Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Amendment 26, 95941-95955 [2016-31066]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 95941-95955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31066]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 160426363-6363-01]
RIN 0648-BG03


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic 
Region; Amendment 26

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 to implement management measures described in 
Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory 
Pelagics Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) as 
prepared and submitted jointly by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Gulf Council) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
(South Atlantic Council). Amendment 26 and this proposed rule would 
adjust the management boundary for the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and 
Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel; revise acceptable 
biological catch (ABC), commercial and recreational annual catch limits 
(ACLs), commercial quotas and recreational annual catch targets (ACTs) 
for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel; allow limited retention and 
sale of Atlantic migratory group king mackerel incidentally caught in 
the shark gillnet fishery; establish a commercial split season for 
Atlantic migratory group king mackerel in the Atlantic southern zone; 
establish a commercial trip limit system for Atlantic migratory group 
king mackerel in the Atlantic southern zone; revise the commercial and 
recreational ACLs for Gulf migratory group king mackerel; revise 
commercial zone quotas for Gulf migratory group king mackerel; and 
modify the recreational bag limit for Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel. The purpose of Amendment 26 and this proposed rule is to 
ensure that king mackerel management is based on the best scientific 
information available, while increasing the social and economic 
benefits of the fishery.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2016-0120,'' by either of the following methods:
     Electronic submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-
NMFS-2016-0120, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required 
fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Karla Gore, 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, etc.), 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 required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Electronic copies of Amendment 26 may be obtained from the 
Southeast Regional Office Web site at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/2016/am%2026/. Amendment 26 
includes an environmental assessment, a Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA) analysis, and a regulatory impact review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, telephone: 727-551-5753, or email: karla.gore@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The coastal migratory pelagic fishery of the 
Gulf and Atlantic Regions is managed under the FMP and includes the 
management of the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel, 
Spanish mackerel and cobia. The FMP was prepared jointly by the Gulf 
and South Atlantic Councils (Councils) and is implemented through 
regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Background

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS and regional fishery 
management councils to prevent overfishing and achieve, on a continuing 
basis, OY from federally managed fish stocks.
    In September of 2014, the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review 
(SEDAR) 38 stock assessment was completed for both the Gulf and 
Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel (SEDAR 38). SEDAR 38 
determined that both the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king 
mackerel are not overfished and are not undergoing overfishing. The 
Gulf Council's and South Atlantic Council's respective Scientific and 
Statistical Committees (SSCs) reviewed the assessment and concluded 
that SEDAR 38 should form the basis for revisions to the overfishing 
limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), and ACLs for the two 
migratory groups of king mackerel. SEDAR 38 also provided genetic 
information on king mackerel, which indicated that the Councils'

[[Page 95942]]

management boundary for the two migratory groups should be revised.

Management Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule to implement Amendment 26 would adjust the 
management boundary of the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king 
mackerel; revise management reference points, the commercial and 
recreational ACLs, commercial quotas and recreational ACTs for Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel; allow limited retention and sale of 
incidental catch of Atlantic migratory group king mackerel in the shark 
gillnet fishery; establish a commercial split season for Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel in the Atlantic southern zone; establish 
a commercial trip limit system for Atlantic migratory group king 
mackerel in the Atlantic southern zone; revise commercial and 
recreational ACLs for Gulf migratory group king mackerel; revise 
commercial zone quotas for Gulf migratory group king mackerel; and 
modify the recreational bag limit for Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel.

Management Boundary and Zone Descriptions for the Gulf and Atlantic 
Migratory Groups of King Mackerel

    Currently management boundaries change seasonally for the Gulf and 
Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel based on the historical 
understanding that the two migratory groups mixed seasonally off the 
east coast of Florida and in Monroe County, Florida. However, in 2014, 
SEDAR 38 determined the mixing zone between the two migratory groups 
now exists only in the portion of the EEZ off Monroe County, Florida, 
south of the Florida Keys. This proposed rule would set a single year-
round regulatory boundary (Gulf/Atlantic group boundary) separating 
management of the two migratory groups of king mackerel, based on the 
genetic analysis used in SEDAR 38. This new year-round Gulf/Atlantic 
group boundary would be set at a line extending east of the Miami-Dade/
Monroe County, FL boundary, to better represent the area where the two 
migratory groups primarily exist. The newly defined mixing zone off of 
the Florida Keys would be included in the Gulf migratory group and 
managed by the Gulf Council.
    Through this proposed rule, the Gulf migratory group's current 
eastern zone-northern subzone and eastern zone-southern subzone would 
be renamed the northern zone and southern zone, respectively. The 
southern zone would include the new mixing zone, extending east to the 
new Gulf/Atlantic group boundary. The name and dimensions of the Gulf 
migratory group's western zone would remain the same. The Atlantic 
migratory group's northern zone would also remain unchanged. The 
southern boundary of the Atlantic migratory group's southern zone would 
shift to the new Gulf/Atlantic group boundary. Due to this shift, the 
current Florida east coast subzone would no longer exist under the 
proposed rule. Instead, that area would be included in the Atlantic 
migratory group's southern zone year-round.
    NMFS notes that, if approved and implemented, the final rule for 
Amendment 26 would not be effective until after the current Gulf/
Atlantic group boundary shifts on November 1, 2016, and the applicable 
Florida east coast subzone commercial quota is in effect. As described 
in Amendment 26, landings from that area for the current fishing year 
would be attributable to the Atlantic southern zone quota. Therefore, 
any landings from the Florida east coast subzone that occur after 
November 1, 2016, and before implementation of a final rule for 
Amendment 26, would count against the Atlantic southern zone king 
mackerel commercial quota.
    This action would not change the current Federal fishing permits 
requirements for fishing for king mackerel in Gulf and Atlantic Federal 
waters.

Atlantic Migratory Group King Mackerel ACLs, Commercial Quotas and 
Recreational ACTs

    Amendment 18 to the FMP established reference points, ACLs, and 
accountability measures for both migratory groups of king mackerel (76 
FR 82058, December 29, 2011). The current ABC is 10.46 million lb (4.74 
million kg) for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel. This proposed 
rule to implement Amendment 26 would revise the OFLs and ABCs for 
Atlantic migratory group king mackerel based on SEDAR 38 and the South 
Atlantic Council's SSC recommended ABCs based on a high recruitment 
scenario. The Atlantic migratory group ABC would gradually decrease 
from 17.4 million lb (7.89 million kg) in the 2016-2017 fishing year to 
12.7 million lb (5.76 million kg) in the 2019-2020 fishing year.
    Amendment 26 and this proposed rule would also set the Atlantic 
migratory group stock ACL equal to OY and the proposed ABC. The 
Atlantic migratory group's sector allocation (37.1 percent of the ACL 
to the commercial sector and 62.9 percent of the ACL to the 
recreational sector) will not change through Amendment 26 or this 
proposed rule. This proposed rule would revise the commercial ACLs for 
the Atlantic migratory group to be 6.5 million lb (2.9 million kg) for 
the 2016-2017 fishing year, 5.9 million lb (2.7 million kg) for the 
2017-2018 fishing year, 5.2 million lb (2.4 million kg) for the 2018-
2019 fishing year, and 4.7 million lb (2.1 mil kg) for the 2019-2020 
fishing year and subsequent fishing years. This proposed rule would 
revise the recreational ACLs for the Atlantic migratory group to be 
10.9 million lb (4.9 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 9.9 
million lb (4.5 mil kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 8.9 million lb 
(4.0 million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 8.0 million lb 
(3.6 mil kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years. The recreational sector ACTs for the Atlantic migratory group 
would be set at 10.1 million lb (4.6 million kg) for the 2016-2017 
fishing year, 9.2 million lb (4.2 mil kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing 
year, 8.3 million lb (3.8 mil kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year and 
7.4 million lb (3.4 mil kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
    The commercial ACLs for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel 
would be divided each fishing year between the northern zone (23.04 
percent) and southern zone (76.96 percent) into their respective 
commercial quotas. The proposed commercial quotas for the Atlantic 
northern zone would be 1,497,600 lb (679,300 kg) for the 2016-17 
fishing year, 1,259,360 lb (571,236 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 
1,198,080 lb (543,440 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 1,082,880 
lb (491,186 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent years. 
The proposed commercial quotas for the Atlantic southern zone would be 
5,002,400 lb (2,269,050 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 4,540,640 
lb (2,059,600 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 4,001,920 lb 
(1,815,240 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 3,617,120 lb 
(1,640,698 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years.

