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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 622

Docket ID: [Docket No. 001005281-0369-02; I.D. 030906E]

NOTICE: RULES

ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Closure

DATES: The closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 12, 2006, until the start of the 20062007 fishing year at 12:01 a.m., July 1, 2006.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line 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.

SUMMARY: Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic fisheries—; Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic resources,

SUPPLEMENTAL 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 (MagnusonStevens 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 and west coast subzones. The Florida west coast subzone is that part of the eastern zone south and west of 25[deg]20.4' N. lat. (a line directly east from the MiamiDade County, FL, boundary) along the west coast of Florida to 87[deg]31.1' W. long. (a line directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary). The Florida west coast subzone is further divided into a northern and southern subzone. The southern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone, which from November 1 through March 31 extends south and west from 25[deg]20.4' N. lat. to 26[deg]19.8' N. lat.(a line directly west from the Lee/Collier 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 which is between 26[deg]19.8' N. lat. and 25[deg]48' N. lat.(a line directly west from the Monroe/Collier County, FL, boundary), i.e., the area off Collier County. 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 runaround gillnets and hookandline gear (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(i)).

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 hookandline gear in the southern Florida west coast subzone has been met. Accordingly, the commercial fishery for king mackerel for such vessels in the southern Florida west coast subzone is closed at 12:01 a.m., local time, March 12, 2006, through 12:01 a.m., July 1, 2006, the beginning of the next fishing season.

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 already has 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 since 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 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 9, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 062504 Filed 31006; 3:02 pm]
BILLING CODE 351022S

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Steve Branstetter, telephone: 727-824- 5305, fax: 7278245308, email: Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov.