4216 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 17 / Tuesday, January 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

Use and Care of Laboratory Animals 

March 2015 

(a) Use of laboratory animals. (1) Before 

undertaking performance of any contract 

involving the use of laboratory animals, the 

contractor shall register with the Secretary of 

Agriculture of the United States in 

accordance with the Secretary of Agriculture 

of the United States in accordance with the 

Animal Welfare Act of 1966, as amended 

(AWA), codified at 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq. and 

promulgated at 9 CFR parts 1–4. The 

contractor shall furnish evidence of such 

registration to the contracting officer. 

(2) The contractor shall acquire animals 

used in research and development programs 

from a dealer licensed by the Secretary of 

Agriculture, or from exempted sources in 

accordance with 9 CFR 2.25–2.28. Animals 

shall not be acquired from any random 

source Class B dealer. 

(3) The contractor may request registration 

of his/her facility and a current listing of 

licensed dealers from the Regional Office of 

the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), USDA, for the region in 

which his/her research facility is located. 

The location of the appropriate APHIS 

Regional Office as well as information 

concerning this program may be obtained at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/contact_us/. 

(b) Care of laboratory animals. (1) In the 

care of any live animals used or intended for 

use in the performance of this contract, the 

contractor shall adhere to: 

(i) The standards and practices 

incorporated in the Guide for Care and Use 

of Laboratory Animals, prepared by the 

Institute of Laboratory Animal Research of 

the National Research Council of the 

National Academies (ILAR/NRC), 

(ii) The Animal Welfare Regulations found 

in 9 CFR parts 1–4, and 

(iii) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) 

Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on the 

Humane Care and Use of Laboratory 

Animals. 

(2) In case of conflict between standards, 

the higher standard shall be used. 

(3) The contractor’s reports on portions of 

the contract in which animals were used 

shall contain a certificate stating that the 

animals were cared for in accordance with 

the principles enunciated in the Guide for 

Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 

prepared by the ILAR/NRC, and/or in the 

Animal Welfare Regulations found in 9 CFR 

parts 1–4. 

(End of clause) 

[FR Doc. 2015–01166 Filed 1–26–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 622 

[Docket No. 131211999–5045–02] 

RIN 0648–BD86 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal 

Migratory Pelagic Resources in the 

Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; 

Amendment 20B 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to 

implement Amendment 20B to the 

Fishery Management Plan for the 

Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources 

(CMP) in the exclusive economic zone 

(EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic 

Region (FMP) (Amendment 20B), as 

prepared and submitted by the Gulf of 

Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic 

Fishery Management Councils 

(Councils). This rule modifies Gulf 

migratory group king mackerel trip 

limits and fishing years, allows transit 

through areas closed to king mackerel 

fishing, creates zones and quotas for 

Atlantic migratory group king and 

Spanish mackerel, modifies the 

framework procedures for the FMP, 

increases annual catch limits (ACLs) 

and annual catch targets (ACTs) for 

cobia, and creates an east coast zone and 

quotas for Gulf migratory group cobia. 

In addition, this rule reorganizes the 

description of CMP zones in the 

regulations and clarifies that spearguns 

and powerheads are allowable gear for 

cobia in Federal waters of the South 

Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic regions. The 

purpose of this rule is to help achieve 

optimum yield (OY) for the CMP fishery 

while ensuring allocations are fair and 

equitable and fishery resources are 

utilized efficiently. 

DATES: This rule is effective March 1, 

2015. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of 

Amendment 20B, which includes an 

environmental assessment, a Regulatory 

Flexibility Act analysis, and a regulatory 

impact review, may be obtained from 

the Southeast Regional Office Web site 

at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/

sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/

index.html. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727–824– 

5305, or email: Susan.Gerhart@

noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CMP 

fishery in the Gulf and Atlantic is 

managed under the FMP. The FMP was 

prepared by the Councils and 

implemented through regulations at 50 

CFR part 622 under the authority of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). 

On October 17, 2014, NMFS 

published a notice of availability for 

Amendment 20B and requested public 

comment (79 FR 62410). On October 31, 

2014, NMFS published a proposed rule 

for Amendment 20B and requested 

public comment (79 FR 64728). The 

proposed rule and Amendment 20B 

outline the rationale for the actions 

contained in this final rule. A summary 

of the actions implemented by this final 

rule is provided below. 

Management Measures Contained in 

Amendment 20B and This Final Rule 

Amendment 20B and this rule modify 

Gulf migratory group king mackerel trip 

limits and fishing years, allow transit 

through areas closed to king mackerel 

fishing, create zones and quotas for 

Atlantic migratory group king and 

Spanish mackerel, modify the 

framework procedures for the FMP, 

increase ACLs and ACTs for cobia, and 

create an east coast zone and quotas for 

Gulf migratory group cobia. The 

purpose of this rule is to help achieve 

OY for the CMP fishery while ensuring 

allocations are fair and equitable and 

fishery resources are utilized efficiently. 

Gulf Migratory Group King Mackerel 

Commercial Hook-and-Line Trip Limits 

This final rule removes the Gulf 

migratory group king mackerel hookand-line trip limit reduction for the 

northern and southern subzones of the 

Gulf eastern zone’s Florida west coast 

subzone, to allow the harvest of 1,250 lb 

(567 kg) per day until the quota for the 

subzone has been met or projected to be 

met and the respective subzone is 

closed to king mackerel harvest. 

Gulf Migratory Group Eastern Zone 

Northern and Southern Subzone King 

Mackerel Fishing Years 

This rule changes the Florida west 

coast northern subzone fishing year to 

October 1 through September 30. The 

fishing year for the Florida west coast 

southern subzone will remain July 1 

through June 30. 

