The daily vessel trip limit for commercial vessels fishing for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel in federal waters of the southern zone is adjusted to 1,500 pounds, effective 6 a.m. local time, January 17, 2014.
Atlantic group Spanish mackerel are divided into northern and southern zones for management purposes. The southern zone extends from a line directly east from the Georgia/Florida boundary to a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida, boundary.
The commercial quota for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel is 3.13 million pounds. In the southern zone, seasonally variable trip limits are based on an adjusted quota of 2.88 million pounds.
Since December 1, 2013, the trip limit has been unlimited on weekdays and 1,500 pounds per day on weekends. After 75 per cent of the adjusted quota of Atlantic group Spanish mackerel has been reached, a 1,500-pound per day vessel trip limit applies through the end of the fishing year or until 100 percent of the adjusted quota is met, after which the trip limit will be reduced to 500 pounds.
NOAA Fisheries has determined 75 per cent of the adjusted quota for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel will be taken by January 16, 2014. Accordingly, the 1,500-pound per day commercial trip limit applies to Spanish mackerel in the southern zone effective 6 a.m., local time, January 17, 2014, through February 28, 2014, unless changed by further notification in the Federal Register.
