Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Reopening of the Commercial Sector in the Western, Northern, and Southern (Gillnet) Zones for King Mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico

NMFS reopens the commercial sector for king mackerel in the western and northern zones, and the run-around gillnet component in the southern zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through this temporary rule. NMFS recently published a final rule that modified the zones and annual catch limits (ACLs) for king mackerel in the Gulf EEZ, which increased the commercial quotas for king mackerel. This final rule will be effective on May 11, 2017. Therefore, NMFS is reopening the western, northern, and southern (gillnet) zones of the Gulf EEZ because there is available king mackerel commercial quota to harvest in these zones at 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 11, 2017, through the end of the respective 2016- 2017 fishing year or until the applicable commercial quotas are reached, whichever happens first. NMFS intends through this temporary rule to maximize harvest benefits for the king mackerel commercial sector in the Gulf by allowing the commercial quotas to be caught.