"The EA analyzed the effects of a range of alternatives identified in Amendment 20B to the FMP. These actions (1) adjust king mackerel trip limits and fishing seasons in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), (2) allow transit of king mackerel through closed areas, (3) create regional quotas for Atlantic migratory group king and Spanish mackerel, (4) make administrative changes to the FMP, and (5) create new management areas and catch limits for Gulf cobia. None of these actions are expected to alter the manner in which the fishery is prosecuted; therefore the effects of the actions are not expected to be significant"--Cover letter summary.

"The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils have submitted the subject amendment for review and implementation by the Secretary of Commerce. This amendment will: (1) Remove four species from the FMP; (2) revise the framework procedure; (3) establish two migratory groups for cobia; and (4) establish annual catch limits, annual catch targets, and accountability measures for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. Amendment 18 also contains non-regulatory actions to establish allowable biological catch control rules, set allocations for Atlantic group cobia, and revise definitions of management thresholds for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia"--Cover letter.

"Framework Amendment 2 would modify the system of commercial trip limits for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the Southern Zone (federal waters off South Carolina, Georgia, and eastern Florida), a new Spanish mackerel fishing area established by Amendment 20B to the FMP in 2015. The current commercial trip limit for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in federal waters off the east coast of Florida is 3,500 pounds (lbs) from March 1 through November 30; from December 1 through the end of February the trip limit is 1,500 lbs on weekends and is unlimited on weekdays. The weekday commercial trip limit remains unlimited until 75 percent of the adjusted quota, set at 250,000 lbs below the commercial ACL, is landed; after which, the trip limit is 1,500 lbs every day. When 100 percent of the adjusted quota is reached, the commercial trip limit is reduced to 500 lbs until the end of the fishing year or until the full commercial quota is met or projected to be met. The adjusted quota provides a buffer to help prevent the commercial sector from exceeding the commercial ACL. The current commercial ACL is lower than the total allowable catch that was in place when the trip limit system was implemented. The lack of a commercial trip limit for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in federal waters off the eastern coast of Florida on weekdays beginning December 1 could contribute to early harvest closures in some years. Therefore, this final rule would remove the current weekday and weekend commercial trip limits and replace them with a 3,500 lbs trip limit for the Spanish mackerel Southern Zone (federal waters off South Carolina, Georgia, and eastern Florida). When 75 percent of the adjusted Southern Zone quota (2,417,330 lbs) is met or projected to be met, the commercial trip limit would be reduced to 1,500 lbs. When 100 percent of the adjusted Southern Zone quota is met or projected to be met, the commercial trip limit would be reduced to 500 lbs until the end of the fishing year or until the Southern Zone commercial quota is met or projected to be met, at which time the commercial sector in the Southern Zone would be closed to harvest of Spanish mackerel. Under this amendment, the year-round commercial trip limit of 3,500 lbs north of the South Carolina/North Carolina boundary would not change. The modified system of trip limits described above would remove the unlimited weekday trip limit in federal waters off the east coast of Florida to control harvest of the species in the Southern Zone more effectively"--Cover letter summary.