The 21st quota monitoring report (April 28, 2003) of commercial king mackerel and Spanish mackerel landings, etc. for the 2002/2003 fishing year is attached. This is the final mackerel monitoring report for the 2002/2003 fishing year. Reports for the 2003/04 fishing year will begin mid-May 2003.

GULF GROUP KING MACKEREL

The fisheries for Gulf group king mackerel opened for the 2002/2003 fishing year on July 1, 2002. The Florida east coast subzone, however, opened on November 1, 2002, and will close on 03/31/2003

The hook-and-line fishery for Gulf group king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone (off Collier County) probably will remain open under the 500-pound trip limit for the remainder of the 2002/03 fishing year which ends June 30, 2003.

ATLANTIC GROUP KING MACKEREL AND ATLANTIC/GULF GROUP SPANISH MACKEREL

The 2002/2003 fishing year for the Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel and the Gulf migratory group of Spanish mackerel began on April 1, 2002, and ended on March 31, 2003.

Thanks again to our folks at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center for monitoring these mackerel landings. Also, thanks to those who have kindly provided feedback to improve/maintain the accuracy and utility of these reports.

Please advise me if you would like to have your name removed from this e-mail broadcast list. Also, I would be appreciative if you would please provide me with your evaluation of the usefulness of these monitoring reports. Your comments will be considered in determining the value of continuing to provide this service/product.