In addition, the draft Coral and Coral Reef Resources FMP proposes to 

 accept the protective regulations already in place for designated areas 

 such as Key Largo Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne National Monument and Ft. 

 Jefferson National Monument. It is therefore possible that if the Looe 

 Key marine sanctuary proposal adequately protects the resources the 

 Councils could determine that additional management measures are unnecessary 

 for the Looe Key HAPC. 



In addition, the plan proposes to prohi[)it harvest of hard coral in the 

 FCZ except by permit for scientific and educational purposes and to allow 

 limited commercial harvest of soft coral. 



d. Draft EIS and FMP for Coastal Pelagic Migratory Resources (Mackerel) 



The SAFMC and GMFMC have developed and distributed for review 

 and comment a Draft EIS and FMp for Coastal Pelagic and Migratory Resources 

 (Mackerel) (February 1980). 



Species within the management unit for which management regulations 

 are proposed include the king mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla , Spanish 

 mackerel, S^. maculatus , and cobia, Rachycention canadum . Species included 

 in the management unit but for which regulations have not been proposed, 

 include the cero mackerel, S^. regal is , little tunny Euthynns alletteratus , 

 dolphin Coryphaena hippurus and bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix . 



Recommended management objectives for king and Spanish mackerel are: 



° Instigate management measures necessary to prevent exceeding 

 maximum sustainable yield (MSY) ["the mathematical estimate for the pounds 

 of resource which can be harvested annually without overfishing the resource" 

 DEIS, 19«n]. 



° Establish a mandatory statistical reporting system for 

 monitoring catch. 



° Minimize gear and user conflicts. 



° (For Spanish mackerel only) promote the maximum use of the 

 resource up to the optimum yield estimate (the MSY estimate modified by 

 economic, sociological and ecological (biological) characteristics of the 

 fishery and user groups (DEIS, 1980). 



The recommended management objective for cobia is to instigate 

 management measures necessary to increase yield per recruit and average 

 size and to prevent overfishing. 



Management measures proposed for public review and comment in 

 the DEIS may be summarized as: 



° If a conflict arises through expansion of a historical king 

 Mackerel or Spanish mackerel fisheries in a traditional fishing area or 

 region, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), after consultation with 

 affected Council and States, may take action to: 



84 