Incidental Catch of Atlantic Migratory Group King Mackerel Caught in 
the Shark Gillnet Fishery

    Amendment 20A to the FMP prohibited recreational bag limit sales of 
king mackerel by commercially permitted king mackerel fishers in South 
Atlantic Council jurisdictional waters, which included king mackerel 
incidentally caught on directed commercial shark trips (79 FR 34246, 
June 16, 2014).
    In Amendment 26, the Councils determined that, as a result of the 
mesh

[[Page 95943]]

size used and the nature of the shark gillnet fishery, most king 
mackerel are already dead when the shark gillnets are retrieved. The 
Councils decided that some incidental catch of Atlantic migratory group 
king mackerel should be allowed for retention and sale if it is 
incidentally caught in the commercial shark gillnet fishery by vessels 
with a Federal king mackerel commercial permit.
    Through this proposed rule, a vessel in the Atlantic Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) that is engaged in directed shark fishing with 
gillnets that has both a valid Federal shark directed commercial permit 
and a valid Federal king mackerel commercial permit would be allowed to 
retain a limited number of king mackerel. Through this proposed rule, 
in the Atlantic northern zone, no more than three king mackerel per 
crew member may be retained or sold per trip. In the Atlantic southern 
zone, no more than two king mackerel per crew member may be retained or 
sold per trip. These incidentally caught king mackerel would be allowed 
to be retained or sold to a dealer with a valid Federal Gulf and South 
Atlantic dealer permit. This action is intended to reduce king mackerel 
discards and allow for the limited retention and sale of king mackerel, 
while not encouraging direct harvest of king mackerel on these shark 
fishing trips. The incidental catch allowance would not apply to 
commercial trips shark trips that are using an authorized gillnet for 
Atlantic migratory group king mackerel north of 34[deg]37.3' N. lat., 
the latitude of Cape Lookout Light, NC, where the existing commercial 
trip limit of 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) would apply. No type of gillnet is an 
allowable gear for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel south of Cape 
Lookout Light.

Commercial Split Seasons for Atlantic Migratory Group King Mackerel in 
Atlantic Southern Zone

    Currently, the commercial fishing year for Atlantic migratory group 
king mackerel is March 1 through the end of February, and the 
commercial ACLs for the Atlantic northern zone and southern zone are 
allocated for the entire fishing year. This proposed rule would divide 
the annual Atlantic migratory group commercial quota for the Atlantic 
southern zone into two commercial seasons. The Atlantic northern zone 
quota would not be split. This proposed rule would allocate 60 percent 
of the Atlantic southern zone commercial quota to the first season of 
March 1 through September 30, and 40 percent to the second of October 1 
through the end of February. This commercial split season for the 
Atlantic southern zone quota is intended to ensure that a portion of 
the southern zone's quota is available in later months of the fishing 
year, which will allow for increased fishing opportunities in that area 
during more of the fishing year.
    The proposed seasonal commercial quotas for the first season of 
March 1 through September 30, in the southern zone would be: 3,001,440 
lb (1,361,430 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 2,724,384 lb 
(1,235,760 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 2,401,152 lb (1,089,144 
kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 2,170,272 lb (984,419 kg) for 
the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing years. The proposed 
seasonal commercial quotas for the second season of October 1 through 
the end of February in the southern zone would be: 2,000,960 lb 
(907,620 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 1,816,256 lb (823,840 kg) 
for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 1,600,768 lb (726,096 kg) for the 2018-
2019 fishing year, and 1,446,848 lb (656,279 kg) for the 2019-2020 
fishing year and subsequent years.

Commercial Trip Limit System for the Atlantic Migratory Group of King 
Mackerel in the Atlantic Southern Zone

    Commercial trip limits for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel 
are limits on the amount of that species that may be possessed on board 
or landed, purchased or sold from a federally permitted king mackerel 
vessel per day. Several commercial trip limits currently exist in the 
Atlantic southern zone. North of 29[deg]25' N. lat., which is a line 
directly east from the Flagler/Volusia County, FL, boundary, the trip 
limit for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel is 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) 
year-round. In the area between the Flagler/Volusia County, FL, 
boundary (29[deg]25' N. lat.) and 28[deg]47.8' N. lat., which is a line 
extending directly east from the Volusia/Brevard County, FL, boundary, 
the trip limit is 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) from April 1 through October 31. 
In the area between the Volusia/Brevard County, FL, boundary 
(28[deg]47.8' N. lat.) and 25[deg]20.4' N. lat., which is a line 
directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL boundary, the trip 
limit is 75 fish from April 1 through October 31. In the area between 
the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL, boundary, and 25[deg]48'' N. lat., 
which is a line directly west from Monroe/Collier County, FL, boundary, 
the trip limit is 1,250 lb (567 kg) from April 1 through October 31. 
This proposed rule would revise the commercial trip limits for Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel in the Atlantic southern zone, based on 
the revised management boundary and split commercial season. During the 
first commercial season (March 1 through September 30), in the area 
between the Flagler/Volusia County, FL, boundary (29[deg]25' N. lat.), 
and the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL boundary (25[deg]20.24'' N. lat.), 
the trip limit would be 50 fish during March. From April 1 through 
September 30, the trip limit would be 75 fish, unless NMFS determines 
that 75 percent or more of the Atlantic southern zone quota for the 
first season has been landed, then the trip limit would be 50 fish. 
During the second commercial season (October 1 through the end of 
February), the trip limit would be 50 fish for the area between the 
Flagler/Volusia County, FL, boundary, and the the Miami-Dade/Monroe 
County, FL boundary. During the month of February, the trip limit would 
remain 50 fish, unless NMFS determines that less than 70 percent of the 
commercial quota for the southern zone's second season has been landed, 
then the trip limit would be 75 fish.
    This proposed rule would not revise the 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) year-
round trip limit for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel, north of 
the Flagler/Volusia County, FL boundary.
    In Amendment 26, the Councils determined that these changes to the 
commercial season and commercial trip limits for the Atlantic southern 
zone would ensure the longest possible commercial fishing season for 
Atlantic migratory group king mackerel.

Gulf Migratory Group King Mackerel ACLs

    The current ABC and total ACL for Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel is 10.8 million lb (4.89 million kg). Based on its review of 
SEDAR 38, the Gulf Council's SSC recommended OFLs and ABCs for Gulf 
migratory group king mackerel for the 2015-2016 through 2019-2020 
fishing years that decrease over time. The Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel OFLs and ABCs in Amendment 26 are lower than the current ABC 
and total ACL, because the geographical area for which the new OFLs and 
ABCs apply is smaller than the current area for which they apply, as a 
result of the proposed zone revisions in the Gulf and Atlantic.
    Because Gulf migratory group king mackerel is not overfished or 
undergoing overfishing, the Gulf Council recommended that ACL remain 
equal to OY and to ABC. Therefore, in Amendment 26, the total ACLs for 
the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel are equal to the ABCs 
recommended by the Gulf Council's SSC: 9.21 million lb (4.18 million 
kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 8.88 million lb (4.03

[[Page 95944]]

million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 8.71 million lb (3.95 
million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 8.55 million lb (3.88 
million kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year.
    This proposed rule would not revise the current recreational and 
commercial allocations of Gulf migratory group king mackerel (68 
percent of the total ACL to the recreational sector and 32 percent to 
the commercial sector). Based on the existing allocations, the 
commercial ACLs proposed for Gulf migratory group king mackerel are: 
2.95 million lb (1.34 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 2.84 
million lb (1.29 million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 2.79 
million lb (1.27 million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 2.74 
million lb (1.24 million kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
    These Gulf migratory group commercial ACLs would be further divided 
into gear-specific commercial ACLs, for hook-and-line gear, and for 
vessels fishing with run-around gillnet gear, which is only an 
authorized gear in the southern zone. The hook-and-line component 
commercial ACL (which applies to the entire Gulf) would be: 2,330,500 
lb (1,057,097 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 2,243,600 lb 
(1,017,680 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 2,204,100 lb (999,763 
kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 2,164,600 lb (981,846 kg) for 
the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent years. The run-around gillnet 
component commercial ACL (which applies to the Gulf southern zone) 
would be: 619,500 lb (281,000 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 
596,400 lb (270,522 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 585,900 lb 
(265,760 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 575,400 lb (260,997 
kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.
    The proposed recreational ACLs for Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel would be: 6.26 million lb (2.84 million kg) for the 2016-2017 
fishing year, 6.04 million lb (2.74 million kg) for the 2017-2018 
fishing year, 5.92 million lb (2.69 million kg) for the 2018-2019 
fishing year, and 5.81 million lb (2.64 million kg) for the 2019-2020 
fishing year and subsequent fishing years.