Transit Through Areas Closed to King 

Mackerel 

This rule allows a vessel with a valid 

commercial vessel permit for king 


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mackerel that has onboard king 

mackerel harvested in an open area of 

the EEZ to 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 this provision, transit means a direct 

and non-stop continuous course through 

the area. Fishing gear appropriately 

stowed means that: (1) A gillnet must be 

left on the drum (any additional gillnets 

not attached to the drum must be 

stowed below deck), (2) a rod and reel 

must be removed from the rod holder 

and stowed securely on or below deck, 

(3) terminal gear (i.e., hook, leader, 

sinker, flasher, or bait) must be 

disconnected and stowed separately 

from the rod and reel, and (4) sinkers 

must be disconnected from the down 

rigger and stowed separately. 

Atlantic Migratory Group King and 

Spanish Mackerel Zones 

This rule creates northern and 

southern zones for Atlantic migratory 

group king and Spanish mackerel, each 

with separate commercial quotas. The 

boundary between the zones is a line 

extending from the South Carolina/

North Carolina state line. The 

commercial ACL is split between the 

zones based on landings from the 2002/ 

2003–2011/2012 fishing years. The 

northern zone allocation was calculated 

using combined commercial landings 

from North Carolina, Virginia, 

Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New 

Jersey, and New York. The southern 

zone allocation was calculated using 

combined commercial landings from 

South Carolina, Georgia, the Florida east 

coast, and Florida Keys on the Atlantic 

side. 

For king mackerel, applying this 

formula results in an allocation of 33.3 

percent for the northern zone and 66.7 

percent for the southern zone. For 

Spanish mackerel, the formula results in 

an allocation of 19.9 percent for the 

northern zone and 80.1 percent for the 

southern zone. NMFS will monitor the 

commercial quotas, and close Federal 

waters in each zone when the respective 

quota is reached or projected to be 

reached. Transfer of quota between 

zones is allowed through a request to 

NMFS initiated by either North Carolina 

(northern zone) or Florida (southern 

zone). The recreational ACLs for 

Atlantic migratory group king and 

Spanish mackerel will remain 

unchanged. 

Modifications to the FMP Framework 

Procedures 

This rule allows modification to 

certain management measures under the 

standard documentation process of the 

open framework procedure. These 

management measures include 

acceptable biological catches (ABCs) 

and ABC control rules, ACLs and ACL 

control rules, and accountability 

measures. This rule also modifies the 

framework procedures to the FMP to 

designate responsibility to each council 

(Gulf or South Atlantic) for setting 

specified management measures for the 

migratory groups of each species in their 

respective regions. Additionally, ‘‘sale 

and purchase restrictions’’ and ‘‘transfer 

at sea provisions’’ are removed from the 

list in § 622.389. 

Cobia Zones, ACLs, and ACTs 

Based on the results of the most 

recent stock assessment for Gulf and 

South Atlantic cobia, this rule divides 

Gulf migratory group cobia into a Gulf 

zone (Texas through the Gulf side of the 

Florida Keys) and a Florida east coast 

zone (east coast of Florida and Atlantic 

side of the Florida Keys, i.e., the area 

within the South Atlantic Council’s 

jurisdiction). The Gulf ACL is allocated 

between the zones based on landings 

from the 1998–2012 fishing years. The 

South Atlantic Council is responsible 

for regulations for the Florida east coast 

zone, similar to management of the 

Florida east coast subzone for king 

mackerel. This rule also increases the 

ACLs for both migratory groups, the 

recreational ACT for the Atlantic 

migratory group, and the stock ACT for 

the Gulf zone. 

Additional Management Measures 

Contained in This Final Rule 

This rule reorganizes the description 

of the CMP zones and subzones and 

adds § 622.369 to the codified text to 

describe the zones and Appendix G to 

part 622 to represent the zones in 

figures. In addition, this rule clarifies 

that spearguns and powerheads are 

allowable gear for cobia in Federal 

waters of the South Atlantic and MidAtlantic regions. 

Comments and Responses 

NMFS received a total of 11 

submissions from the public, 3 of which 

were duplicates. Within the 8 unique 

submissions, some comments addressed 

issues beyond the scope of the proposed 

rule. NMFS identified 4 issues related to 

Amendment 20B and its proposed rule. 

These comments and NMFS’ respective 

responses are summarized below. 

Comment 1: Changing the start of the 

fishing year for the Florida west coast 

northern subzone to a date that is later 

than the start of the fishing year for the 

Gulf western zone will result in a very 

short fishing season for the northern 

subzone. When the western zone quota 

is filled, most of the traveling fishermen 

will move over to the northern subzone 

and quickly catch the small quota. 

Response: NMFS disagrees that 

changing the start of the fishing year for 

the Florida west coast northern subzone 

from July 1 to October 1 will allow the 

quota for that zone to be harvested 

substantially faster than occurs now. 

Currently, fishermen travel from the 

Atlantic coast fish in the western zone 

until that quota is met, and then move 

to the northern subzone and quickly 

harvest that quota. Delaying the start of 

the northern subzone fishing year until 

October is not likely to change this 

pattern unless one of two things occur, 

either of which could discourage 

traveling fishermen from fishing in the 

northern subzone. First, the delay in the 

opening of the northern subzone could 

result in a period of time when both the 

western zone and northern subzones are 

closed. This could decrease the number 

of fishers staying in the northern Gulf 

waiting for the northern subzone to 

open. Second, the delay in opening 

could allow the fish to migrate to the 

southern part of the northern subzone, 

which extends down the west coast of 

Florida, before the quota is met and the 

subzone is closed. The traveling 

fishermen do not generally follow the 

fish as they migrate south, leaving these 

fish available to the local fisherman in 

this part of the northern subzone. 

