KEY MESSAGE:
- NOAA Fisheries announces a temporary rule to increase the commercial king mackerel trip limit from 50 to 75 fish in the Atlantic Southern Zone during Season 2 (October 1, 2019, through February 29, 2020).
- The commercial trip limit will increase in federal waters in the area between the Flagler/Volusia County, Florida, boundary and the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida, boundary.
WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:
- This change to the commercial trip limit will be effective on October 1, 2019.
WHAT THIS MEANS:
- At their June 2019 meeting, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council requested an emergency rule to increase the commercial trip limit for king mackerel in the Atlantic southern zone during Season 2 (October-February) of the 2019/2020 fishing year.
- From October 1, 2019, through February 29, 2020, the commercial trip limit for Atlantic king mackerel will be 75 fish in federal waters between the Flagler/Volusia County, Florida, boundary and the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida, boundary.
- The temporary rule will also remove the potential for a trip limit reduction in February 2020 from 75 to 50 fish when 70 percent of the quota is reached.
- There are no changes to the Season 2 trip limit in federal waters north of Volusia County, Florida.
- The increase in trip limit is necessary to prevent unnecessary economic losses and will substantially increase the likelihood of achieving optimum yield for king mackerel in the 2019/2020 fishing year.
- The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently developing a framework amendment to consider changes to the commercial king mackerel trip limits in Season 2 in the Atlantic Southern Zone in future years.
This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
For more information on the emergency rule, you may contact the following:
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
By Mail: Karla Gore
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
By Phone: (727) 824-5305, By FAX: (727) 824-5308
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