Commercial Zone Quotas for Gulf Migratory Group King Mackerel

    Amendment 26 and this proposed rule would revise the Gulf migratory 
group commercial zone quotas because of the proposed changes to the 
Councils' jurisdiction boundaries and resultant zone revisions. The 
current allocation of the commercial zone quota for Gulf migratory 
group king mackerel by zones is 31 percent in the western zone, 5.17 
percent in the northern zone, 15.96 percent for the southern zone using 
hook-and-line gear, 15.96 percent for the southern zone using gillnet 
gear, and 31.91 percent for the Florida east coast subzone. However, 
under the proposed rule, the Florida east coast subzone would no longer 
exist and the quota associated with that zone would be re-allocated to 
the remaining zones. The revised allocation of commercial zone quotas 
for Gulf migratory group king mackerel would be: 40 percent in the 
western zone, 18 percent in the northern zone, 21 percent for the 
southern zone using hook-and-line gear, and 21 percent for the southern 
zone using gillnet gear.
    The proposed commercial quotas for the Gulf western zone would be: 
1,180,000 lb (535,239 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 1,136,000 lb 
(515,281 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 1,116,000 lb (506,209 kg) 
for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 1,096,000 lb (497,137 kg) for the 
2019-20 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.
    The proposed commercial quotas for the Gulf northern zone would be: 
531,000 lb (240,858 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 511,200 lb 
(231,876 kg) for the 2017-18 fishing year, 502,200 lb (227,794 kg) for 
the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 493,200 lb (223,712 kg) for the 2019-
2010 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.
    The proposed commercial hook-and-line and commercial run-around 
gillnet component quotas in the southern zone would be equal for each 
fishing year: 619,500 lb (281,000 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 
596,400 lb (270,522 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 585,900 lb 
(265,760 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 575,400 lb (260,997 
kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing years.

Recreational Bag Limit for Gulf Migratory Group of King Mackerel

    From the 2002-2003 fishing year through the 2013-2014 fishing year, 
the recreational sector's landings of Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel were consistently less than 50 percent of the recreational 
ACL, while the commercial sector's landings were consistently 90 
percent or more of the commercial ACL. In Amendment 26, the Councils 
considered, but rejected, the possibility of reallocating from the 
recreational ACL to the commercial ACL and instead proposed an increase 
in the recreational bag limit for Gulf migratory group king mackerel 
from 2 fish per person per trip to 3 fish per person per trip. The 
Councils determined that this increased recreational bag limit would 
allow more opportunities for recreational anglers to harvest the 
recreational sector's ACL.

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 Amendment 26, the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 
other applicable laws, subject to further consideration after public 
comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared an initial regulatory flexibility act analysis 
(IRFA), as required by section 603 of the RFA, for this proposed rule. 
The IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, 
would have on small entities. A description of the action, why it is 
being considered, the objectives of, and legal basis for this action 
are contained at the beginning of this section in the preamble and in 
the SUMMARY section of the preamble. A copy of the full analysis is 
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this 
proposed rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal 
rules have been identified. In addition, no new reporting and record-
keeping requirements are introduced by this proposed rule. Accordingly, 
this proposed rule does not implicate the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    This proposed rule would be expected to directly affect all 
federally permitted commercial fishermen fishing for king mackerel in 
the Gulf and Atlantic. Recreational anglers fishing for king mackerel 
would also be directly affected by the proposed action, but they are 
not considered business entities under the RFA, so they are outside the 
scope of this analysis. Charterboat and headboat operations are 
business entities but they are only indirectly affected by the proposed 
action. 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 (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 affiliates), and has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.
    From the 2000-2001 through 2013-2014 fishing years (the most recent 
available trip level data at the time that

[[Page 95945]]

the Councils took final action on Amendment 26), an average of 274 
vessels landed Gulf migratory group king mackerel. Those vessels 
generated dockside revenues (2014 dollars) of $3,987,671 from king 
mackerel, $1,935,219 from other species jointly landed with king 
mackerel, and $12,395,741 from all other species in trips where king 
mackerel was not caught. The average annual revenue per vessel from all 
species landed by these vessels, including king mackerel, was $66,952. 
During the same time period, an average of 736 vessels landed Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel. These vessels generated dockside 
revenues (2014 dollars) of $5,842,731 from king mackerel, $1,888,830 
from other species jointly landed with king mackerel, and $12,670,841 
from all other species in trips where king mackerel was not caught. The 
average revenue per vessel from all species landed by these vessels, 
including king mackerel, was $27,817. Vessels that caught and landed 
king mackerel may also operate in other fisheries, such as the 
shellfish fisheries, the revenues of which are not known and are not 
reflected in these totals. Based on revenue information, all commercial 
vessels affected by the proposed rule may be assumed to be small 
entities.
    All entities expected to be directly affected by this proposed rule 
are assumed to be small entities; therefore, NMFS has determined that 
this proposed rule would affect a substantial number of small entities. 
The issue of disproportionate effects on small versus large entities 
does not arise in the present case because all directly affected 
entities are small entities.
    The nine actions in this proposed rule and their effects on small 
entities are summarized below.
    Action 1 in Amendment 26 would establish a single year-round 
boundary for separating the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king 
mackerel at the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line, with the Gulf Council 
being responsible for management measures for the mixing zone, defined 
as the area of the EEZ off of the Florida Keys. This would replace the 
current mixing zone boundary that varies seasonally, and thus would 
simplify management, avoid confusion, and likely improve enforcement, 
because the new boundary designation would also coincide with the 
boundary designation currently in place for the Gulf and Atlantic 
migratory groups of Spanish mackerel. This change would provide a 
favorable environment for commercial vessels to increase revenues and 
profits, particularly for those vessels operating out of the Florida 
Keys. However, the extent of any revenue increases cannot be defined at 
this time, as any increase in revenue would primarily be determined by 
the kind of fishing regulations that would be established through this 
amendment. The current Florida east coast subzone would no longer exist 
under this proposed rule.
    Action 2-1 in Amendment 26 would revise the ABC levels for Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel for fishing years 2016-2017 through 2019-
2020, based on the ABC levels recommended by the SSC under a high 
recruitment scenario. This would substantially increase the Atlantic 
migratory group ABC, thus enabling the Council to increase the ACL, and 
providing a favorable environment for increases in potential harvest of 
Atlantic migratory group king mackerel that could result in higher 
revenues and profits to participating commercial vessels.
    Action 2-2 in Amendment 26 would revise Atlantic migratory group 
king mackerel ACLs, commercial quotas, and recreational ACT, based on 
the proposed ABC levels selected in Action 2-1. Action 2-2 would set 
the ACL equal to OY and equal to ABC. Given the substantial increase 
proposed for ABC, equating ACL and OY to ABC would directly result in 
increasing the allowable commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group 
king mackerel, as well as the associated potential revenues. Relative 
to the current commercial ACL, the proposed commercial ACL would 
provide the opportunity for total revenues to increase by an estimated 
$4.7 million for the 2016-2017 fishing year, $3.6 million for the 2017-
2018 fishing year, $2.4 million for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 
$1.5 million for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years. Action 2-2 would also revise the Atlantic northern and southern 
zone commercial quotas,based on the ACL selected by the Councils. 
Whether the full revenue potential for each zone would be realized 
largely depends on whether the full quotas would be taken. Using the 
highest past landings (2009-2010 landings) as the expected future 
landings, neither zone would be expected to fully take its respective 
commercial quota. The revised northern and southern zone commercial 
quotas may allow for the possibility for further revenue increases in 
the future through increased harvest; however, this statement does not 
account for the effects from Action 4, which would split the commercial 
season into two fishing seasons each year in the Atlantic southern 
zone.
    Action 3 in Amendment 26 would allow the limited retention and sale 
(equal to the bag limit) of Atlantic migratory group king mackerel 
caught with gillnet as incidental catch in the gillnet portion of the 
directed commercial shark fishery, for any vessel with both a valid 
Federal shark directed commercial permit and valid Federal king 
mackerel commercial permit. The incidentally caught king mackerel must 
be sold to a dealer with the Gulf and South Atlantic Federal dealer 
permit. For this type of incidental catch, no more than 2 king mackerel 
per crew member per trip in the southern zone may be retained and sold, 
and no more than 3 king mackerel per crew member per trip in the 
northern zone (except trips north of Cape Lookout Light, NC, that use 
an authorized gillnet for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel) may 
be retained and sold. This proposed change would allow affected vessels 
to generate some revenue from incidentally caught king mackerel instead 
of discarding them. Only 3 to 5 vessels and 21 to 33 total vessel trips 
have reported incidental catches of Atlantic migratory group king 
mackerel, so any potential adverse impact on vessels that target king 
mackerel when incidental catches are counted against the Atlantic 
migratory group commercial ACL would be negligible.
    Action 4 in Amendment 26 would allocate the commercial quota for 
Atlantic migratory group king mackerel's southern zone into two split 
seasons: 60 percent of the commercial quota would be allocated to the 
first season of March 1-September 30 and 40 percent would be allocated 
to the second season of October 1-the end of February. Any remaining 
quota from the first season would transfer to second season. Any 
remaining quota from the second season would not be carried forward to 
the next fishing year. When the commercial quota for either season is 
met or expected to be met, commercial harvest of king mackerel in the 
Atlantic southern zone will be prohibited for the remainder of the 
respective season. In general, the revenue effects of splitting the 
fishing year into seasons as compared to not splitting the fishing year 
into seasons are unclear. For example, if all of the commercial quota 
were harvested early in the fishing season when maintaining only one 
season, the split-season alternative would comparatively be expected to 
allow commercial vessels to fish over a longer period of time, because 
even if the first season quota was reached, 40 percent of the 
commercial quota would be available