Comment 2: A strong market for king 

mackerel exists in the northeastern 

United States and eastern Canada 

during the summer months. To take 

greatest advantage of this market the 

western zone and the Florida west coast 

northern subzone should both open at 

least by June 1, if not May 1. 

Response: NMFS disagrees that 

having a May 1 or June 1 opening date 

would result in fishermen being able to 

take advantage of a strong market during 

the summer. Although niche markets 

may arise, over the period 2011–2013, 

the average price per pound (round 

weight; NMFS Fisheries Statistics 

Division) for king mackerel harvested in 

the Gulf was highest in the fall 

(September through December), 

followed by the summer (June through 

August), and the winter/spring (January 

through May). Although other price 

determinants may have applied, these 

prices reflected the volume of king 

mackerel sold, with the highest average 

prices associated with the lowest 

amounts of king mackerel sold, the 

lowest average prices with the highest 

amounts sold, etc. Average prices in 

May and June have likely been high due 

to the low volume of king mackerel sold 

during these months and, as a result, 

prices would be expected to fall if the 


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4218 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 17 / Tuesday, January 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

start of the seasons were adjusted to 

allow increased harvests during these 

months. 

Comment 3: The daily trip limits for 

king mackerel in the Gulf should be 

kept low to extend the season to at least 

6 months and to increase prices. The 

only reason the season is open as long 

as it is now is because of the 500-lb 

(227-kg) reduction once the 75-percent 

level is reached. Taking away that 

reduction will only shorten the season 

even more. Also, currently, the season 

closes before king mackerel reach the 

southern part of the northern subzone in 

the eastern Gulf. The king mackerel 

fishermen in the southern part of the 

zone may be able to catch king mackerel 

once they arrive back south after the 

migration if a lower trip limit is 

implemented. 

Response: NMFS disagrees that the 

500-lb (227-kg) trip limit reduction 

makes any substantial difference in the 

season length and agrees with the 

Council’s decision to remove this inseason reduction. The estimated 

difference in the season length for the 

northern subzone with and without the 

trip limit reduction is only 3 days. In 

addition, the trip limit reduction is 

difficult to implement in a timely 

manner. Regarding the permanent trip 

limit, the Council did not consider any 

trip limits lower than the current 1,250 

lb (567 kg) for Gulf migratory grouper 

king mackerel in Amendment 20B. 

Although a lower trip limit could 

extend the season, testimony from 

fishermen indicated that the cost of fuel 

versus the income from a small amount 

of fish would be too high to maintain a 

profit. However, as explained in the 

response to Comment 2, changing the 

start of the fishing year in the northern 

subzone to October 1 could allow the 

fish to migrate back to the south before 

the season closes, providing additional 

fishing opportunities for those in the 

southern part of that zone. 

Comment 4: One commenter noted 

that the creation of northern and 

southern zones for Atlantic migratory 

group Spanish mackerel would include 

an increased trip limit and that there 

was no upper limit on pounds of 

mackerel allowed. 

Response: The trip limits and catch 

limits for Atlantic migratory group 

Spanish mackerel will not be affected by 

Amendment 20B. The trip limit in both 

zones will remain 3,500 lb (1,588 kg), 

except off Florida, where the trip limit 

changes throughout the year. The ACL 

will remain in place; the only change 

implemented in this final rule is that the 

ACL will be divided between the two 

zones as separate quotas. The Spanish 

mackerel ACL was recently increased 

through a separate action effective 

December 22, 2014 (79 FR 69058, 

November 20, 2014). 

Changes From the Proposed Rule 

A final rule for CMP Framework 

Amendment 1, effective on December 

22, 2014 (79 FR 69058, November 20, 

2014), increased the ACLs for Atlantic 

migratory group Spanish mackerel, 

based on the results of the most recent 

stock assessments for Atlantic and Gulf 

migratory group Spanish mackerel. 

Therefore, this final rule applied the 

allocation formula in Amendment 20B 

to the revised ACLs, resulting in quotas 

for the northern and southern zone for 

Atlantic migratory group Spanish 

mackerel that are greater than those 

proposed. 

Classification 

The Regional Administrator, 

Southeast Region, NMFS, has 

determined that this final rule is 

necessary for the conservation and 

management of Atlantic and Gulf 

migratory groups of king mackerel, 

Spanish mackerel, and cobia and is 

consistent with Amendment 20B, the 

FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 

other applicable law. 

This final rule has been determined to 

be not significant for purposes of 

Executive Order 12866. 

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of 

the Department of Commerce certified 

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 

Small Business Administration during 

the proposed rule stage that this rule 

would not have a significant economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. The factual basis for this 

determination was published in the 

proposed rule and is not repeated here. 

Comments on the effects of setting 

different start dates for the Florida west 

coast Northern Subzone and the 

Western Zone, and the market 

incentives of the season start date are 

addressed in the comments and 

responses section of this final rule. No 

changes to the final rule were made in 

response to these comments. As a result, 

a final regulatory flexibility analysis was 

not required and none was prepared. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622 

Atlantic, Coastal Migratory Pelagic 

Resources, Cobia, Fisheries, Fishing, 

Gulf, King mackerel, Spanish mackerel. 

Dated: January 22, 2015. 

