Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 37 / Friday, February 24, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 10333

flag purse seine vessels may be

imported into the United States through

December 31, 1995.

The Republic of Ecuador also

submitted a request for renewal of an

affirmative finding. NMFS reviewed

information submitted by the Republic

of Ecuador in compliance with 50 CFR

216.24(e)(5)(ix) - (xi). That

documentation shows that, from

May 24, 1994, until June 3, 1994, the

Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessel

Connie F. fished for yellowfin tuna in

the ETP without an observer on board.

As a result, Ecuador automatically

entered into a 1-year probationary

status, beginning on June 3, 1994, as

required under 50 CFR

§ 216.24(e)(5)(x)(B)(1). On December 30,

1994, after consultation with the

Department of State, NMFS made an

affirmative finding that the Republic of

Ecuador had submitted acceptable

documentary evidence that its

regulatory program complies with the

yellowfin tuna import regulations and

that Ecuador may continue to export

yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP by

Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels to

the United States, in a probationary

status, through December 31, 1995.

Dated: February 17, 1995.

Gary Matlock,

Program Management Officer, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–4519 Filed 2–23–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

50 CFR Part 642

[Docket No. 940710–4292; I.D. 021795C]

Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources

of the Gulf of Mexico and South

Atlantic

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Trip limit reduction.

SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the

commercial trip limit of Atlantic group

Spanish mackerel in the southern zone

to 500 lb (227 kg) per day in or from the

exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This

trip limit reduction is necessary to

protect the Atlantic Spanish mackerel

resource.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The 500–lb (227–kg)

commercial trip limit is effective

February 21, 1995, and remains in effect

through March 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark F. Godcharles, 813–570–5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish

(king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cero,

cobia, little tunny, dolphin, and, in the

Gulf of Mexico only, bluefish) is

managed under the Fishery

Management Plan for the Coastal

Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf

of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP).

The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of

Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery

Management Councils (Councils) and is

implemented by regulations at 50 CFR

part 642 under the authority of the

Magnuson Fishery Conservation and

Management Act.

An adjusted allocation and

commercial trip limits were

recommended by the Councils and

implemented by NMFS for Atlantic

migratory group Spanish mackerel from

the southern zone. As set forth at 50

CFR 642.27(b), the adjusted allocation is

4.35 million lb (1.97 million kg). In

accordance with 50 CFR

642.27(a)(2)(iv), after 100 percent of the

adjusted allocation of Atlantic group

Spanish mackerel from the southern

zone is taken, Spanish mackerel in or

from the EEZ in the southern zone may

not be possessed aboard or landed from

a vessel in a day in amounts exceeding

500 lb (227 kg).

NMFS has determined that 100

percent of the adjusted allocation for

Atlantic group Spanish mackerel from

the southern zone will be taken by

February 20, 1995. Accordingly, the

500–lb (227–kg) per day commercial trip

limit applies to Spanish mackerel in or

from the EEZ in the southern zone

effective 12:01 a.m., local time, February

21, 1995.

The southern zone of Atlantic group

Spanish mackerel extends from the

Georgia/Florida boundary (30°42′45.6′′′

N. lat.) southward to the Dade/Monroe

County, FL, boundary (25°20.4′ N. lat.).

Classification

This action is taken under 50 CFR

642.27(a)(2)(iv) and (b) and is exempt

from review under E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: February 17, 1995.

Fred Bilik,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–4499 Filed 2–17–95; 4:42 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F