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Spanish Mackerel Trip Limit Reduced

Atlantic Group Spanish Mackerel Trip Limit Reduced for Commercial Vessels Fishing in the Southern Zone (Florida)

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 6, 2013.

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, 2012, the trip limit has been unlimited on weekdays and 1,500 pounds per day on weekends. After 75 percent 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.

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NOAA Fisheries has determined 75 percent of the adjusted quota for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel will be taken by January 6, 2013. 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 6, 2013, through February 28, 2013, unless changed by further notification in the Federal Register.

This summary is not a substitute for the actual regulations. We encourage you to read the full text of the regulations, available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

To receive fishery bulletins via email, please sign up through Constant Contact at http://bit.ly/HQDUEU. You may also sign up for Constant Contact by visiting our website http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov (sign-up option is located on the left side of the page). The electronic copy of the bulletin will be delivered to you faster than the paper copy, is in color, features informational links, and reduces paper use.

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To view a complete list of Fishery Bulletins, visit the NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office website at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

–– Source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

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