Eileen Sobeck, 

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended 

as follows: 

PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE 

CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND 

SOUTH ATLANTIC 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 622 

continues to read as follows: 

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

■ 2. In § 622.2, the definition of 

‘‘Migratory group, for king mackerel, 

Spanish mackerel, and cobia’’ is revised 

to read as follows: 

§ 622.2 Definitions and acronyms. 

* * * * * 

Migratory group, for king mackerel, 

Spanish mackerel, and cobia, means a 

group of fish that may or may not be a 

separate genetic stock, but that is treated 

as a separate stock for management 

purposes. King mackerel, Spanish 

mackerel, and cobia are divided into 

migratory groups—the boundaries 

between these groups are specified in 

§ 622.369. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. In § 622.7, paragraph (b)(1) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 622.7 Fishing years. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(1) Gulf migratory group king 

mackerel—(i) Eastern zone—July 1 

through June 30, except the northern 

subzone of the Florida west coast 

subzone, which has a fishing year of 

October 1 through September 30. 

(ii) Western zone—July 1 through June 

30. 

* * * * * 

■ 4. Add § 622.369 to subpart Q to read 

as follows: 

§ 622.369 Description of zones and 

subzones. 

(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 the summer/winter 

jurisdictional boundary. The Atlantic 

migratory group is bound by the 

summer/winter jurisdictional boundary 

and a line from the intersection point of 

Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New 

York (as described in § 600.105(a) of this 

chapter). From April 1 through October 

31, the summer jurisdictional boundary 

separates the Gulf and Atlantic 

migratory groups of king mackerel by a 

line extending due west from the 

Monroe/Collier County, FL, boundary. 

From November 1 through March 31, 

the winter jurisdictional boundary 

separates the Gulf and Atlantic 

migratory groups of king mackerel by a 


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line extending due east from the 

Volusia/Flagler County, FL, boundary. 

See Table 1 of this section for the 

boundary coordinates. See Figures 1 and 

2 in Appendix G of this part for 

illustration. 

(1) Gulf migratory group. The Gulf 

migratory group is divided into western 

and eastern zones separated by a line 

extending due south from the Alabama/ 

Florida border. See Table 1 of this 

section for the boundary coordinates. 

See Figures 1 and 2 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 US/

Mexico border, and west of a line 

extending due south of the Alabama/

Florida border, including the EEZ off 

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and 

Alabama. This zone remains the same 

year round. 

(ii) Eastern zone. The eastern zone is 

divided into the Florida west coast 

subzone and the Florida east coast 

subzone. 

(A) Florida west coast subzone. The 

Florida west coast subzone is further 

divided into the northern and southern 

subzones by a line extending due west 

from the Lee/Collier County, FL, 

boundary. 

(1) Northern subzone. The northern 

subzone 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, FL, boundary, and 

remains the same area year round. 

(2) Southern subzone. From 

November 1 through March 31, the 

southern subzone encompasses an area 

of the EEZ south of a line extending due 

west of the Lee/Collier County, FL, 

boundary on the Florida west coast, and 

south of a line extending due east of the 

Monroe/Miami-Dade County, FL, 

boundary on the Florida east coast, 

which includes the EEZ off Collier and 

Monroe Counties, FL. From April 1 

through October 31, the southern 

subzone is reduced to the EEZ off 

Collier County, and the EEZ off Monroe 

County becomes part of the Atlantic 

migratory group area. 

(B) Florida east coast subzone. From 

November 1 through March 31, the 

Florida east coast subzone encompasses 

an area of the EEZ south of a line 

extending due east of the Flagler/

Volusia County, FL, boundary, and 

north of a line extending due east of the 

Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL, 

boundary. From April 1 through 

October 31, the Florida east coast 

subzone is not part of the Gulf migratory 

group king mackerel area; it is part of 

the Atlantic migratory group king 

mackerel area. 

(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 § 622.2. See Table 1 of 

this section for the boundary 

coordinates. See Figures 1 and 2 in 

Appendix G of this part for illustration. 

See § 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 

§ 600.105(a) of this chapter), and north 

of a line extending from the North 

Carolina/South Carolina border, as 

specified in § 622.2, including the EEZ 

off each state from North Carolina to 

New York. This zone remains the same 

year round. 

(ii) Southern zone. From April 1 

through October 31, the southern zone 

encompasses an area of the EEZ south 

of a line extending from the North 

Carolina/South Carolina border, as 

specified in § 622.2, and south of a line 

extending due west of the Lee/Collier 

County, FL, boundary. From November 

1 through March 31, the southern zone 

encompasses an area of the EEZ south 

of a line extending from the North 

Carolina/South Carolina border, as 

specified in § 622.2, and north of a line 

extending due east of the Flagler/

Volusia County, FL, boundary. 

TABLE 1 TO § 622.369—KING MACKEREL DESCRIPTION OF ZONES

[For illustration, see Figures 1 and 2 in Appendix G of this part] 

Area Boundary 1 

Boundary 2 

Summer Winter 

Gulf Migratory Group—Western Zone ...... US/Mexico, A line east of the intersection of 25°58′30.57′′ N lat. and 

96°55′27.37′′ W long.

AL/FL: 87°31′6′′ W long. 

Gulf Migratory Group—Eastern Zone: 

Florida West Coast Northern Subzone.

AL/FL, 87°31′6′′ W long .......................... Lee/Collier: 26°19′48′′ N lat. 

Gulf Migratory Group—Eastern Zone: 

Florida West Coast Southern Subzone.