[[Page 95946]]

for harvest during the second season. Harvest would occur over a longer 
period of time (i.e. during both the first and second seasons), 
resulting in a more stable supply of fish. Because a more stable supply 
is generally associated with higher dockside prices, overall revenues 
would likely be higher. Conversely, because only 60 percent of the 
commercial quota is allocated to the first season, the implementation 
of split seasons may restrict harvest and revenues in the first season 
that may not be fully recouped in the second season. This could happen 
if revenues from the relatively higher pricing conditions in the first 
season, which coincides with the Lenten season, were restricted due to 
an early season closure. Landings may be higher in the second season, 
but, if prices were low, the higher landings in the second season may 
not result in revenue levels that would fully recoup the forgone 
revenues in the first season. However, given current available 
information on landings, and the proposed commercial quota increase, no 
quota closures would be expected for either the first or second season, 
even if harvest levels reach the highest past recorded landings (2009-
2010 landings). Thus, this action would not be expected to adversely 
affect the revenues and profits of commercial vessels.
    Action 5 would establish a commercial trip limit system for the 
Atlantic southern zone. For both the first and second commercial 
seasons, the commercial trip limit north of the Flagler/Volusia county 
line would remain 3,500 lb (1,587 kg). South of the Flagler/Volusia 
county line, the trip limit for the first season would be 50 fish for 
the month of March, and 75 fish for the remainder of the first season, 
but if 75 percent of the commercial quota for first season has been be 
landed, the trip limit would be 50 fish. For the second season, the 
commercial trip limit would be 50 fish, and if less than 70 percent of 
the season's quota has been landed, would be 75 fish during the month 
of February. Because the 3,500 lb (1,587 kg) trip limit north of the 
Flagler/Volusia county line is the same as the current trip limit, 
vessels fishing in this area would be unaffected by this proposed rule. 
Given that no commercial quota closures would be expected for the first 
or second season, as discussed in Action 4, the imposition of a 
commercial trip limit south of the Flagler/Volusia county line would 
tend to reduce both per trip revenues and profits of commercial 
vessels. However, the magnitude of annual revenue reductions would be 
relatively small, as vessels may be able to take more trips due to a 
longer season under the proposed quota increases.
    Action 6 would set the Gulf migratory group king mackerel ACL equal 
to the ABC recommended by the Gulf Council's SSC for the 2016-2017 
through 2019-2020 fishing years. The ABC recommended by the SSC is less 
than the existing ABC, but the lower number is largely a product of the 
boundary change, based on new information in SEDAR 38 that the range of 
Gulf migratory group king mackerel spans a smaller area than previously 
thought. When the existing commercial ACLs for the Gulf migratory group 
are adjusted to account for landings in the Florida east coast subzone 
that would no longer be considered part of Gulf migratory group king 
mackerel, the new commercial ACLs starting in the 2016-2017 fishing 
year would actually be greater than the existing ones. For this reason, 
setting the Gulf migratory group ACL equal to the ABC would be expected 
to provide higher landings and revenues to commercial vessels. 
Historically, the commercial sector has fully harvested its allocation 
of Gulf migratory group king mackerel. Thus, using past landings as a 
predictor of future landings, it is likely that the commercial sector 
would harvest up to the level of the proposed quota increases for the 
Gulf migratory group and generate higher revenues from quota increases. 
Estimated total revenue increases would be approximately $1,068,000 for 
the 2016-2017 fishing year, $871,000 for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 
$781,000 for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and $692,000 for the 2019-2020 
fishing year and every fishing year thereafter.
    Action 7 in Amendment 26 would revise the commercial zone quotas 
for Gulf migratory group king mackerel as follows: 40 percent for the 
western zone; 18 percent for the northern zone; 21 percent for the 
southern zone hook-and-line component; and 21 percent for the southern 
zone gillnet component. This revised zone allocation is necessary 
because the previous Gulf migratory group king mackerel zone 
allocations included the Florida east coast subzone, which would no 
longer exist under this proposed rule. The proposed boundary change 
under Action 1 would render the Florida east coast area part of the 
southern zone for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel. Action 7 
would result in commercial quota increases for all of the Gulf 
migratory group king mackerel zones, potentially resulting in higher 
revenues to commercial vessels. However, the quota increases would not 
be uniform across the zones, with the Gulf northern zone receiving the 
largest quota increases. For the western zone, total revenue increases 
would be approximately $194,000 for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 
$115,000 for the 2017-2018 fishing year, $79,000 for the 2018-2019 
fishing year, and $44,000 for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent 
fishing years. For the northern zone, revenue increases would be 
approximately $630,000 for the 2016-2017 fishing year, $595,000 for the 
2017-2018 fishing year, $579,000 for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 
$563,000 for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing years. 
For the hook-and-line component of the southern zone, revenue increases 
would be approximately $121,000 for the 2016-2017 fishing year, $80,000 
for the 2017-2018 fishing year, $61,000 for the 2018-2019 fishing year, 
and $42,000 for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years. Revenue increases for the gillnet component of the southern zone 
would be identical to those of the hook-and-line component.
    Action 8 considered revising the commercial and recreational 
allocations for the Gulf migratory group king mackerel; however, the 
Councils selected the no action alternative.
    Action 9 in Amendment 26 would modify the recreational bag limit 
for Gulf migratory group king mackerel from two to three fish per 
person per day. This would not directly affect any business entities 
under the RFA.
    The following discussion describes the alternatives that were not 
selected as preferred by the Council. Among the actions considered, 
only actions that would have direct adverse economic effects on small 
entities merit inclusion.
    Only Action 5 (commercial trip limits for the Atlantic migratory 
group's southern zone) may result in adverse economic impacts on small 
commercial business entities. Four alternatives and five sub-
alternatives, including the two preferred alternatives and two 
preferred sub-alternatives, were considered for establishing commercial 
trip limits in the Atlantic southern zone. All of the considered 
alternatives would maintain the current trip limit for Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel in areas north of the Volusia/Flagler 
county line. The first alternative, the no action alternative, would 
retain the current trip limit system. Because of the proposed boundary 
change in Action 1, maintaining the current trip limit system would 
leave certain areas in the Florida east coast that used to be under the 
Gulf Council jurisdiction without trip limits during the winter months. 
This would open opportunities for higher harvests that could result in 
a

[[Page 95947]]

shorter king mackerel season in the Atlantic southern zone. Vessels 
fishing in the area with no trip limits would benefit, but any benefit 
would be at the expense of vessels fishing in areas with trip limits, 
as allowing unrestricted harvest would likely lead to earlier quota 
closures. The overall net effects on vessel revenues cannot be 
determined, but if a commercial quota closure occurs due to increased, 
unrestricted harvest, overall annual vessel revenues may decrease.
    The second alternative would establish a year-round trip limit of 
75 fish for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel in the area south of 
the Flagler/Volusia county line. This alternative would provide for a 
greater trip limit than the preferred alternative for certain months of 
the year, and thus may be expected to result in slightly higher 
landings and revenues than the preferred alternative. However, this 
alternative may lead to shorter commercial seasons, as it does not 
include a mechanism to slow down harvests to avoid exceeding the area's 
quota for the first or second seasons in the Atlantic southern zone.
    The third alternative, which would apply only to the first season, 
would establish a trip limit of 50 fish from March 1-March 31, and 75 
fish for the remainder of the season 1, for the area south of the 
Flagler/Volusia county line. Alternative three has two options, one of 
which is the preferred option. The non-preferred option would reduce 
the trip limit for the first season if 75 percent of the first season 
has been landed, but to occur no earlier than August 1 each fishing 
year. The preferred option would reduce the trip limit anytime during 
the first season when 75 percent of the first seasons quota has been 
landed. The non-preferred option would in principle allow for a higher 
trip limit over a longer period in the first season and would be 
expected to result in higher per trip revenues and profits than the 
preferred option. However, analysis of the landings data shows that 
both options would have the same effects, because the 75 percent 
trigger is expected to be met at the same date under both options, 
which would occur after August 1.
    The fourth alternative would establish a 50 fish trip limit for the 
second season. The fourth alternative has three options, one of which 
is the preferred option. The preferred option would increase the trip 
limit to 75 fish during the month of February, but if 70 percent of the 
second season's commercial quota had been landed, the trip limit would 
remain 50 fish. The second option would increase the trip limit to 75 
fish during January and February as long as less than 70 percent of the 
second season's quota had been landed. In principle, this second option 
would be expected to increase vessel revenues per trip in January as 
compared to the preferred option, but the second option would also 
increase the likelihood of an earlier closure in the second season. The 
third option is similar to the preferred option, except that the 
trigger for increasing the trip limit would be landings less than 80 
percent, instead of less than 70 percent, of the second season's quota. 
In theory, this option has a greater likelihood than the preferred 
option for increasing the commercial trip limit in February, but it 
would also increase the likelihood of an early closure in the second 
season. However, because the greatest historical landings have been 
well below the proposed second season quota, all three options would be 
expected to have the same effects on vessel revenues.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Annual catch limits, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, King 
Mackerel, South Atlantic.

