§ 640.22 - Gear and diving restrictions.

(a) Prohibited gear and methods. (1) A spiny lobster may not be taken in the EEZ with a spear, hook, or similar device, or gear containing such devices. In the EEZ, the possession of a speared, pierced, or punctured spiny lobster is prima facie evidence that prohibited gear was used to take such lobster. Hook, as used in this paragraph (a)(1), does not include a hook in a hook-and-line fishery for species other than spiny lobster; and possession of a spiny lobster that has been speared, pierced, or punctured by such hook is not considered evidence that prohibited gear was used to take the spiny lobster, provided no prohibited gear is on board the vessel.

(2) A spiny lobster may not be taken in a directed fishery by the use of a net or trawl. See §640.23(d) for the bycatch limits applicable to a vessel that uses or has on board a net or trawl.

(3) Poisons and explosives may not be used to take a spiny lobster in the EEZ as defined in §640.1(b). For the purposes of this paragraph (a)(3), chlorine, bleach, and similar substances, which are used to flush a spiny lobster out of rocks or coral, are poisons. A vessel in the spiny lobster fishery may not possess on board in the EEZ any dynamite or similar explosive substance.

(b) Traps. (1) In the EEZ, a spiny lobster trap may be no larger in dimension than 3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet (91.4 cm by 61.0 cm by 61.0 cm), or the volume equivalent. A trap constructed of material other than wood must have a panel constructed of wood, cotton, or other material that will degrade at the same rate as a wooden trap. Such panel must be located in the upper half of the sides or on top of the trap, so that, when removed, there will be an opening in the trap no smaller than the diameter found at the throat or entrance of the trap.

(2) A spiny lobster trap in the EEZ may be pulled or tended during daylight hours only, that is, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset.

(3) A spiny lobster trap in the EEZ may be pulled or tended only by the owner's vessel, or by a vessel for which permission to pull or work traps belonging to another person has been granted—

(i) For traps in the EEZ off Florida, by the Division of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in accordance with the procedures in Rule 68B–24.006(7), Florida Administrative Code, in effect as of July 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference, see §640.29).

(ii) For traps in the EEZ, other than off Florida, by the Regional Administrator, as may be arranged upon written request.

(4) Fishing with spiny lobster trap gear is prohibited year-round in the following areas bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the points listed.

(i) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 1.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°31'15.002"	81°31'00.000"
B	24°31'15.002"	81°31'19.994"
C	24°31'29.999"	81°31'19.994"
D	24°31'29.999"	81°31'00.000"
A	24°31'15.002"	81°31'00.000"

(ii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 2.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°31'20.205"	81°30'17.213"
B	24°31'17.858"	81°30'27.700"
C	24°31'27.483"	81°30'30.204"
D	24°31'29.831"	81°30'19.483"
A	24°31'20.205"	81°30'17.213"

(iii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 3.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°31'42.665"	81°30'02.892"
B	24°31'45.013"	81°29'52.093"
C	24°31'34.996"	81°29'49.745"
D	24°31'32.335"	81°30'00.466"
A	24°31'42.665"	81°30'02.892"

(iv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 4.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°31'50.996"	81°28'39.999"
B	24°31'50.996"	81°29'03.002"
C	24°31'56.998"	81°29'03.002"
D	24°31'56.998"	81°28'39.999"
A	24°31'50.996"	81°28'39.999"

(v) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 5.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°32'20.014"	81°26'20.390"
B	24°32'13.999"	81°26'41.999"
C	24°32'27.004"	81°26'45.611"
D	24°32'33.005"	81°26'23.995"
A	24°32'20.014"	81°26'20.390"

(vi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 6.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°32'30.011"	81°24'47.000"
B	24°32'23.790"	81°24'56.558"
C	24°32'45.997"	81°25'10.998"
D	24°32'52.218"	81°25'01.433"
A	24°32'30.011"	81°24'47.000"

(vii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 7.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°32'46.834"	81°27'17.615"
B	24°32'41.835"	81°27'35.619"
C	24°32'54.003"	81°27'38.997"
D	24°32'59.002"	81°27'21.000"
A	24°32'46.834"	81°27'17.615"

(viii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 8.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°33'10.002"	81°25'50.995"
B	24°33'04.000"	81°26'18.996"
C	24°33'17.253"	81°26'21.839"
D	24°33'23.254"	81°25'53.838"
A	24°33'10.002"	81°25'50.995"

(ix) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 9.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°33'22.004"	81°30'31.998"
B	24°33'22.004"	81°30'41.000"
C	24°33'29.008"	81°30'41.000"
D	24°33'29.008"	81°30'31.998"
A	24°33'22.004"	81°30'31.998"

