Mackerel Framework Amendment for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel

The fishery for the Atlantic group of Spanish mackerel is divided into northern and southern zones.  The northern zone is from New York through Georgia.  The southern zone extends south along the east coast of Florida from the Georgia/Florida border to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line.  The majority of the Atlantic group Spanish mackerel commercial fishery is prosecuted in the southern zone; during the 2006-2007 fishing season, 87 percent of commercial landings were from the southern zone.

Amendment 15 to the FMP changed the fishing season for Atlantic group king and Spanish mackerel from April 1-March 31 to March 1-end of February.  This change was implemented to ensure the commercial mackerel fisheries are open during March when several other fisheries are closed.  For example, the red porgy fishery is closed January through April, and the gag and black grouper fisheries are closed in March and April. 

Although the fishing year was changed in Amendment 15, the start date for the trip limit in the southern zone was not similarly changed to coincide with the new fishing year.  The trip limit allowed 3,500 pounds per vessel per day April 1-November 30, and from December 1 until the end of the fishing year trip limits were adjusted based on the percent of the quota landed.  Because the fishing year begins March 1, there was no designated trip limit for the first month of the fishing year. 

The previous trip limits were as follows: 

• April 1 – November 30: 3,500 pounds per vessel per day;
• December 1 until 75 percent of the adjusted quota is taken:
  • Monday – Friday:  Unlimited;
  • Other days:  1,500 pounds;
• After 75 percent of the adjusted quota is reached: 1,500 pounds per vessel per day for all days; and
• When 100 percent of the adjusted quota is reached: 500 pounds per vessel per day to the end of the fishing year (end of February).  Adjusted quota compensates for estimated catches of 500 pounds per vessel per day to the end of the season; that is, the fishery does not close.

Quota adjustments in the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper fishery became effective on October 23, 2006, leading to closures of that fishery.  Many people who fish for snapper grouper also participate in the Atlantic Spanish mackerel fishery.  In 2006, 51 percent of individuals with an unlimited snapper grouper permit also owned a Spanish mackerel permit.  The majority of these individuals lived in Florida (79 percent) where the changes in this amendment will be implemented.  Due to the short-term losses expected for the snapper grouper fishery, some snapper grouper fishermen probably began participating more heavily in the mackerel fisheries.  If increases in the mackerel fishery continue, allowing unregulated harvest of Atlantic group Spanish mackerel early in the season (March) could have impacted the implementation of trip limit restrictions later in the season, which is the prime landing period for the fishery.  During the 2006-2007 fishing season, landings reached 100 percent of the adjusted quota by the end of the fishing season.  The 500-pound trip limit, which is triggered when landings reach 100 percent of the quota before the end of the fishing season, has rarely been implemented in recent years.  However, with increased landings this may have become a more common situation.

This amendment retains the same trip limit schedule, except the 3,500-pound trip limit begins March 1 instead of April 1.  Extending current trip limits to track the new fishing year supports redefinition of the fishing year for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel.  This change should provide increased landings stability for communities and increased financial stability for fishermen and their families.