    Dated: December 19, 2016.
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. Revise the heading of subpart Q in part 622 to read as follows:

Subpart Q--Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Gulf of Mexico, 
South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic)

0
3. In Sec.  622.7, revise paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.7  Fishing years.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Gulf migratory group king mackerel--(i) Southern zone-- July 1 
through June 30.
    (ii) Northern zone--October 1 through September 30.
    (iii) Western zone--July 1 through June 30.
* * * * *
0
4. Revise Sec.  622.369 to read as follows:


Sec.  622.369   Description of zones.

    (a) Migratory groups of king mackerel. In the EEZ, king mackerel 
are divided into the Gulf migratory group and the Atlantic migratory 
group. The Gulf migratory group is bound by a line extending east of 
the U.S./Mexico border and a line extending east of the Miami-Dade/
Monroe County, FL boundary. The Atlantic migratory group is bound by a 
line extending east of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL boundary and a 
line from the intersection point of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New 
York (as described in Sec.  600.105(a) of this chapter). The zone 
boundaries remain in place year round. See Table 1 of this section for 
the boundary coordinates. See Figure 1 in Appendix G of this part for 
illustration.
    (1) Gulf migratory group. The Gulf migratory group is divided into 
western, northern, and southern zones. See Table 1 of this section for 
the boundary coordinates. See Figure 1 in Appendix G of this part for 
illustration.
    (i) Western zone. The western zone encompasses an area of the EEZ 
north of a line extending east of the U.S./Mexico border, and west of a 
line extending due south of the Alabama/Florida border, including the 
EEZ off Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
    (ii) Northern zone. The northern zone encompasses an area of the 
EEZ east of a line extending due south of the Florida/Alabama border, 
and north of a line extending due west of the Lee/Collier County, 
Florida, boundary.
    (iii) Southern zone. The southern zone encompasses an area of the 
EEZ south of a line extending due west of the Lee/Collier County, 
Florida, boundary on the Florida west coast, and south of a line 
extending due east of the Monroe/Miami-Dade County, Florida, boundary 
on the Florida east coast, which includes the EEZ off Collier and 
Monroe Counties, Florida.
    (2) Atlantic migratory group. The Atlantic migratory group is 
divided into the northern and southern zones separated by a line 
extending from the North Carolina/South Carolina border, as specified 
in Sec.  622.2. See Table 1 of this section for the boundary 
coordinates. See Figure 1 in Appendix G of this part for illustration. 
See Sec.  622.385(a)(1) for a description of the areas for Atlantic 
migratory group king mackerel commercial trip limits.
    (i) Northern zone. The northern zone encompasses an area of the EEZ 
south of a line extending from the intersection point of New York, 
Connecticut, and Rhode Island (as described in

[[Page 95948]]

Sec.  600.105(a) of this chapter), and north of a line extending from 
the North Carolina/South Carolina border, as specified in Sec.  622.2, 
including the EEZ off each state from North Carolina to New York. This 
zone remains the same year round.
    (ii) Southern zone. The southern zone encompasses an area of the 
EEZ south of a line extending from the North Carolina/South Carolina 
border, as specified in Sec.  622.2, and north of a line extending due 
east of the Monroe/Miami-Dade County, Florida, boundary.

      Table 1 to Sec.   622.369--King Mackerel Description of Zones
       [For illustration, see Figure 1 in Appendix G of this part]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Area                   Boundary 1            Boundary 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf Migratory Group--        U.S./Mexico A line    AL/FL 87[deg]31'6''
 Western Zone.                 east of the           W. long.
                               intersection of
                               25[deg]58'30.57''
                               N. lat. and
                               96[deg]55'27.37''
                               W. long.
Gulf Migratory Group--        AL/FL 87[deg]31'6''   Lee/Collier
 Northern Zone.                W. long.              26[deg]19'48'' N.
                                                     lat.
Gulf Migratory Group--        Lee/Collier           Monroe/Miami-Dade
 Southern Zone.                26[deg]19'48'' N.     25[deg]20'24'' N.
                               lat.                  lat.
Atlantic Migratory Group--    NY/CT/RI              NC/SC, a line
 Northern Zone.                41[deg]18'16.249''    extending in a
                               N. lat. and           direction of
                               71[deg]54'28.477''    135[deg]34'55''
                               W. long. southeast    from true north
                               to                    beginning at
                               37[deg]22'32.75''     33[deg]51'07.9'' N.
                               N. lat. and the       lat. and
                               intersection point    78[deg]32'32.6'' W.
                               with the outward      long. to the
                               boundary of the EEZ.  intersection point
                                                     with the outward
                                                     boundary of the
                                                     EEZ.
Atlantic Migratory Group--    NC/SC, a line         Monroe/Miami-Dade
 Southern Zone.                extending in a        25[deg]20'24'' N.
                               direction of          lat.
                               135[deg]34'55''
                               from true north
                               beginning at
                               33[deg]51'07.9'' N.
                               lat. and
                               78[deg]32'32.6'' W.
                               long. to the
                               intersection point
                               with the outward
                               boundary of the EEZ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Migratory groups of Spanish mackerel--(1) Gulf migratory group. 
In the EEZ, the Gulf migratory group is bounded by a line extending 
east of the U.S./Mexico border and a line extending due east of the 
Monroe/Miami-Dade County, FL, boundary. See Table 2 of this section for 
the boundary coordinates. See Figure 2 in Appendix G of this part for 
illustration.
    (2) Atlantic migratory group. In the EEZ, the Atlantic migratory 
group is bounded by a line extending due east of the Monroe/Miami-Dade 
County, FL, boundary and a line extending from the intersection point 
of New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (as described in Sec.  
600.105(a) of this chapter). The Atlantic migratory group is divided 
into the northern and southern zones. See Table 2 of this section for 
the boundary coordinates. See Figure 2 in Appendix G of this part for 
illustration. See Sec.  622.385(b)(1) for a description of the areas 
for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel commercial trip limits.
    (i) Northern zone. The northern zone encompasses an area of the EEZ 
south of a line extending from the intersection point of New York, 
Connecticut, and Rhode Island (as described in Sec.  600.105(a) of this 
chapter), and north of a line extending from the North Carolina/South 
Carolina border, as specified in Sec.  622.2, including the EEZ off 
each state from North Carolina to New York.
    (ii) Southern zone. The southern zone encompasses an area of the 
EEZ south of a line extending from the North Carolina/South Carolina 
border, as specified in Sec.  622.2, and north of a line extending due 
east of the Monroe/Miami-Dade County, FL, boundary, including the EEZ 
off South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

    Table 2 to Sec.   622.369--Spanish Mackerel Description of Zones
       [For illustration, see Figure 2 in Appendix G of this part]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Area                   Boundary 1            Boundary 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf Migratory Group........  U.S./Mexico A line    Monroe/Miami-Dade
                               east of the           25[deg]20'24'' N.
                               intersection of       lat.
                               25[deg]58'30.57''
                               N. lat. and
                               96[deg]55'27.37''
                               W. long.
Atlantic Migratory Group--    NY/CT/RI              NC/SC, a line
 Northern Zone.                41[deg]18'16.249''    extending in a
                               N. lat. and           direction of
                               71[deg]54'28.477''    135[deg]34'55''
                               W. long. southeast    from true north
                               to                    beginning at
                               37[deg]22'32.75''     33[deg]51'07.9'' N.
                               N. lat. and the       lat. and
                               intersection point    78[deg]32'32.6'' W.
                               with the outward      long. to the
                               boundary of the EEZ.  intersection point
                                                     with the outward
                                                     boundary of the
                                                     EEZ.
Atlantic Migratory Group--    NC/SC, a line         Monroe/Miami-Dade
 Southern Zone.                extending in a        25[deg]20'24'' N.
                               direction of          lat.
                               135[deg]34'55''
                               from true north
                               beginning at
                               33[deg]51'07.9'' N.
                               lat. and
                               78[deg]32'32.6'' W.
                               long. to the
                               intersection point
                               with the outward
                               boundary of the EEZ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Migratory groups of cobia--(1) Gulf migratory group. In the 
EEZ, the Gulf migratory group is bounded by a line extending east from 
the U.S./Mexico border and a line extending due east from the Florida/
Georgia border. See Table 3 of this section for the boundary 
coordinates. (See Figure 3 in Appendix G of this part for 
illustration.)
    (i) Gulf zone. The Gulf zone encompasses an area of the EEZ north 
of a line extending east of the U.S./Mexico border, and north and west 
of the line of demarcation between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of 
Mexico (the Council boundary, as described in Sec.  600.105(c) of this 
chapter).
    (ii) Florida east coast zone. The Florida east coast zone 
encompasses an area of the EEZ south and east of the line of 
demarcation between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (as 
described in Sec.  600.105(c) of this chapter), and south of a line 
extending due east from the Florida/Georgia border.

