The management of coastal migratory pelagics, including king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, is a shining example of the effectiveness of proper management.  Prior to the 1980’s, king and Spanish mackerel catches were essentially unregulated. Introduction of airplane reconnaissance and large power-assisted gill net vessels in the commercial fishery took advantage of the schooling nature of the fish and greatly increased catches. 

Harvests by both recreational and commercial fishermen in the 1970’s and early 1980’s exceeded reproductive capacity and led to overfishing.  Federal regulations were implemented in 1983 to control harvest and rebuild dwindling stocks of king and Spanish mackerel.  Different migratory groups were later managed separately, and quotas, bag limits and trip limits established to rebuild the mackerel fisheries.  Gear regulations included the elimination of drift gill nets in 1990.  Management measures developed by the Council for the Atlantic migratory groups of king and Spanish mackerel have been very successful in rebuilding stocks and the mackerel fishery remains a viable one for both recreational and commercial fishermen.

The Coastal Migratory Pelagic (Mackerels) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Regions is a joint management plan between the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.  Beginning in January 2012, in addition to managing separate migratory groups of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, the two fishery management councils have added separate migratory groups of cobia to the FMP.   

Listing of Species and History of Management

The Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (1982)
Treated king and Spanish mackerel each as one U.S. stock.  Allocations were established for recreational and commercial fisheries, and the commercial allocation was divided between net and hook–and–line fishermen; Established procedures for the Secretary to take action by regulatory amendment to resolve possible future conflicts in the fishery, such as establish fishing zones and local quotas to each gear or user group.

Amendment 1 (1985)
Provided a framework procedure for pre–season adjustment of total allowable catch (TAC), revised king mackerel maximum sustainable yield (MSY) downward, recognized separate Atlantic and Gulf migratory groups of king mackerel, and established fishing permits and bag limits for king mackerel.  Commercial allocations among gear users were eliminated.
Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 2 (1987)
Revised Spanish mackerel MSY downward, recognized two migratory groups, and set commercial quotas and bag limits.  Charter boat permits were required, and it was clarified that TAC for overfished stocks must be set below the upper range of acceptable biological catch (ABC).  The use of purse seines on overfished stocks was prohibited.
Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 3 (1989)
Prohibited drift gill nets for Gulf group king mackerel and Gulf and Atlantic groups of Spanish mackerel; Updated the habitat section of the FMP; Added vessel safety considerations to the plan.
Notice of Availability   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Resubmission of Disapproved Measures of Amendment 3 (1990)
Prohibited drift gill nets for coastal pelagics and purse seines and run-around gillnets for the overfished groups of mackerels; Added a new objective to the FMP, which is to minimize waste and bycatch in the fishery.

Amendment 4 (1989)
Reallocated Spanish mackerel equally between recreational and commercial fishermen on the Atlantic group with an increase in TAC.
Notice of Availability   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 5 (1990)
Extended management area for Atlantic groups of mackerels through the MAFMC area of jurisdiction; Revised problems in the fishery and plan objectives; Revised the definition of "overfishing"; Added cobia to the annual stock assessment procedure; Provided that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will be responsible for pre–season adjustments of TACs and bag limits for the Atlantic migratory groups of mackerels; Redefined recreational bag limits as daily limits; provision specifying that bag limit catch of mackerel may be sold; Provided guidelines for corporate commercial vessel permits; Imposed a bag limit of two cobia per person per day for all fishermen; Established a minimum size of 12–inch (30.5 cm.) fork length or 14–inch (35.6 cm.) total length for king mackerel and included a definition of "conflict" to provide guidance to the Secretary.
Notice of Availability   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 6 (1992)
Identified additional problems and an objective in the fishery; Provided for rebuilding overfished stocks of mackerels within specific periods; Provided for biennial assessments and adjustments; Provided for more seasonal adjustment actions, including size limits, vessel trip limits, closed seasons or areas, and gear restrictions; Provided for commercial Atlantic Spanish mackerel possession limits; Changed commercial permit requirements to allow qualification in one of three preceding years; Discontinued the reversion of the bag limit to zero when the
recreational quota is filled; Modified the recreational fishing year to the calendar year; and changed minimum size limit for king mackerel to 20 inches fork length, and changed all size limit measures to fork length only.
Notice of Availability   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 7 (1994)
Equally divided the Gulf commercial allocation in the Eastern Zone at the Dade–Monroe County line in Florida.  The sub-allocation for the area from Monroe County through Western Florida is equally divided between commercial hook–and–line and net gear users.
Notice of Availability   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Regulatory Amendment (Feb 1995)

Includes the Regulatory Impact Review and Environmental Assessment for the fishery management plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerels) in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Region.