(x) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 10.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°33'33.004"	81°30'00.000"
B	24°33'33.004"	81°30'09.998"
C	24°33'41.999"	81°30'09.998"
D	24°33'41.999"	81°30'00.000"
A	24°33'33.004"	81°30'00.000"

(xi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 11.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°33'50.376"	81°23'35.039"
B	24°33'27.003"	81°24'51.003"
C	24°33'40.008"	81°24'54.999"
D	24°34'03.382"	81°23'39.035"
A	24°33'50.376"	81°23'35.039"

(xii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 12.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°34'00.003"	81°19'29.996"
B	24°34'00.003"	81°20'04.994"
C	24°34'24.997"	81°20'04.994"
D	24°34'24.997"	81°19'29.996"
A	24°34'00.003"	81°19'29.996"

(xiii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 13.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°35'19.997"	81°14'25.002"
B	24°35'19.997"	81°14'34.999"
C	24°35'29.006"	81°14'34.999"
D	24°35'29.006"	81°14'25.002"
A	24°35'19.997"	81°14'25.002"

(xiv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 14.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°44'37.004"	80°46'47.000"
B	24°44'37.004"	80°46'58.000"
C	24°44'47.002"	80°46'58.000"
D	24°44'47.002"	80°46'47.000"
A	24°44'37.004"	80°46'47.000"

(xv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 15.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°49'53.946"	80°38'17.646"
B	24°48'32.331"	80°40'15.530"
C	24°48'44.389"	80°40'23.879"
D	24°50'06.004"	80°38'26.003"
A	24°49'53.946"	80°38'17.646"

(xvi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 16.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°53'32.085"	80°33'22.065"
B	24°53'38.992"	80°33'14.670"
C	24°53'31.673"	80°33'07.155"
D	24°53'24.562"	80°33'14.886"
A	24°53'32.085"	80°33'22.065"

(xvii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 17.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°53'33.410"	80°32'50.247"
B	24°53'40.149"	80°32'42.309"
C	24°53'32.418"	80°32'35.653"
D	24°53'25.348"	80°32'43.302"
A	24°53'33.410"	80°32'50.247"

(xviii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 18.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°54'06.317"	80°32'34.115"
B	24°53'59.368"	80°32'41.542"
C	24°54'06.667"	80°32'48.994"
D	24°54'13.917"	80°32'41.238"
A	24°54'06.317"	80°32'34.115"

(xix) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 19.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°54'06.000"	80°31'33.995"
B	24°54'06.000"	80°31'45.002"
C	24°54'36.006"	80°31'45.002"
D	24°54'36.006"	80°31'33.995"
A	24°54'06.000"	80°31'33.995"

(xx) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 20.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°56'21.104"	80°28'52.331"
B	24°56'17.012"	80°29'05.995"
C	24°56'26.996"	80°29'08.996"
D	24°56'31.102"	80°28'55.325"
A	24°56'21.104"	80°28'52.331"

(xxi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 21.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°56'53.006"	80°27'46.997"
B	24°56'21.887"	80°28'25.367"
C	24°56'35.002"	80°28'36.003"
D	24°57'06.107"	80°27'57.626"
A	24°56'53.006"	80°27'46.997"

(xxii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 22.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°57'35.001"	80°27'14.999"
B	24°57'28.011"	80°27'21.000"
C	24°57'33.999"	80°27'27.997"
D	24°57'40.200"	80°27'21.106"
A	24°57'35.001"	80°27'14.999"

(xxiii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 23.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°58'58.154"	80°26'03.911"
B	24°58'48.005"	80°26'10.001"
C	24°58'52.853"	80°26'18.090"
D	24°59'03.002"	80°26'11.999"
A	24°58'58.154"	80°26'03.911"

(xxiv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 24.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°59'17.009"	80°24'32.999"
B	24°58'41.001"	80°25'21.998"
C	24°58'57.591"	80°25'34.186"
D	24°59'33.598"	80°24'45.187"
A	24°59'17.009"	80°24'32.999"

(xxv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 25.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	24°59'44.008"	80°25'38.999"
B	24°59'27.007"	80°25'48.997"
C	24°59'32.665"	80°25'58.610"
D	24°59'49.666"	80°25'48.612"
A	24°59'44.008"	80°25'38.999"

(xxvi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 26.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°01'00.006"	80°21'55.002"
B	25°01'00.006"	80°22'11.996"
C	25°01'18.010"	80°22'11.996"
D	25°01'18.010"	80°21'55.002"
A	25°01'00.006"	80°21'55.002"

(xxvii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 27.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°01'34.997"	80°23'12.998"
B	25°01'18.010"	80°23'44.000"
C	25°01'22.493"	80°23'46.473"
D	25°01'36.713"	80°23'37.665"
E	25°01'46.657"	80°23'19.390"
A	25°01'34.997"	80°23'12.998"

