According to NOAA Fisheries Service the fishermen has been reminded about the boundary between the Atlantic and Gulf groups of king mackerel shifts, beginning April 1, 2009, from 29° 25′ N. latitude (a line directly east of the Flagler/Volusia County line on the Florida east coast) to 25° 48′ N. latitude (a line directly west of the Monroe/Collier County line on the Florida west coast).
It is informed that the new fishing year began March 1, 2009. Gulf group king mackerel are divided into two zones. The area west of the Florida/Alabama state line is considered the Western zone for Gulf group king mackerel year-round. The area east of the Florida/Alabama state line is considered the Eastern zone. The Eastern zone is divided into West Coast and East Coast subzones. The West Coast is further divided into Northern and Southern subzones at a line directly west from the Lee/Collier County line.
It is said that from April 1 the boundary between Atlantic and Gulf groups of king mackerel shifts south and west to the Monroe/Collier County line on the Florida west coast. During this time, fish harvested along the east coast of Florida, including all of Monroe County, are considered to be Atlantic group king mackerel and are subject to the Atlantic group quota.
NOAA Fisheries Service said that after the boundary shift, the commercial trip limit for the Florida east coast off Volusia County becomes 3,500 pounds per day – the same as the trip limit north of the Flagler/Volusia County boundary. From November 1 to March 31, the Southern subzone includes Collier and Monroe Counties. The quota for hook-and-line fishermen in the Southern subzone was met and that subzone closed on February 27, 2009.
