Area closures to protect Gulf corals.

  1. Law
  2. CFR 50
  3. Wildlife and Fisheries
  4. Fishery Conservation and Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
  5. Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic
  6. Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico
  7. Area closures to protect Gulf corals.

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§ 622.74 Area closures to protect Gulf corals.

For the purposes of this section, fishing gear is deployed if any part of the gear is in contact with the water.

(a) Florida Middle Grounds HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap is prohibited year-round in the area bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 1 to Paragraph (a)

Point North lat. West long.
A 28°42.500′ 84°24.800′
B 28°42.500′ 84°16.300′
C 28°11.000′ 84°00.000′
D 28°11.000′ 84°07.000′
E 28°26.600′ 84°24.800′
A 28°42.500′ 84°24.800′

(b) Tortugas marine reserves HAPC. Fishing for any species and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the areas of the HAPC.

(1) EEZ portion of Tortugas North HAPC. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: From point A at 24°40.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. to point B at 24°46.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. to point C at 24°46.000′ N lat., 83°00.000′ W long.; then along the line denoting the seaward limit of Florida state waters, as shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11434, to point A at 24°40.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long.

(2) Tortugas South HAPC. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 2 to Paragraph (b)(2)

Point North lat. West long.
A 24°33.000′ 83°09.000′
B 24°33.000′ 83°05.000′
C 24°18.000′ 83°05.000′
D 24°18.000′ 83°09.000′
A 24°33.000′ 83°09.000′

(c) Pulley Ridge South HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 3 to Paragraph (c)

Point North lat. West long.
A 24°58.300′ 83°38.550′
B 24°58.300′ 83°37.000′
C 24°41.183′ 83°37.000′
D 24°40.000′ 83°41.367′
E 24°43.917′ 83°47.250′
A 24°58.300′ 83°38.550′

(d) Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC. Deployment of a bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 4 to Paragraph (d)

Point North lat. West long.
A 24°40.000′ 83°41.366′
B 24°39.666′ 83°42.648′
C 24°47.555′ 83°55.240′
D 24°57.065′ 83°48.405′
E 24°52.859′ 83°41.841′
F 24°43.917′ 83°47.250′
A 24°40.000′ 83°41.366′

(e) West Florida Wall HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 5 to Paragraph (e)

Point North lat. West long.
A 26°28.835′ 84°47.955′
B 26°28.816′ 84°46.754′
C 26°10.471′ 84°42.076′
D 26°10.528′ 84°44.577′
E 26°25.028′ 84°47.986′
F 26°25.100′ 84°47.980′
A 26°28.835′ 84°47.955′

(f) Alabama Alps Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 6 to Paragraph (f)

Point North lat. West long.
A 29°16.160′ 88°20.525′
B 29°15.427′ 88°18.990′
C 29°13.380′ 88°19.051′
D 29°14.140′ 88°20.533′
A 29°16.160′ 88°20.525′

(g) L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 7 to Paragraph (g)

Point North lat. West long.
A 29°18.595′ 87°48.757′
B 29°18.484′ 87°50.688′
C 29°19.754′ 87°52.484′
D 29°20.401′ 87°51.449′
E 29°20.095′ 87°50.933′
F 29°20.832′ 87°46.631′
G 29°21.473′ 87°46.326′
H 29°21.314′ 87°45.535′
I 29°22.518′ 87°43.465′
J 29°21.144′ 87°42.632′
K 29°19.269′ 87°45.525′
A 29°18.595′ 87°48.757′

(h) Mississippi Canyon 118 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 8 to Paragraph (h)

Point North lat. West long.
A 28°53.183′ 88°30.789′
B 28°53.216′ 88°27.819′
C 28°50.602′ 88°27.782′
D 28°48.944′ 88°27.759′
E 28°48.962′ 88°30.727′
A 28°53.183′ 88°30.789′

(i) Roughtongue Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 9 to Paragraph (i)

Point North lat. West long.
A 29°27.596′ 87°37.527′
B 29°27.621′ 87°31.552′
C 29°25.007′ 87°31.539′
D 29°24.981′ 87°37.510′
A 29°27.596′ 87°37.527′

(j) Viosca Knoll 826 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 10 to Paragraph (j)

Point North lat. West long.
A 29°10.920′ 88°03.509′
B 29°10.877′ 87°59.460′
C 29°07.974′ 87°59.448′
D 29°08.017′ 88°03.532′
A 29°10.920′ 88°03.509′

(k) Viosca Knoll 862/906 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC. This prohibition does not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement, as specified in § 622.50(c), while the vessel is fishing for royal red shrimp. The HAPC is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 11 to Paragraph (k)

Point North lat. West long.
A 29°07.640′ 88°23.608′
B 29°07.603′ 88°20.590′
C 29°03.749′ 88°20.554′
D 29°03.734′ 88°22.016′
E 29°02.367′ 88°21.998′
F 29°02.281′ 88°24.972′
G 29°07.568′ 88°25.044′
H 29°07.592′ 88°25.044′
I 29°07.676′ 88°25.045′
A 29°07.640′ 88°23.608′

(l) McGrail Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 12 to Paragraph (l)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°59.100′ 92°37.320′
B 27°59.100′ 92°32.290′
C 27°55.925′ 92°32.290′
D 27°55.925′ 92°37.320′
A 27°59.100′ 92°37.320′

(m) AT 047 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 13 to Paragraph (m)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°54.426′ 89°49.404′
B 27°54.486′ 89°46.464′
C 27°51.874′ 89°46.397′
D 27°51.814′ 89°49.336′
A 27°54.426′ 89°49.404′

(n) AT 357 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 14 to Paragraph (n)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°36.259' 89°43.068'
B 27°36.315' 89°40.136'
C 27°33.703' 89°40.073'
D 27°33.646' 89°43.004'
A 27°36.259' 89°43.068'

(o) Green Canyon 852 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 15 to Paragraph (o)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°08.354′ 91°08.929′
B 27°05.740′ 91°08.963′
C 27°05.762′ 91°10.610′
D 27°08.376′ 91°10.567′
A 27°08.354′ 91°08.929′

(p) West Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 16 to Paragraph (p)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°55.380′ 93°53.160′
B 27°55.380′ 93°46.767′
C 27°49.050′ 93°46.767′
D 27°49.050′ 93°53.160′
A 27°55.380′ 93°53.160′

(q) East Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 17 to Paragraph (q)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°59.240′ 93°38.970′
B 27°59.240′ 93°34.058′
C 27°52.608′ 93°34.058′
D 27°52.608′ 93°38.970′
A 27°59.240′ 93°38.970′

(r) Stetson Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 18 to Paragraph (r)

Point North lat. West long.
A 28°10.638′ 94°18.608′
B 28°10.638′ 94°17.105′
C 28°09.310′ 94°17.105′
D 28°09.310′ 94°18.608′
A 28°10.638′ 94°18.608′

(s) Harte Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

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Table 19 to Paragraph (s)

Point North lat. West long.
A 26°40.826′ 96°36.590′
B 26°40.789′ 96°32.220′
C 26°37.992′ 96°32.308′
D 26°38.043′ 96°36.636′
A 26°40.826′ 96°36.590′

(t) Southern Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

Expand Table

Table 20 to Paragraph (t)

Point North lat. West long.
A 27°26.923′ 96°31.902′
B 27°26.989′ 96°30.881′
C 27°25.958′ 96°31.134′
D 27°25.958′ 96°31.892′
A 27°26.923′ 96°31.902′

[85 FR 65746, Oct. 16, 2020]


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