622.42—Quotas.
Quotas apply for the fishing year for each species or species group. Except for the quotas for Gulf and South Atlantic coral, the quotas include species harvested from state waters adjoining the EEZ. Quotas for species managed under this part are as follows. (See § 622.32 for limitations on taking prohibited and limited-harvest species. The limitations in § 622.32 apply without regard to whether the species is harvested by a vessel operating under a commercial vessel permit or by a person subject to the bag limits.)
(a) Gulf reef fish—
(1) Commercial quotas.
The following quotas apply to persons who fish under commercial vessel permits for Gulf reef fish, as required under § 622.4(a)(2)(v).
(A)
Two-thirds of the quota specified in § 622.42(a)(1)(i), 3.10 million lb (1.41 million kg), available at noon on February 1 each year, subject to the closure provisions of §§ 622.34(l) and 622.43(a)(1)(i).
(B)
The remainder available at noon on October 1 each year, subject to the closure provisions of §§ 622.34(l) and 622.43(a)(1)(i).
(ii)
Deep-water groupers (DWG) combined—1.02 million lb (0.46 million kg), gutted weight, that is, eviscerated but otherwise whole.
(iii)
Shallow-water groupers (SWG) have a combined quota as specified in paragraph (a)(1)(iii)(A) of this section. Within the SWG quota there are separate quotas for gag and red grouper as specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(iii)(B) and (C) of this section, respectively. The quotas specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(iii)(A) through (C) of this section are all in gutted weight, that is eviscerated but otherwise whole.
(2) For fishing year 2010—7.57 million lb (3.43 million kg).
(3) For fishing year 2011 and subsequent fishing years—7.65 million lb (3.47 million kg).
(2) For fishing year 2010—1.41 million lb (0.64 million kg).
(3) For fishing year 2011 and subsequent fishing years—1.49 million lb (0.68 million kg).
(iv)
Tilefishes (i.e., tilefish and goldface, blackline, anchor, and blueline tilefish) combined—0.44 million lb (0.20 million kg), gutted weight, that is, eviscerated but otherwise whole.
(vii) Commercial quota for greater amberjack.
The commercial quota for greater amberjack is 503,000 lb (228,157 kg), round weight, unless accountability measures are implemented during the fishing year pursuant to § 622.49(a)(1)(i), due to a quota overage occurring the previous year, in which case a reduced quota will be specified through notification in the Federal Register.
(2) Recreational quotas.
The following quotas apply to persons who fish for Gulf reef fish other than under commercial vessel permits for Gulf reef fish and the applicable commercial quotas specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(i)
Recreational quota for red snapper. The recreational quota for red snapper is 3.403 million lb (1.544 million kg), round weight.
(iii) Recreational quota for greater amberjack.
The recreational quota for greater amberjack is 1,368,000 lb (620,514 kg), round weight, unless accountability measures are implemented during the fishing year pursuant to § 622.49(a)(1)(ii), due to a quota overage occurring the previous year, in which case a reduced quota will be specified through notification in the Federal Register.
(b) Gulf and South Atlantic allowable octocoral.
The quota for all persons who harvest allowable octocoral in the EEZ of the Gulf and South Atlantic is 50,000 colonies. A colony is a continuous group of coral polyps forming a single unit.
(c) King and Spanish mackerel.
King and Spanish mackerel quotas apply to persons who fish under commercial vessel permits for king or Spanish mackerel, as required under § 622.4(a)(2)(iii) or (iv). A fish is counted against the quota for the area where it is caught when it is first sold.
(1) Migratory groups of king mackerel—
(i) Gulf migratory group.
The quota for the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel is 3.26 million lb (1.48 million kg). The Gulf migratory group is divided into eastern and western zones separated by 87°31′06″ W. long., which is a line directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary. Quotas for the eastern and western zones are as follows:
(A)
Eastern zone—2.25 million lb (1.02 million kg), which is further divided into quotas as follows:
(1) Florida east coast subzone—1,040,625 lb (472,020 kg).
(2) Florida west coast subzone—(i) Southern —1,040,625 lb (472,020 kg), which is further divided into a quota of 520,312 lb (236,010 kg) for vessels fishing with hook-and-line and a quota of 520,312 lb (236,010 kg) for vessels fishing with run-around gillnets.
(ii) Northern—168,750 lb (76,544 kg).
(3) Description of Florida subzones. The Florida east coast subzone is that part of the eastern zone north of 25°20.4′ N. lat., which is a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL, boundary. The Florida west coast subzone is that part of the eastern zone south and west of 25°20.4′ N. lat. The Florida west coast subzone is further divided into southern and northern subzones. From November 1 through March 31, the southern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone that extends south and west from 25°20.4′ N. lat. to 26°19.8′ N. lat., a line directly west from the Lee/Collier County, FL, boundary (i.e., the area off Collier and Monroe Counties). From April 1 through October 31, the southern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone that is between 26°19.8′ N. lat. and 25°48′ N. lat., which is a line directly west from the Monroe/Collier County, FL, boundary (i.e., off Collier County). The northern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone that is between 26°19.8′ N. lat. and 87°31′06″ W. long., which is a line directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary.
(ii) Atlantic migratory group.
The quota for the Atlantic migratory group of king mackerel is 3.71 million lb (1.68 million kg). No more than 0.40 million lb (0.18 million kg) may be harvested by purse seines.
(2) Migratory groups of Spanish mackerel—
(i) Gulf migratory group.
The quota for the Gulf migratory group of Spanish mackerel is 5.187 million lb (2.353 million kg).
(ii) Atlantic migratory group.
The quota for the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel is 3.87 million lb (1.76 million kg).
(d) Royal red shrimp in the Gulf.
The quota for all persons who harvest royal red shrimp in the Gulf is 392,000 lb (177.8 mt), tail weight.
(e) South Atlantic snapper-grouper, excluding wreckfish.
The quotas apply to persons who are not subject to the bag limits. (See § 622.39(a)(1) for applicability of the bag limits.) The quotas are in gutted weight, that is, eviscerated but otherwise whole.
(1) Snowy grouper.
For the fishing year that commences January 1, 2009, and for subsequent fishing years—82,900 lb (37,603 kg).
(ii)
For the fishing year that commences January 1, 2008, and for subsequent fishing years-84,000 lb (38,102 kg).
(iii)
Any unused portion of the quota specified in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section will be added to the quota specified in paragraph (e)(4)(ii) of this section. Any unused portion of the quota specified in paragraph (e)(4)(ii) of this section, including any addition of quota specified in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section that was unused, will become void and will not be added to any subsequent quota.
(iii)
For the fishing year that commences June 1, 2008, and for subsequent fishing years—309,000 lb (140,160 kg).
(6) Red porgy.
For the fishing year that commences January 1, 2009, and for subsequent fishing years- 190,050 lb (86,205 kg).
(f) Wreckfish.
The quota for wreckfish applies to wreckfish shareholders, or their employees, contractors, or agents, and is 2 million lb (907,185 kg), round weight. See § 622.15 for information on the wreckfish shareholder under the ITQ system.
(g) Pelagic sargassum.
The quota for all persons who harvest pelagic sargassum in the South Atlantic EEZ is 5,000 lb (2,268 kg), wet, landed weight. See § 622.35(g)(1) for area limitations on the harvest of pelagic sargassum.
[61 FR 34934, July 3, 1996]