Lee/Collier, 26°19′48′′ N lat ..................... Collier/Monroe: 25°48′′ N 

lat.

Monroe/Miami-Dade: 

25°20′24′′ N lat. 

Gulf Migratory Group—Eastern Zone: 

Florida East Coast Subzone.

Monroe/Miami-Dade, 25°20′24′′ N lat. .... NA ...................................... Volusia/Flagler: 29°25′′ N 

lat. 

Atlantic Migratory Group—Northern Zone NY/CT/RI, 41°18′16.249′′ N lat. and 

71°54′28.477′′ W long. southeast to 

37°22′32.75′′ N lat. and the intersection point with the outward boundary 

of the EEZ.

NC/SC, a line extending in a direction of 135°34′55′′ 

from true north beginning at 33°51′07.9′′ N lat. and 

78°32′32.6′′ W long. to the intersection point with the 

outward boundary of the EEZ. 

Atlantic Migratory Group—Southern Zone NC/SC, a line extending in a direction of 

135°34′55′′ from true north beginning 

at 33°51′07.9′′ N lat. and 78°32′32.6′′ 

W long. to the intersection point with 

the outward boundary of the EEZ.

Collier/Monroe: 25°48′′ N 

lat.

Volusia/Flagler: 29°25′′ N 

lat. 


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(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 

US/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 3 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 § 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 3 in Appendix G of this part 

for illustration. See § 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 

§ 600.105(a) of this chapter), and north 

of a line extending from the North 

Carolina/South Carolina border, as 

specified in § 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 § 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 § 622.369—SPANISH MACKEREL DESCRIPTION OF ZONES

[For illustration, see Figure 3 in Appendix G of this part] 

Area Boundary 1 Boundary 2 

Gulf Migratory Group ......................................... US/Mexico, A line east of the intersection of 

25°58′30.57′′ N lat. and 96°55′27.37′′ W 

long.

Monroe/Miami-Dade, 25°20′24′′N lat. 

Atlantic Migratory Group—Northern Zone ......... NY/CT/RI, 41°18′16.249′′ N lat. and 

71°54′28.477′′ W long. southeast to 

37°22′32.75′′ N lat. and the intersection 

point with the outward boundary of the EEZ.

NC/SC, a line extending in a direction of 

135°34′55′′ from true north beginning at 

33°51′07.9′′ N lat. and 78°32′32.6′′ W long. 

to the intersection point with the outward 

boundary of the EEZ. 

Atlantic Migratory Group—Southern Zone ........ NC/SC, a line extending in a direction of 

135°34′55′′ from true north beginning at 

33°51′07.9′′ N lat. and 78°32′32.6′′ W long. 

to the intersection point with the outward 

boundary of the EEZ.

Monroe/Miami-Dade, 25°20′24′′N lat. 

(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 4 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 

§ 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 § 600.105(c) of this 

chapter), and south of a line extending 

due east from the Florida/Georgia 

border. 

(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 § 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. 

TABLE 3 TO § 622.369—COBIA DESCRIPTION OF ZONES

[For illustration, see Figure 4 in Appendix G of this part] 

Area Boundary 1 Boundary 2 

Gulf Migratory Group—Gulf Zone ...................... US/Mexico, A line east of the intersection of 

25°58′30.57′′ N lat. and 96°55′27.37′′ W 

long.

Council Boundary—the intersection of the 

outer boundary of the EEZ and 83°00′ W 

long., north to 24°35′ N lat., (near the Dry 

Tortugas Islands), then east to the mainland. 

Gulf Migratory Group—Florida East Coast Zone Council Boundary—the intersection of the 

outer boundary of the EEZ and 83°00′ W 

long., north to 24°35′ N lat., (near the Dry 

Tortugas Islands), then east to the mainland.

FL/GA, 30°42′45.6′′ N lat. 

Atlantic Migratory Group .................................... NY/CT/RI, 41°18′16.249′′ N lat. and 

71°54′28.477′′ W long. southeast to 

37°22′32.75′′ N lat. and the intersection 

point with the outward boundary of the EEZ.

FL/GA, 30°42′45.6′′ N lat. 


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■ 5. In § 622.375, paragraph (a) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 622.375 Authorized and unauthorized 

gear. 

(a) Authorized gear—(1) King and 

Spanish mackerel. Subject to the 

prohibitions on gear/methods specified 

in § 622.9, the following are the only 

fishing gears that may be used in the 

Gulf, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic 

EEZ in directed fisheries for king and 

Spanish mackerel: 

(i) King mackerel, Atlantic migratory 

group—(A) North of 34°37.3′ N. lat., the 

latitude of Cape Lookout Light, NC—all 

gear except drift gillnet and long gillnet. 

(B) South of 34°37.3′ N. lat.— 

automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, 

and rod and reel. 

(ii) King mackerel, Gulf migratory 

group—hook-and-line gear and, in the 

southern Florida west coast subzone 

only, run-around gillnet. (See 

§ 622.369(a)(1)(ii)(A)(2) for a description 

of the Florida west coast southern 

subzone.) 

(iii) Spanish mackerel, Atlantic 

migratory group—automatic reel, bandit 

gear, handline, rod and reel, cast net, 

run-around gillnet, and stab net. 

(iv) Spanish mackerel, Gulf migratory 

group—all gear except drift gillnet, long 

gillnet, and purse seine. 

(2) Cobia. Subject to the prohibitions 

on gear/methods specified in § 622.9, 

the following are the only fishing gears 

that may be used in the Gulf, MidAtlantic, and South Atlantic EEZ for 

cobia. 

