Amendment No. 8 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 makes various changes in the management regime for Spanish mackerel, King mackerel and Cobia. The Amendment: clarifies allowable gear specifications for the Gulf group king mackerel fishery by allowing only hook-and-line and run-around gill nets (catch by permitted, multi-species vessels and bycatch allowances for purse seines is maintained); concerns evaluation of the impacts of permanent jurisdictional boundaries between the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and the Gulf Council and separatation of FMPs for coastal pelagics in these areas; establishes a moratorium on commercial king mackerel permits; increases the income requirement for a king or Spanish mackerel permit; legalizes retention of king mackerel damaged by barracuda on vessels with commercial trip limits; sets an optimum yield (OY) target at 30 percent static spawning biomass per recruit (SPR); provides the SAFMC with authority to set vessel trip limits, closed seasons or areas, and gear restrictions for Gulf group king mackerel in a specied area; establishes various data consideration and reporting requirements under the Framework Procedure; modifies the seasonal framework adjustment measures and specifications.