwest coast areas. The

50-fish limit was requested and was strongly supported by many

southeast Florida king mackerel fishermen.

In response to comments received at public hearings, the Council

increased the proposed trip limit for the Florida Keys to 1250-lb (567-

kg) to provide sufficient revenue to operate in the April fishery near

the Dry Tortugas. This proposal is equivalent to the 125-fish trip

limit for the Gulf group king mackerel hook-and-line fishery that

begins in that area on November 1. Consequently, the proposed 1250-lb

(567 kg) trip limit would appear to provide fair access while

preventing excessive catches, early closures, and quota overruns, and

thus satisfies the requirements of N.S. 4 regarding fairness and equity

to all fishery participants throughout the management area.

For the fishery from northeast Florida through New York, the

Council proposed the 3500-lb (1588-kg) trip limit. Available landings

information reviewed by the Council indicates that proposal would have

essentially no effect on harvest. Moreover, the Council does not expect

the proposed increased trip limit for this area to alter the status quo

or provide increased harvesting advantage. If inordinate large northern

ortheast Florida through New York, the

Council proposed the 3500-lb (1588-kg) trip limit. Available landings

information reviewed by the Council indicates that proposal would have

essentially no effect on harvest. Moreover, the Council does not expect

the proposed increased trip limit for this area to alter the status quo

or provide increased harvesting advantage. If inordinate large northern

landings do occur in the future, the Council will reconsider and revise

the 3500-lb (1588-kg) trip limit to prevent inequitable quota

distribution and recruitment overfishing.

National Standard 5

The Council's impact analyses indicate that the proposed trip

limits would have restricted less than 6 percent of the trips in any

given area. However, the 500-lb (227-kg) and 1250-lb (567-kg) trip

limits proposed for south Florida would have substantially reduced some

individual vessel landings and total catch for those areas for some

years. Data examined by the Council indicated that the 3500-lb (1,588

kg) trip limit would have impacted no trips off Volusia County

(Florida) and would have only minimally impacted trips between the

Volusia/Flagler County (Florida) and New York/Connecticut boundaries.

Such impacted trips landed at North Carolina ports would have exceeded

that state's landing limit (i.e., 3500 lb). The Council's analyses were

based on landings estimates for Florida (1991/92 through 1994/95

seasons) and North Carolina.

National Standard 7

(Florida) and would have only minimally impacted trips between the

Volusia/Flagler County (Florida) and New York/Connecticut boundaries.

Such impacted trips landed at North Carolina ports would have exceeded

that state's landing limit (i.e., 3500 lb). The Council's analyses were

based on landings estimates for Florida (1991/92 through 1994/95

seasons) and North Carolina.

National Standard 7

The revised proposed trip limits appear consistent with a

management strategy to balance costs and benefits; the Council's impact

analyses indicate that the trip limits will not inordinately affect

costs or place an undue economic and regulatory burden on fishermen or

fisheries.

The Regional Director initially concurs that the Council's

recommendations are necessary to protect king mackerel stocks and

prevent overfishing and that they are consistent with the objectives of

the FMP, the N.S., and other applicable law. Accordingly, the Council's

proposed revised trip limits are published for comment.

Classification

This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for

purposes of E.O. 12866.

The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the

Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel of the Small

Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not

have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small

entities. Historical landings data for the last four fishing seasons

indicate that the percentage of fishing trips that would have been

affected by the proposed trip limits ranged from 0 to 5.4 percent.

Although it is not possible to directly translate number of fishing

trips into number of fishing firms impacted, it appears that less than

20 percent of the small business entities involved in harvest of

Atlantic king mackerel would be affected. The proposed trip limits are

estimated to reduce the harvest of Atlantic king mackerel and the

associated net revenue by about five percent

percent.

Although it is not possible to directly translate number of fishing

trips into number of fishing firms impacted, it appears that less than

20 percent of the small business entities involved in harvest of

Atlantic king mackerel would be affected. The proposed trip limits are

estimated to reduce the harvest of Atlantic king mackerel and the

associated net revenue by about five percent. Compliance costs will not

be affected by this action. There are no differential small and large

business impacts because all affected entities are small entities. No

capital costs of compliance are expected, and there is no information

indicating that two or more percent of the existing harvesting firms

will cease business operations as a result of this rule. The proposed

trip limits are designed, in part, to moderate the rate of harvest,

thereby minimizing the probability of early closures and the associated

adverse socioeconomic impacts. Therefore, the trip limits are expected

to provide small increases in long-term benefits to the industry. For

these reasons, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 642

Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Dated: June 27, 1996.

Gary Matlock,

Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 642 is

proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 642--COASTAL MIGRATORY PELAGIC RESOURCES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

AND SOUTH ATLANTIC

1. The authority citation for part 642 continues to read as

follows:

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

2. In Sec. 642.7, paragraphs (q) and (r) are revised to read as

follows:

Sec. 642.7 Prohibitions.

* * * * *

(q) Exceed a commercial trip limit for Atlantic group king or

Spanish mackerel, as specified in Sec. 642.27(a) or (b).

642.27 Commercial trip limits for Atlantic group king and Spanish

mackerel.

(a) Atlantic group king mackerel. (1) North of a line extending

directly east from the Volusia/Flagler County, Florida boundary

(29 deg.25' N. lat.) to the outer limit of the EEZ, king mackerel in or

from the EEZ may not be possessed on board or landed from a vessel in a

day in amounts exceeding 3,500 lb (1,588 kg).

(2) In the area between lines extending directly east from the

northern and southern boundaries of Volusia County, Florida (29 deg.25'

N. lat. and 28 deg.47.8' N. lat., respectively) to the outer limit of

the EEZ, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may not be possessed on board

or landed from a vessel in a day in amounts exceeding 3,500 lb (1,588

kg) from April 1 through October 31.

(3) In the area between lines extending directly east from the

Volusia/Brevard County, Florida boundary (28 deg.47.8' N. lat.) to the

outer limit of the EEZ and directly east from the Dade/Monroe County,

Florida boundary (25 deg.20.4' N. lat.) to the outer boundary of the

EEZ, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may not be possessed on board or

landed from a vessel in a day in amounts exceeding 500 lb (227 kg) from

April 1 through October 31.

(4) In the area between lines extending directly east from the

Dade/Monroe County, Florida boundary (25 deg.20.4' N. lat.) to the

outer boundary of the EEZ and directly west from the Monroe/Collier

County, Florida boundary (28 deg.48' N. lat.) to the outer boundary of

the EEZ, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may not be possessed on board

or landed from a vessel in a day in amounts exceeding 1250 lb (567 kg)

from April 1 through October 31.

(b) Atlantic group Spanish mackerel.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 96-16880 Filed 6-28-96; 9:44 am]

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