(i) Cobia in the Mid-Atlantic and 

South Atlantic EEZ—automatic reel, 

bandit gear, handline, rod and reel, 

pelagic longline, and spear (including 

powerheads). 

(ii) Cobia in the Gulf EEZ—all gear 

except drift gillnet and long gillnet. 

* * * * * 

■ 6. Section 622.378 is revised to read 

as follows: 

§ 622.378 Area and seasonal closures. 

(a) Seasonal closures of the gillnet 

component for Gulf migratory group 

king mackerel. The gillnet component 

for Gulf group king mackerel in or from 

the Florida west coast southern subzone 

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 

§ 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 stretchedmesh size of 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) or 

larger in the southern Florida west coast 

subzone may not fish for or possess Gulf 

migratory group king mackerel. (See 

§ 622.369(a)(1)(ii)(A)(2) for a description 

of the Florida west coast southern 

subzone.) 

(b) [Reserved] 

■ 7. In § 622.384, the introductory text, 

and paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) are 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 622.384 Quotas. 

See § 622.8 for general provisions 

regarding quota applicability and 

closure and reopening procedures. See 

§ 622.369 for the descriptions of the 

zones. This section provides quotas and 

specific quota closure restrictions for 

coastal migratory pelagic fish. All 

weights are in round and eviscerated 

weight combined, unless specified 

otherwise. 

(a) King and Spanish mackerel quotas 

apply to persons who fish under 

commercial vessel permits for king or 

Spanish mackerel, as required under 

§ 622.370(a)(1) or (3). A fish is counted 

against the quota for the area where it 

is caught, not where it is landed. 

(b) King mackerel—(1) Gulf migratory 

group. The Gulf migratory group is 

divided into zones and subzones. The 

descriptions of the zones and subzones 

are specified in § 622.369(a). Quotas for 

the eastern and western zones are as 

follows: 

(i) Eastern zone. The eastern zone is 

divided into subzones with quotas as 

follows: 

(A) Florida east coast subzone— 

1,102,896 lb (500,265 kg). 

(B) Florida west coast subzone—(1) 

Southern subzone. The hook-and-line 

quota is 551,448 lb (250,133 kg) and the 

run-around gillnet quota is 551,448 lb 

(250,133 kg). 

(2) Northern subzone—178,848 lb 

(81,124 kg). 

(ii) Western zone—1,071,360 lb 

(485,961 kg). 

(2) Atlantic migratory group. The 

Atlantic migratory group is divided into 

northern and southern zones. The 

descriptions of the zones are specified 

in § 622.369(a). Quotas for the northern 

and southern zones for the 2015–2016 

fishing year and subsequent years are as 

follows: 

(i) Northern zone—1,292,040 lb 

(586,059 kg). No more than 0.40 million 

lb (0.18 million kg) may be harvested by 

purse seines. 

(ii) Southern zone—2,587,960 lb 

(1,173,879 kg). 

(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 § 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) 


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must be disconnected and stowed 

separately from the rod and reel. Sinkers 

must be disconnected from the down 

rigger and stowed separately. 

(c) Spanish mackerel—(1) Gulf 

migratory group. [Reserved] 

(2) Atlantic migratory group. The 

Atlantic migratory group is divided into 

northern and southern zones. The 

descriptions of the zones are specified 

in § 622.369(b). The quota for the 

Atlantic migratory group of Spanish 

mackerel is 3.33 million lb (1.51 million 

kg). Quotas for the northern and 

southern zones are as follows: 

(i) Northern zone—662,670 lb 

(300,582 kg). 

(ii) Southern zone—2,667,330 lb 

(1,209,881 kg). 

(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 Spanish mackerel 

must be made by a letter signed by the 

principal state official with marine 

fishery management responsibility and 

expertise, or his/her previously named 

designee, for each state involved. 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 § 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 states 

involved, 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 any zone’s quota 

specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i) or 

(c)(2)(ii) of this section. 

(d) Cobia—(1) Gulf migratory group— 

(i) Gulf zone. For the 2014 fishing year, 

the stock quota for the Gulf migratory 

group of cobia in the Gulf zone is 

1,420,000 lb (644,101 kg). For the 2015 

fishing year, the stock quota is 1,450,000 

lb (657,709 kg). For the 2016 fishing 

year and subsequent fishing years, the 

stock quota is 1,500,000 lb (680,389 kg). 

(ii) Florida east coast zone. The 

following quota applies to persons who 

fish for cobia and sell their catch. The 

quota for the Gulf migratory group of 

cobia in the Florida east coast zone is 

70,000 lb (31,751 kg). 

(2) Atlantic migratory group. The 

following quotas apply to persons who 

fish for cobia and sell their catch. For 

the 2014 and 2015 fishing years, the 

quota for the Atlantic migratory group of 

cobia is 60,000 lb (27,216 kg). The quota 

for the 2016 fishing year and subsequent 

fishing years is 50,000 lb (22,680 kg). 

* * * * * 

■ 8. In § 622.385: 

■ a. The heading for paragraph (a)(1), 

the heading for paragraph (a)(2), the 

second sentence in paragraph (a)(2), and 

paragraph (a)(2)(ii)(B) are revised; 

■ b. Paragraph (a)(2)(iii) is removed; 

■ c. Paragraph (a)(2)(iv) is redesignated 

as paragraph (a)(2)(iii); 

■ d. Newly redesignated paragraph 

(a)(2)(iii) is revised; and 

■ e. A heading is added to paragraph 

(b)(1). 

The revisions and addition read as 

follows: 

§ 622.385 Commercial trip limits. 

* * * * * 

(a) * * * 

(1) Atlantic migratory group. * * * 

(2) Gulf migratory group. * * * (See 

§ 622.369(a)(2) for descriptions of the 

eastern and western zones and 

§ 622.369(a)(2)(ii) for descriptions of the 

subzones in the eastern zone.) 

* * * * * 

(ii) * * * 

(B) Hook-and-line gear. In the Florida 

west coast subzone, 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 § 622.370(a)(1), and 

operating under the hook-and-line gear 

quotas in § 622.384(b)(1)(i)(B)(1) or (2): 

(1) Northern subzone. From October 

1, each fishing year, until the northern 

subzone’s hook-and-line gear quota has 

been harvested—in amounts not 

exceeding 1,250 lb (567 kg) per day. 

(2) Southern subzone. From July 1, 

each fishing year, until the southern 

subzone’s hook-and-line gear quota has 

been harvested—in amounts not 

exceeding 1,250 lb (567 kg) per day. 

(iii) Western zone. In the 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 

§ 622.370(a)(1), from July 1, each fishing 

year, until a closure of the western zone 

has been effected under § 622.8(b)—in 

amounts not exceeding 3,000 lb (1,361 

kg) per day. 

(b) * * * 

(1) Atlantic migratory group. * * * 

* * * * * 

■ 9. In § 622.388, paragraphs (a)(1), 

(a)(3), (b)(1), (d)(1), (e), and (f) are 

revised to read as follows: 

622.388 Annual catch limits (ACLs), 

annual catch targets (ACTs), and 

accountability measures (AMs). 

* * * * * 

(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 

§ 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, subzone, or gear 

type for the remainder of the fishing 

year. 

(ii) The commercial ACL for the Gulf 

migratory group of king mackerel is 

3.456 million lb (1.568 million kg). 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 2,904,552 

lb (1,317,483 kg) and the run-around 

gillnet ACL (which applies to the Gulf 

eastern zone Florida west coast southern 

subzone) is 551,448 lb (250,133 kg). 

* * * * * 

(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 specified in 

§ 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 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 


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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 3.88 million lb (1.76 million 

kg). 

* * * * * 

(d) Atlantic migratory group Spanish 

mackerel—(1) Commercial sector. (i) If 

commercial landings, as estimated by 

the SRD, reach or are projected to reach 

the applicable quota specified in 

§ 622.384(c)(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 fishing year. 

(ii) In addition to the measures 

specified in paragraph (d)(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 (d)(3) of this 

section, and Atlantic migratory group 

Spanish 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 Spanish 

mackerel is 3.13 million lb (1.42 million 

kg). 

* * * * * 

(e) Gulf migratory group cobia—(1) 

Gulf zone. (i) If the sum of all cobia 

landings, as estimated by the SRD, 

reaches or is projected to reach the stock 

quota (stock ACT), specified in 

§ 622.384(d)(1), the AA will file a 

notification with the Office of the 

Federal Register to prohibit the harvest 

of Gulf migratory group cobia in the 

Gulf zone for the remainder of the 

fishing year. On and after the effective 

date of such a notification, all sale and 

purchase of Gulf migratory group cobia 

in the Gulf zone is prohibited and the 

possession limit of this species in or 

from the Gulf EEZ is zero. This 

possession limit also applies in the Gulf 

on board a vessel for which a valid 

Federal charter vessel/headboat permit 

for coastal migratory pelagic fish has 

been issued, without regard to where 

such species were harvested, i.e. in state 

or Federal water. 

(ii) The stock ACLs for Gulf migratory 

group cobia in the Gulf zone are 

1,570,000 lb (712,140 kg) for 2014, 

1,610,000 lb (730,284 kg) for 2015, and 

1,660,000 lb (752,963 kg) for 2016 and 

subsequent fishing years. 

(2) Florida east coast zone—(i) The 

following ACLs and AMs apply to cobia 

that are sold. (A) If the sum of cobia 

landings that are sold, as estimated by 

the SRD, reach or are projected to reach 

the quota specified in § 622.384(d)(1)(ii) 

(ACL), the AA will file a notification 

with the Office of the Federal Register 

to prohibit the sale and purchase of 

cobia in or from the Florida east coast 

zone for the remainder of the fishing 

year. 

(B) In addition to the measures 

specified in paragraph (e)(2)(i)(A) of this 

section, if the sum of cobia landings that 

are sold and not sold in or from the 

Florida east coast zone, as estimated by 

the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL for the 

Florida east coast zone, as specified in 

paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section, and 

Gulf migratory group cobia 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 quota (ACL) 

for the Florida east coast zone cobia that 

are sold for that following year by the 

amount of any overage in the prior 

fishing year. 

(ii) The following ACLs and AMs 

apply to cobia that are not sold. (A) If 

the sum of cobia landings that are sold 

and not sold, as estimated by the SRD, 

exceeds the stock ACL, as specified in 

paragraph (e)(2)(iii) 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. Further, during 

that following year, if necessary, the AA 

may file additional notification with the 

Office of the Federal Register to readjust 

the reduced fishing season to ensure 

harvest achieves the ACT but does not 

exceed the ACL. The applicable ACTs 

for the Florida east coast zone of cobia 

are 670,000 lb (303,907 kg) for 2014, 

680,000 lb (308,443 kg) for 2015, and 

710,000 lb (322,051 kg) for 2016 and 

subsequent fishing years. The applicable 

ACLs for the Florida east coast zone of 

cobia are 810,000 lb (367,410 kg) for 

2014, 830,000 lb (376,482 kg) for 2015, 

and 860,000 lb (390,089 kg) for 2016 

and subsequent fishing years. 

