Amendment No. 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (Mackerels).

This Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic reflects the requirement established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), as reauthorized in 2006, to end and prevent overfishing through the use of annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs). Mechanism for specifying ACLs at levels that prevent overfishing as used in the original Plan are outdated. The AMs are management controls that ensure that the ACLs are not exceeded, or if the ACL is exceeded, corrective measures are taken to prevent overfishing. Implementation of ACL/AM provisions began in 2010 or earlier for stocks subject to overfishing, and in 2011 or earlier for all other stocks under federal management. For species not undergoing overfishing, the mechanisms and values for ACLs and AMs must be specified in fishery management plans (FMPs). ACLs and AMs are established for the following managed species: King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and Cobia. The Amendment also reconsiders the inclusion in the CMP FMP for Bluefish, little tunny, dolphins and Cero (previously included only for data collection purposes) and contains alternatives to remove species from the FMP, modify the framework procedure to incorporate the Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process and allow for adjustments of the overfishing level (OFL), ACLs, AMs, and optional annual catch targets (ACTs); define management units for cobia in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and Atlantic; and make other adjustments to bring the CMP FMP into full compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and be consistent with best available science and current management practices.
The ACL is set by the council, but begins with specifying an OFL (overfishing limit), which is the yield above which overfishing occurs. Once an OFL is specified, an acceptable biological catch (ABC) level is recommended by the council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The ABC is based on the OFL and takes into consideration scientific uncertainty. The overfishing limit and ABC are set by scientists, whereas the next two reference points, ACL and ACT are set by managers. The ACT is not required, but if used should be set at a level that takes into account management uncertainty and provides a low probability of the ACL being exceeded. There are some exceptions for the development of ACLs, for example, when a species can be considered an ecosystem component species and species with annual life cycles. Stocks listed in the fishery management unit are classified as either "in the fishery" or as an "ecosystem component". By default, stocks are considered to be "in the fishery" unless declared ecosystem component species. Ecosystem component species are exempt from the requirement for ACLs.
Dolphin in the South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and New England Fishery Management Council’s jurisdictions are managed under the South Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo FMP with the southern boundary at the border between the Gulf and South Atlantic Councils. Bluefish are managed under the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Bluefish FMP.