Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Catch Specifications

In accordance with the framework procedure for adjusting management measures of the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP), NMFS increases the total allowable catch (TAC) for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel and Gulf group king mackerel, revises the commercial trip limits off the Florida east coast for the Gulf and Atlantic groups of king mackerel, and allows the operator and crew on for-hire vessels to take the bag limit of Gulf group king mackerel. The intended effects of this rule are to protect king and Spanish mackerel from overfishing and to maintain healthy stocks while still allowing catches by important commercial and recreational fisheries.