[[Page 95949]]

    (2) Atlantic migratory group. In the EEZ, the Atlantic migratory 
group is bounded by a line extending from the intersection point of New 
York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (as described in Sec.  600.105(a) 
of this chapter) and a line extending due east of the Florida/Georgia 
border. See Table 3 of this section for the boundary coordinates. (See 
Figure 3 in Appendix G of this part for illustration.)

          Table 3 to Sec.   622.369--Cobia Description of Zones
       [For illustration, see Figure 3 in Appendix G of this part]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Area                   Boundary 1            Boundary 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf Migratory Group--Gulf    U.S./Mexico A line    Council Boundary--
 Zone.                         east of the           the intersection of
                               intersection of       the outer boundary
                               25[deg]58'30.57''     of the EEZ and
                               N. lat. and           83[deg]00' W.
                               96[deg]55'27.37''     long., north to
                               W. long.              24[deg]35' N. lat.,
                                                     (near the Dry
                                                     Tortugas Islands),
                                                     then east to the
                                                     mainland.
Gulf Migratory Group--        Council Boundary--    FL/GA
 Florida East Coast Zone.      the intersection of   30[deg]42'45.6'' N.
                               the outer boundary    lat.
                               of the EEZ and
                               83[deg]00' W.
                               long., north to
                               24[deg]35' N. lat.,
                               (near the Dry
                               Tortugas Islands),
                               then east to the
                               mainland.
Atlantic Migratory Group....  NY/CT/RI              FL/GA
                               41[deg]18'16.249''    30[deg]42'45.6'' N.
                               N. lat. and           lat.
                               71[deg]54'28.477''
                               W. long. southeast
                               to
                               37[deg]22'32.75''
                               N. lat. and the
                               intersection point
                               with the outward
                               boundary of the EEZ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
5. In Sec.  622.370, revise paragraph (a)(2), paragraph (b)(1) 
introductory text, and paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.370  Permits.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) Gillnets for king mackerel in the Gulf southern zone. For a 
person aboard a vessel to use a run-around gillnet for king mackerel in 
the southern zone (see Sec.  622.369(a)(1)(iii)), a commercial vessel 
permit for king mackerel and a king mackerel gillnet permit must have 
been issued to the vessel and must be on board. See Sec.  622.372 
regarding a limited access system applicable to king mackerel gillnet 
permits in the southern zone and restrictions on transferability of 
king mackerel gillnet permits.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) For a person aboard a vessel that is operating as a charter 
vessel or headboat to fish for or possess, in or from the EEZ, Gulf 
coastal migratory pelagic fish or Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic 
fish, a valid charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf coastal migratory 
pelagic fish or Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish, respectively, 
must have been issued to the vessel and must be on board.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Permits. For a dealer to first receive Gulf or Atlantic coastal 
migratory pelagic fish harvested in or from the EEZ, a Gulf and South 
Atlantic dealer permit must be issued to the dealer.
0
6. In Sec.  622.372, revise the section heading to read as follows:


Sec.  622.372  Limited access system for king mackerel gillnet permits 
applicable in the Gulf southern zone.

* * * * *
0
7. In Sec.  622.374, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii), and (c)(1) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  622.374  Recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Charter vessels. The owner or operator of a charter vessel for 
which a charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf or Atlantic coastal 
migratory pelagic fish has been issued, as required under Sec.  
622.370(b)(1), or whose vessel fishes for or lands Gulf or Atlantic 
coastal migratory fish in or from state waters adjoining the Gulf, 
South Atlantic, or Mid-Atlantic EEZ, who is selected to report by the 
SRD must maintain a fishing record for each trip, or a portion of such 
trips as specified by the SRD, on forms provided by the SRD and must 
submit such record as specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section.
    (ii) Headboats. The owner or operator of a headboat for which a 
charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf coastal migratory fish or 
Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish has been issued, as required 
under Sec.  622.370(b)(1), or whose vessel fishes for or lands Gulf or 
Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish in or from state waters 
adjoining the Gulf, South Atlantic, or Mid-Atlantic EEZ, who is 
selected to report by the SRD must submit an electronic fishing record 
for each trip of all fish harvested within the time period specified in 
paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section, via the Southeast Region Headboat 
Survey.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) A dealer who first receives Gulf or Atlantic coastal migratory 
pelagic fish must maintain records and submit information as specified 
in Sec.  622.5(c).
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  622.375, revise paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (b)(4) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.375   Authorized and unauthorized gear.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) King mackerel, Gulf migratory group--hook-and-line gear and, 
in the southern zone only, run-around gillnet. (See Sec.  
622.369(a)(1)(iii) for a description of the southern zone.)
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) Exception for king mackerel in the Gulf EEZ. The provisions of 
this paragraph (b)(4) apply to king mackerel taken in the Gulf EEZ and 
to such king mackerel possessed in the Gulf. Paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section notwithstanding, a person aboard a vessel that has a valid 
commercial permit for king mackerel is not subject to the bag limit for 
king mackerel when the vessel has on board on a trip unauthorized gear 
other than a drift gillnet in the Gulf EEZ, a long gillnet, or a run-
around gillnet in an area other than the southern zone. Thus, the 
following applies to a vessel that has a commercial permit for king 
mackerel:
    (i) Such vessel may not use unauthorized gear in a directed fishery 
for king mackerel in the Gulf EEZ.
    (ii) If such a vessel has a drift gillnet or a long gillnet on 
board or a run-around gillnet in an area other than the southern zone, 
no king mackerel may be possessed.
    (iii) If such a vessel has unauthorized gear on board other than a 
drift gillnet in the Gulf EEZ, a long gillnet, or a run-

[[Page 95950]]

around gillnet in an area other than the southern zone, the possession 
of king mackerel taken incidentally is restricted only by the closure 
provisions of Sec.  622.384(e) and the trip limits specified in Sec.  
622.385(a). See also Sec.  622.379 regarding the purse seine catch 
allowances of king mackerel.
* * * * *
0
9. In Sec.  622.378, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.378   Seasonal closures of the Gulf group king mackerel 
gillnet fishery.

    (a) Seasonal closures of the gillnet component for Gulf migratory 
group king mackerel. The gillnet component for Gulf migratory group 
king mackerel in or from the southern zone is closed each fishing year 
from July 1 until 6 a.m. on the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. 
Federal holiday. The gillnet component is open on the first weekend 
following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, provided a notification 
of closure has not been filed under Sec.  622.8(b). The gillnet 
component is closed all subsequent weekends and observed Federal 
holidays. Weekend closures are effective from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. 
Monday. Holiday closures are effective from 6 a.m. on the observed 
Federal holiday to 6 a.m. the following day. All times are eastern 
standard time. During these closures, a person aboard a vessel using or 
possessing a gillnet with a stretched-mesh size of 4.75 inches (12.1 
cm) or larger in the southern zone may not fish for or possess Gulf 
migratory group king mackerel. (See Sec.  622.369(a)(1)(iii) for a 
description of the southern zone.)
* * * * *
0
10. Amend Sec.  622.379 as follows:


Sec.  622.379   Incidental catch allowances.

    (a) Purse seine incidental catch allowance. A vessel in the EEZ, or 
having fished in the EEZ, with a purse seine on board will not be 
considered as fishing, or having fished, for king or Spanish mackerel 
in violation of a prohibition of purse seines under Sec.  622.375(b), 
in violation of the possession limits under Sec.  622.375(b)(3), or, in 
the case of king mackerel from the Atlantic migratory group, in 
violation of a closure effected in accordance with Sec.  622.8(b), 
provided the king mackerel on board does not exceed 1 percent, or the 
Spanish mackerel on board does not exceed 10 percent, of all fish on 
board the vessel. Incidental catch will be calculated by number and/or 
weight of fish. Neither calculation may exceed the allowable 
percentage. Incidentally caught king or Spanish mackerel are counted 
toward the quotas provided for under Sec.  622.384 and are subject to 
the prohibition of sale under Sec.  622.384(e)(3).
    (b) Shark gillnet incidental catch allowance. A vessel in the 
Atlantic EEZ with a valid Federal Atlantic commercial shark directed 
permit and a valid Federal king mackerel commercial permit that is 
engaged in directed shark fishing with gillnets that are not an 
authorized gear for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel (See Sec.  
622.375(a)(1)(i)), may retain and sell a limited number of king 
mackerel. Any king mackerel retained must be sold to a dealer with a 
valid Federal Gulf and South Atlantic dealer permit.
    (i) Northern zone. No more than three king mackerel per crew member 
may be retained or sold per trip (See Sec.  622.385(a)(1)(i) for the 
commercial trip limit for directed king mackerel trips using authorized 
gillnets (in the Atlantic EEZ north of 34[deg]37.3' N. lat, the 
latitude of Cape Lookout, NC)).
    (ii) Southern zone. No more than two king mackerel per crew member 
may be retained or sold per trip.
0
11. In Sec.  622.382, revise paragraph (a)(1)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.382  Bag and possession limits.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) Gulf migratory group king mackerel--3.
* * * * *
0
12. In Sec.  622.384:
0
A. Revise paragraphs (b) and (e) to read as follows:


 Sec.  622.384   Quotas.

* * * * *
    (b) King mackerel--(1) Gulf migratory group. The Gulf migratory 
group is divided into zones. The description of the zones is specified 
in Sec.  622.369(a). Quotas for the western, northern, and southern 
zones are as follows:
    (i) Western zone. The quota is 1,180,000 lb (535,239 kg) for the 
2016-2017 fishing year, 1,136,000 lb (515,281 kg) for the 2017-2018 
fishing year, 1,116,000 lb (506,209 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, 
and 1,096,000 lb (497,137 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
    (ii) Northern zone. The quota is 531,000 lb (240,858 kg) for the 
2016-2017 fishing year, 511,200 lb (231,876 kg) for the 2017-2018 
fishing year, 502,200 lb (227,794 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, 
and 493,200 lb (223,712 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
    (iii) Southern zone. (A) The hook-and-line quota is 619,500 lb 
(281,000 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 596,400 lb (270,522 kg) 
for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 585,900 lb (265,760 kg) for the 2018-
2019 fishing year, and 575,400 lb (260,997 kg) for the 2019-2020 
fishing year and subsequent fishing years.
    (B) The run-around gillnet quota is 619,500 lb (281,000 kg) for the 
2016-2017 fishing year, 596,400 lb (270,522 kg) for the 2017-2018 
fishing year, 585,900 lb (265,760 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, 
and 575,400 lb (260,997 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
    (2) Atlantic migratory group. The Atlantic migratory group is 
divided into northern and southern zones. The descriptions of the zones 
are specified in Sec.  622.369(a). Quotas for the northern and southern 
zones for the 2016-2017 fishing year and subsequent years are as 
follows:
    (i) Northern zone--The quota is 1,497,600 lb (679,300 kg) for the 
2016-2017 fishing year, 1,259,360 lb (571,236 kg) for the 2017-2018 
fishing year, 1,198,080 lb (543,440 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year 
and 1,082,880 lb (491,186 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years. No more than 0.40 million lb (0.18 million 
kg) may be harvested by purse seine gear.
    (ii) Southern zone. The annual quota is 5,002,400 lb (2,269,050 kg) 
for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 4,540,640 lb (2,059,600 kg) for the 
2017-2018 fishing year, 4,001,920 lb (1,815,240 kg) for the 2018-2019 
fishing year and 3,617,120 lb (1,640,698 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing 
year and subsequent fishing years.
    (A) For the period March 1 through September 30, each year, the 
seasonal quota is 3,001,440 lb (1,361,430 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing 
year, 2,724,384 lb (1,235,760 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 
2,401,152 lb (1,089,144 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year and 
2,170,272 lb (984,419 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent 
fishing years.
    (B) For the period October 1 through the end of February each year, 
the seasonal quota is 2,000,960 lb (907,620 kg) for the 2016-2017 
fishing year, 1,816,256 lb (823,840 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 
1,600,768 lb (726,096 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year and 1,446,848 
lb (656,279 kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years.
    (C) Any unused portion of the quota specified in paragraph 
(b)(2)(ii)(A) of this section will be added to the quota specified in 
paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(B) of this section. Any unused portion of the 
quota specified in paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, including 
any addition of quota specified in paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(A) of this 
section that was unused, will become void at the end of

[[Page 95951]]

the fishing year and will not be added to any subsequent quota.
    (iii) Quota transfers. North Carolina or Florida, in consultation 
with the other states in their respective zones, may request approval 
from the RA to transfer part or all of their respective zone's annual 
commercial quota to the other zone. Requests for transfer of commercial 
quota for king mackerel must be made by a letter signed by the 
principal state official with marine fishery management responsibility 
and expertise of the state requesting the transfer, or his/her 
previously named designee. The letter must certify that all pertinent 
state requirements have been met and identify the states involved and 
the amount of quota to be transferred. For the purposes of quota 
closures as described in Sec.  622.8, the receiving zone's quota will 
be the original quota plus any transferred amount, for that fishing 
season only. Landings associated with any transferred quota will be 
included in the total landings for the Atlantic migratory group, which 
will be evaluated relative to the total ACL.
    (A) Within 10 working days following the receipt of the letter from 
the state requesting the transfer, the RA shall notify the appropriate 
state officials of the disposition of the request. In evaluating 
requests to transfer a quota, the RA shall consider whether:
    (1) The transfer would allow the overall annual quota to be fully 
harvested; and
    (2) The transfer is consistent with the objectives of the FMP and 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    (B) The transfer of quota will be valid only for the fishing year 
for which the request was made and does not permanently alter the 
quotas specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (b)(2)(ii) of this 
section.
    (3) Transit provisions applicable in areas closed due to a quota 
closure for king mackerel. A vessel with a valid commercial vessel 
permit for king mackerel that has onboard king mackerel harvested in an 
open area of the EEZ may transit through areas closed to the harvest of 
king mackerel due to a quota closure, if fishing gear is appropriately 
stowed. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of this section, transit means 
direct and non-stop continuous course through the area. To be 
appropriately stowed fishing gear means--
    (i) A gillnet must be left on the drum. Any additional gillnets not 
attached to the drum must be stowed below deck.
    (ii) A rod and reel must be removed from the rod holder and stowed 
securely on or below deck. Terminal gear (i.e., hook, leader, sinker, 
flasher, or bait) must be disconnected and stowed separately from the 
rod and reel. Sinkers must be disconnected from the down rigger and 
stowed separately.
* * * * *
    (e) Restrictions applicable after a quota closure. (1) A person 
aboard a vessel for which a commercial permit for king or Spanish 
mackerel has been issued, as required under Sec.  622.370(a)(1) or (3), 
may not fish for king or Spanish mackerel in the EEZ or retain king or 
Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ under a bag or possession limit 
specified in Sec.  622.382(a) for the closed species, migratory group, 
zone, or gear, except as provided for under paragraph (e)(2) of this 
section.
    (2) A person aboard a vessel for which valid charter vessel/
headboat permits for Gulf coastal migratory pelagic fish or Atlantic 
coastal migratory pelagic fish and a valid commercial vessel permit for 
king or Spanish mackerel have been issued may continue to retain fish 
under a bag and possession limit specified in Sec.  622.382(a), 
provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.
    (3) The sale or purchase of king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or 
cobia of the closed species, migratory group, zone, or gear type, is 
prohibited, including any king or Spanish mackerel taken under the bag 
limits, or cobia taken under the limited-harvest species possession 
limit specified in Sec.  622.383(b). The prohibition on sale/purchase 
during a closure for coastal migratory pelagic fish does not apply to 
coastal migratory pelagic fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and 
sold prior to the effective date of the closure and were held in cold 
storage by a dealer or processor.
0
13. In Sec.  622.385, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


 Sec.  622.385   Commercial trip limits.

    (a) King mackerel--(1) Atlantic migratory group. The following trip 
limits apply to vessels for which commercial permits for king mackerel 
have been issued, as required under Sec.  622.370(a)(1):
    (i) North of 29[deg]25' N. lat., which is a line directly east from 
the Flagler/Volusia County, FL, boundary, 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).
    (ii) In the area between 29[deg]25' N. lat., which is a line 
directly east from the Flagler/Volusia County, FL, boundary, and 
29[deg]25' N. lat., which is a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/
Monroe County, FL boundary king mackerel in or from the EEZ may not be 
possessed on board or landed from a vessel in a day in amounts not to 
exceed:
    (A) From March 1 through March 31--50 fish.
    (B) From April through September--75 fish, unless NMFS determines 
that 75 percent or more of the quota specified in 622.384(b)(2)(ii)(A) 
has been landed, then, 50 fish.
    (C) From October 1 through January 31--50 fish.
    (D) From February 1 through the end of February--50 fish, unless 
NMFS determines that less than 70 percent of the quota specified in 
Sec.  622.384(b)(2)(ii)(B) has been landed, then, 75 fish.
    (2) Gulf migratory group. Commercial trip limits are established in 
the southern, northern, and western zones as follows. (See Sec.  
622.369(a) for descriptions of the southern, northern, and western 
zones.)
    (i) Southern zone--(A) Gillnet gear. (1) King mackerel in or from 
the EEZ may be possessed on board or landed from a vessel for which a 
commercial vessel permit for king mackerel and a king mackerel gillnet 
permit have been issued, as required under Sec.  622.370(a)(2), in 
amounts not exceeding 45,000 lb (20,411 kg) per day.
    (2) King mackerel in or from the EEZ may be possessed on board or 
landed from a vessel that uses or has on board a run-around gillnet on 
a trip only when such vessel has on board a commercial vessel permit 
for king mackerel and a king mackerel gillnet permit.
    (3) King mackerel from the southern zone landed by a vessel for 
which a commercial vessel permit for king mackerel and a king mackerel 
gillnet permit have been issued will be counted against the run-around 
gillnet quota specified in Sec.  622.384(b)(1)(iii)(B).
    (4) King mackerel in or from the EEZ harvested with gear other than 
run-around gillnet may not be retained on board a vessel for which a 
commercial vessel permit for king mackerel and a king mackerel gillnet 
permit have been issued.
    (B) Hook-and-line gear. King mackerel in or from the EEZ may be 
possessed on board or landed from a vessel with a commercial permit for 
king mackerel, as required by Sec.  622.370(a)(1), and operating under 
the hook-and-line gear quotas in Sec.  622.384(b)(1)(iii)(A) in amounts 
not exceeding 1,250 lb (567 kg) per day.
    (ii) Northern zone. King mackerel in or from the EEZ may be 
possessed on board or landed from a vessel for which a commercial 
permit for king mackerel has been issued, as required under

[[Page 95952]]

Sec.  622.370(a)(1), in amounts not exceeding 1,250 lb (567 kg) per 
day.
    (iii) Western zone. King mackerel in or from the EEZ may be 
possessed on board or landed from a vessel for which a commercial 
permit for king mackerel has been issued, as required under Sec.  
622.370(a)(1), in amounts not exceeding 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) per day.
* * * * *
0
14. In Sec.  622.388, revise paragraphs (a), (b), (d)(2)(i), and 
(f)(2)(i) to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (a) Gulf migratory group king mackerel--(1) Commercial sector--(i) 
If commercial landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected 
to reach the applicable quota specified in Sec.  622.384(b)(1), the AA 
will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to 
close the commercial sector for that zone, or gear type for the 
remainder of the fishing year.
    (ii) The commercial ACL for the Gulf migratory group of king 
mackerel is 2.95 million lb (1.34 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing 
year, 2.84 million lb (1.29 million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 
2.79 million lb (1.27 million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 
2.74 million lb (1.24 million kg) for the 2019-2020 and subsequent 
fishing years. This 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 2,330,500 lb (1,057,097 kg) for 2016-2017 
fishing year, 2,243,600 lb (1,017,680 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing 
year, 2,204,100 lb (999,763 kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 
2,164,600 lb (981,846 kg) for the 2019-2020 and subsequent fishing 
years. The run-around gillnet ACL (which applies to the southern zone) 
is 619,500 lb (281,000 kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 596,400 lb 
(270,522 kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 585,900 lb (265,760 kg) 
for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 575,400 lb (260,997 kg) for 2019-
2020 and subsequent fishing years.
    (iii) If commercial landings of Gulf migratory group king mackerel 
caught by run-around gillnet in the southern zone, as estimated by the 
SRD, exceed the commercial ACL, the AA will file a notification with 
the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the commercial ACL for 
king mackerel harvested by run-around gillnet in the southern zone in 
the following fishing year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage 
in the prior fishing year.
    (2) Recreational sector. If recreational landings, as estimated by 
the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL of 6.26 
million lb (2.84 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 6.04 
million lb (2.74 million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 5.92 
million lb (2.69 million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 5.81 
million lb (2.64 million kg) for the 2019-2020 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.
    (3) For purposes of tracking the ACL, recreational landings will be 
monitored based on the commercial fishing year.
    (b) Atlantic migratory group king mackerel--(1) Commercial sector--
(i) If commercial landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are 
projected to reach the applicable quota for the zone or season 
specified in Sec.  622.384(b)(2), the AA will file a notification with 
the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for 
that zone for the remainder of the applicable fishing season or fishing 
year.
    (ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) 
of this section, if the sum of the commercial and recreational 
landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified 
in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and Atlantic migratory group king 
mackerel are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. 
Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the 
Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the 
following fishing year to reduce the commercial quota for that zone for 
that following year by the amount of any commercial sector overage in 
the prior fishing year for that zone.
    (iii) The commercial ACL for the Atlantic migratory group of king 
mackerel is 6.5 million lb (2.9 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing 
year, 5.9 million lb (2.7 million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 
5.2 million lb (2.4 million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 4.7 
million lb (2.1 million kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
    (2) Recreational sector. (i) If the recreational landings, exceed 
the recreational ACL as specified in this paragraph and the sum of the 
commercial and recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds 
the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the AA 
will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or 
near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the bag 
limit by the amount necessary to ensure recreational landings may 
achieve the recreational ACT, but do not exceed the recreational ACL, 
in the following fishing year.
    The recreational ACT is 10.1 million lb (4.6 million kg) for the 
2016-2017 fishing year, 9.2 million lb (4.2 million kg) for the 2017-
2018 fishing year, 8.3 million lb (3.8 million kg) for the 2018-2019 
fishing year, and 7.4 million lb (3.4 million kg) for the 2019-2020 
fishing year and subsequent fishing years. The recreational ACL is 10.9 
million lb (4.9 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 9.9 million 
lb (4.5 million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 8.9 million lb (4.0 
million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 8.0 million lb (3.6 
million kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and subsequent fishing 
years.
    (ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) 
of this section, if the sum of the commercial and recreational 
landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified 
in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and Atlantic migratory group king 
mackerel are overfished, based on the most recent status of U.S. 
Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the 
Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the 
following fishing year to reduce the recreational ACL and ACT for that 
following year by the amount of any recreational sector overage in the 
prior fishing year.
    (iii) For purposes of tracking the ACL, recreational landings will 
be evaluated based on the commercial fishing year, March through 
February. Recreational landings will be evaluated relative to the ACL 
based on a moving multi-year average of landings, as described in the 
FMP.
    (3) The stock ACL for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel is 
17.4 million lb (7.9 million kg) for the 2016-2017 fishing year, 15.8 
million lb (7.2 million kg) for the 2017-2018 fishing year, 14.1 
million lb (6.4 million kg) for the 2018-2019 fishing year, and 12.7 
million lb (5.8 million kg) for the 2019-2020 fishing year and 
subsequent fishing years.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) If the recreational landings exceed the recreational ACL as 
specified in this paragraph and the sum of the commercial and 
recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the

[[Page 95953]]

stock ACL, as specified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the AA 
will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or 
near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the bag 
limit by the amount necessary to ensure recreational landings may 
achieve the recreational ACT, but do not exceed the recreational ACL, 
in the following fishing year. The recreational ACT for the Atlantic 
migratory group is 2.364 million lb (1.072 million kg). The 
recreational ACL for the Atlantic migratory group is 2.727 million lb 
(1.236 million kg).
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) If landings of cobia that are not sold exceed the ACL specified 
in this paragraph and the sum of the cobia landings that are sold and 
not sold, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as specified 
in paragraph (f)(3) of this section, the AA will file a notification 
with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of 
the following fishing year to reduce the length of the following 
fishing season by the amount necessary to ensure landings may achieve 
the applicable ACT, but do not exceed the applicable ACL in the 
following fishing year. The applicable ACTs for the Atlantic migratory 
group of cobia are 550,000 lb (249,476 kg) for 2014, 520,000 lb 
(235,868 kg) for 2015, and 500,000 lb (226,796 kg) for 2016 and 
subsequent fishing years. The applicable ACLs for the Atlantic 
migratory group of cobia are 670,000 lb (303,907 kg) for 2014, 630,000 
lb (285,763 kg) for 2015, and 620,000 lb (281,227 kg) for 2016 and 
subsequent fishing years.
* * * * *
0
15. Revise Appendix G to Part 622 to read as follows:
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Appendix G to Part 622 Coastal Migratory Pelagics Zone Illustration

 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29DE16.017


[[Page 95954]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29DE16.018


[[Page 95955]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29DE16.019

[FR Doc. 2016-31066 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-C