(B) In addition to the measures 

specified in paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) of 

this section, if the sum of the cobia 

landings that are sold and not sold in or 

from the Florida east coast zone, as 

estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock 

ACL, as specified in paragraph (e)(2)(iii) 

of this section, and Gulf migratory group 

cobia 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 applicable 

ACL and applicable ACT for the Florida 

east coast zone for that following year 

by the amount of any ACL overage in 

the prior fishing year. 

(C) Landings will be evaluated 

relative to the ACL based on a moving 

multi-year average of landings, as 

described in the FMP. 

(iii) The stock ACLs for Florida east 

coast zone cobia are 880,000 lb (399,161 

kg) for 2014, 900,000 lb (408,233 kg) for 

2015, and 930,000 lb (421,841 kg) for 

2016 and subsequent fishing years. 

(f) Atlantic migratory group cobia—(1) 

The following ACLs and AMs apply to 

cobia that are sold—(i) If the sum of the 

cobia landings that are sold, as 

estimated by the SRD, reach or are 

projected to reach the quota specified in 

§ 622.384(d)(2) (ACL), the AA will file a 

notification with the Office of the 

Federal Register to prohibit the sale and 

purchase of cobia for the remainder of 

the fishing year. 

(ii) In addition to the measures 

specified in paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this 

section, if the sum of the cobia landings 

that are sold and not sold in or from the 

Atlantic migratory group, as estimated 

by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, as 

specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this 

section, and Atlantic migratory group 

cobia 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 applicable 

quota (ACL), as specified in paragraph 

(f)(1)(i) of this section, for that following 

year by the amount of any applicable 

sector-specific ACL overage in the prior 

fishing year. 

(2) The following ACLs and AMs 

apply to cobia that are not sold. 

(i) If 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. Further, during 


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that following year, if necessary, the AA 

may file additional notification with the 

Office of the Federal Register to readjust 

the reduced fishing season to ensure 

harvest achieves the ACT but does not 

exceed the ACL. 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. 

(ii) In addition to the measures 

specified in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this 

section, if the sum of 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, and Atlantic migratory group 

cobia 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 applicable 

ACL and ACT, as specified in paragraph 

(f)(2)(i) of this section, for that following 

year by the amount of any applicable 

sector-specific overage in the prior 

fishing year. 

(iii) 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 ACLs for Atlantic 

migratory group cobia are 730,000 lb 

(331,122 kg) for 2014, 690,000 lb 

(312,979 kg) for 2015, and 670,000 lb 

(303,907 kg) for 2016 and subsequent 

fishing years. 

■ 10. Section 622.389 is revised to read 

as follows: 

622.389 Adjustment of management 

measures. 

In accordance with the framework 

procedures of the FMP for Coastal 

Migratory Pelagic Resources, the RA 

may establish or modify, and the 

applicable council is required to 

approve, the following items specified 

in paragraph (a) of this section for 

coastal migratory pelagic fish. (Note: 

The applicable council refers to the 

council whose jurisdiction applies to 

the management measures.) 

(a) For a species or species group: 

Reporting and monitoring requirements, 

permitting requirements, bag and 

possession limits (including a bag limit 

of zero), size limits, vessel trip limits, 

closed seasons or areas and reopenings, 

acceptable biological catches (ABCs) 

and ABC control rules, annual catch 

limits (ACLs) and ACL control rules, 

accountability measures (AMs), annual 

catch targets (ACTs), quotas (including 

a quota of zero), MSY (or proxy), OY, 

management parameters such as 

overfished and overfishing definitions, 

gear restrictions (ranging from 

regulation to complete prohibition), gear 

markings and identification, vessel 

markings and identification, rebuilding 

plans, and restrictions relative to 

conditions of harvested fish 

(maintaining fish in whole condition, 

use as bait). 

(b) [Reserved] 

■ 11. Appendix G to part 622 is added 

to read as follows: 

Appendix G to Part 622—Coastal 

Migratory Pelagics Zone Illustrations 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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95'W 90'W 85'W 

King Mackerel 

Migratory Group/Zone/Subzone 

Summer (April1 -October 31) 

- Gulf/Atlantic Group Boundary 

r.z.zl Eastern Zone Northern 

Zone 

N 

A 

0 100 200 300 400 500 

Miles 

Figure 1 of Appendix G to Part 622--King Mackerel (Summer) 

King Mackerel 

Migratory Group/Zone/Subzone 40'N 

Winter (November 1- March 31) 

-Gulf/Atlantic Group Boundary 

r.z.zl Eastern Zone 

Western Zone 

Northern 

Zone 

N 

A 

0 100 200 300 400 500 

Miles 

Figure 2 of Appendix G to Part 622--King Mackerel (Winter) 

30'N 

25'N 
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[FR Doc. 2015–01442 Filed 1–26–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 


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ss·w 

35"N 

so·w 

Spanish Mackerel 

Migratory Group/Zone 

- Gulf/Atlantic Group Boundary 

95"W 

N 

A 0 100 200 300 400 500 

MUes 

Figure 3 of Appendix G to Part 622--Spanish Mackerel 

ss·w so·w 

Cobia 

Migratory Group/Zone 

!Z2:'.l Florida East Coast Zone 

- Gulf/Atlantic Group Boundary 

Gulf Zone 

85"W 

Figure 4 of Appendix G to Part 622--Cobia 

ro·w 

N 

A 0 100 200 300 400 500 

Miles