(xxviii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 28.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°01'38.005"	80°21'25.998"
B	25°01'28.461"	80°21'46.158"
C	25°01'45.009"	80°21'53.999"
D	25°01'54.553"	80°21'33.839"
A	25°01'38.005"	80°21'25.998"

(xxix) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 29.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°01'53.001"	80°23'08.995"
B	25°01'53.001"	80°23'17.997"
C	25°02'01.008"	80°23'17.997"
D	25°02'01.008"	80°23'08.995"
A	25°01'53.001"	80°23'08.995"

(xxx) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 30.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°02'20.000"	80°22'11.001"
B	25°02'10.003"	80°22'50.002"
C	25°02'22.252"	80°22'53.140"
D	25°02'32.250"	80°22'14.138"
A	25°02'20.000"	80°22'11.001"

(xxxi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 31.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°02'29.503"	80°20'30.503"
B	25°02'16.498"	80°20'43.501"
C	25°02'24.999"	80°20'52.002"
D	25°02'38.004"	80°20'38.997"
A	25°02'29.503"	80°20'30.503"

(xxxii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 32.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°02'34.008"	80°21'57.000"
B	25°02'34.008"	80°22'14.997"
C	25°02'50.007"	80°22'14.997"
D	25°02'50.007"	80°21'57.000"
A	25°02'34.008"	80°21'57.000"

(xxxiii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 33.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°03'11.294"	80°21'36.864"
B	25°03'02.540"	80°21'43.143"
C	25°03'08.999"	80°21'51.994"
D	25°03'17.446"	80°21'45.554"
A	25°03'11.294"	80°21'36.864"

(xxxiv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 34.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°03'30.196"	80°21'34.263"
B	25°03'39.267"	80°21'29.506"
C	25°03'35.334"	80°21'19.801"
D	25°03'26.200"	80°21'24.304"
A	25°03'30.196"	80°21'34.263"

(xxxv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 35.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°03'26.001"	80°19'43.001"
B	25°03'26.001"	80°19'54.997"
C	25°03'41.011"	80°19'54.997"
D	25°03'41.011"	80°19'43.001"
A	25°03'26.001"	80°19'43.001"

(xxxvi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 36.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°07'03.008"	80°17'57.999"
B	25°07'03.008"	80°18'10.002"
C	25°07'14.997"	80°18'10.002"
D	25°07'14.997"	80°17'57.999"
A	25°07'03.008"	80°17'57.999"

(xxxvii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 37.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°07'51.156"	80°17'27.910"
B	25°07'35.857"	80°17'37.091"
C	25°07'43.712"	80°17'50.171"
D	25°07'59.011"	80°17'40.998"
A	25°07'51.156"	80°17'27.910"

(xxxviii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 38.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°08'12.002"	80°17'09.996"
B	25°07'55.001"	80°17'26.997"
C	25°08'04.998"	80°17'36.995"
D	25°08'22.000"	80°17'20.000"
A	25°08'12.002"	80°17'09.996"

(xxxix) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 39.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°08'18.003"	80°17'34.001"
B	25°08'18.003"	80°17'45.997"
C	25°08'29.003"	80°17'45.997"
D	25°08'29.003"	80°17'34.001"
A	25°08'18.003"	80°17'34.001"

(xl) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 40.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°08'45.002"	80°15'50.002"
B	25°08'37.999"	80°15'56.998"
C	25°08'42.009"	80°16'00.995"
D	25°08'48.999"	80°15'53.998"
A	25°08'45.002"	80°15'50.002"

(xli) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 41.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°08'58.007"	80°17'24.999"
B	25°08'58.007"	80°17'35.999"
C	25°09'09.007"	80°17'35.999"
D	25°09'09.007"	80°17'24.999"
A	25°08'58.007"	80°17'24.999"

(xlii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 42.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°09'10.999"	80°16'00.000"
B	25°09'10.999"	80°16'09.997"
C	25°09'20.996"	80°16'09.997"
D	25°09'20.996"	80°16'00.000"
A	25°09'10.999"	80°16'00.000"

(xliii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 43.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°09'28.316"	80°17'03.713"
B	25°09'14.006"	80°17'17.000"
C	25°09'21.697"	80°17'25.280"
D	25°09'36.006"	80°17'12.001"
A	25°09'28.316"	80°17'03.713"

(xliv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 44.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°10'00.011"	80°16'06.000"
B	25°10'00.011"	80°16'17.000"
C	25°10'09.995"	80°16'17.000"
D	25°10'09.995"	80°16'06.000"
A	25°10'00.011"	80°16'06.000"