Amendment 8 (1996)
Identified additional problems in the fishery; specified allowable gear; established a moratorium on new commercial king mackerel permits and provided for transferability of permits during the moratorium; revised qualifications for a commercial permit; extended the management area of cobia through New York; allowed retention of up to 5 cut–off (damaged) king mackerel on vessels with commercial trip limits; revised the seasonal framework procedures to - a). delete a procedure for subdividing the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel, b). request that the stock assessment panel provide additional information on spawning potential ratios and mixing of king mackerel migratory groups, c). provide for consideration of public comment, d). redefine overfishing and allow for adjustment by framework procedure, e). allow changes in allocation ratio of Atlantic Spanish mackerel, f). allow setting zero bag limits, g). allow gear regulation including prohibition.
Notice of Availabilty   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 9 (2000)
Measures affecting fishermen in the South Atlantic Council's area include: Changed the percentage of the commercial allocation of TAC for the Florida east coast (North Area) and Florida west coast (South/West Area) of the Eastern Zone to 46.15 percent North and 53.85 percent South/West (previously, this allocation was 50%/50%); and allowed possession of cut-off (damaged) king or Spanish mackerel that comply with the minimum size limits and the trip limits in the Gulf, Mid-Atlantic, or South Atlantic EEZ (sale of such cut-off fish is allowed and is in addition to the existing allowance for possession and retention of a maximum of 5 cut-off (damaged) king mackerel that are not subject to the size limits or trip limits, but that cannot be sold or purchased, nor counted against the trip limit).  (Note: Several other changes were made involving allocation and gear restrictions affecting Florida west coast and Gulf fisheries that are not listed here).
Notice of Availability   Proposed Rule   Final Rule

Amendment 10 (1998)
Designated Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and EFH-Habitat Areas of Particular Concerns for coastal migratory pelagics.

Amendment 11 (1998)
Amended Fishery Management Plan (FMP) as required to make definitions of MSY, OY, overfishing and overfished consistent with "National Standard Guidelines"; identified and defined fishing communities and addressed bycatch management measures.

Amendment 12 (1999)
Extended the commercial king mackerel permit moratorium from October 15, 2000 to October 15, 2005, or until replaced with a license limitation, limited access, and/or individual fishing quota or individual transferable quota system (ITQ), whichever occurs earlier.

Amendment 13 (2002)
Implemented August 19, 2002, established two marine reserves in the EEZ of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of the Dry Tortugas, Florida known as Tortugas North and Tortugas South, in which fishing for coastal migratory pelagic species is prohibited. This action complements previous actions taken under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Amendment 14 (2002)
Implemented July 29, 2002, Amendment 14 established a 3-year moratorium on the issuance of charter vessel and headboat Gulf group king mackerel permits in the Gulf unless sooner replaced by a comprehensive effort limitation system. The control date for eligibility was established as March 29, 2001. The amendment also includes other provisions for eligibility, application, appeals, and transferability of permits.

Amendment 15 (2004)
Established an indefinite limited access program for king mackerel in the EEZ under the jurisdiction of the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils; Changed the fishing year to March 1 through February 28/29 for Atlantic group king and Spanish mackerels.

Amendment 16
This amendment was not developed.

Amendment 17 (2006)
Established a limited access system on for-hire reef fish and CMP permits.  Permits are renewable and transferable in the same matter as currently prescribed for such permits.  There will be a periodic review at least every 10 years on the effectiveness of the limited access system.  Note: Amendment 17 only applies to fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.

Amendment 18 (2011)
Established annual catch limits (ACL), annual catch targets (ACT) and accountability measures (AM) for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and cobia.  The amendment also established both Atlantic and Gulf migratory groups for cobia; modified the framework procedures; and removed the following species from the Fishery Management Unit: cero, little tunny, dolphin and bluefish.  The South Atlantic and the Gulf councils approved the amendment for formal review in August, 2011.  The amendment was approved by the Secretary of Commerce in December, 2011.  See Fishery Bulletin     Amend 18 Appendices     FONSI     Proposed Rule     Final Rule