(xlv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 45.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°10'29.002"	80°15'52.995"
B	25°10'29.002"	80°16'04.002"
C	25°10'37.997"	80°16'04.002"
D	25°10'37.997"	80°15'52.995"
A	25°10'29.002"	80°15'52.995"

(xlvi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 46.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°11'05.998"	80°14'25.997"
B	25°11'05.998"	80°14'38.000"
C	25°11'20.006"	80°14'38.000"
D	25°11'20.006"	80°14'25.997"
A	25°11'05.998"	80°14'25.997"

(xlvii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 47.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°12'00.998"	80°13'24.996"
B	25°11'43.008"	80°13'35.000"
C	25°11'48.007"	80°13'44.002"
D	25°12'06.011"	80°13'33.998"
A	25°12'00.998"	80°13'24.996"

(xlviii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 48.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°12'18.343"	80°14'32.768"
B	25°12'02.001"	80°14'44.001"
C	25°12'07.659"	80°14'52.234"
D	25°12'24.001"	80°14'41.001"
A	25°12'18.343"	80°14'32.768"

(xlix) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 49.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°15'23.998"	80°12'29.000"
B	25°15'04.676"	80°12'36.120"
C	25°15'09.812"	80°12'50.066"
D	25°15'29.148"	80°12'42.946"
A	25°15'23.998"	80°12'29.000"

(l) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 50.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°16'01.997"	80°12'32.996"
B	25°15'33.419"	80°12'52.394"
C	25°15'44.007"	80°13'08.001"
D	25°16'12.585"	80°12'48.597"
A	25°16'01.997"	80°12'32.996"

(li) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 51.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°16'33.006"	80°13'30.001"
B	25°16'33.006"	80°13'41.001"
C	25°16'34.425"	80°13'41.026"
D	25°16'41.850"	80°13'37.475"
E	25°16'42.001"	80°13'30.001"
A	25°16'33.006"	80°13'30.001"

(lii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 52.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°17'04.715"	80°12'11.305"
B	25°16'17.007"	80°12'27.997"
C	25°16'23.997"	80°12'47.999"
D	25°17'11.705"	80°12'31.300"
A	25°17'04.715"	80°12'11.305"

(liii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 53.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°17'23.008"	80°12'40.000"
B	25°17'23.008"	80°12'49.997"
C	25°17'33.005"	80°12'49.997"
D	25°17'33.005"	80°12'40.000"
A	25°17'23.008"	80°12'40.000"

(liv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 54.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°20'57.996"	80°09'50.000"
B	25°20'57.996"	80°10'00.000"
C	25°21'07.005"	80°10'00.000"
D	25°21'07.005"	80°09'50.000"
A	25°20'57.996"	80°09'50.000"

(lv) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 55.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°21'45.004"	80°09'51.998"
B	25°21'38.124"	80°09'56.722"
C	25°21'49.124"	80°10'12.728"
D	25°21'56.004"	80°10'07.997"
A	25°21'45.004"	80°09'51.998"

(lvi) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 56.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°21'49.000"	80°09'21.999"
B	25°21'49.000"	80°09'31.996"
C	25°21'58.998"	80°09'31.996"
D	25°21'58.998"	80°09'21.999"
A	25°21'49.000"	80°09'21.999"

(lvii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 57.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°24'31.008"	80°07'36.997"
B	25°24'31.008"	80°07'48.999"
C	25°24'41.005"	80°07'48.999"
D	25°24'41.005"	80°07'36.997"
A	25°24'31.008"	80°07'36.997"

(lviii) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 58.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°25'14.005"	80°07'27.995"
B	25°25'14.005"	80°07'44.001"
C	25°25'26.008"	80°07'44.001"
D	25°25'26.008"	80°07'27.995"
A	25°25'14.005"	80°07'27.995"

(lix) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 59.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°35'13.996"	80°05'39.999"
B	25°35'13.996"	80°05'50.999"
C	25°35'24.007"	80°05'50.999"
D	25°35'24.007"	80°05'39.999"
A	25°35'13.996"	80°05'39.999"

(lx) Lobster Trap Gear Closed Area 60.

Point	North Lat.	West Long.
A	25°40'57.003"	80°05'43.000"
B	25°40'57.003"	80°05'54.000"
C	25°41'06.550"	80°05'53.980"
D	25°41'18.136"	80°05'49.158"
E	25°41'18.001"	80°05'43.000"
A	25°40'57.003"	80°05'43.000"

[57 FR 56520, Nov. 30, 1992, as amended at 58 FR 38980, July 21, 1993; 60 FR 41831, Aug. 14, 1995; 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004; 76 FR 75492, Dec. 2, 2011; 77 FR 44169, July 27, 2012; 77 FR 50642, Aug. 22, 2012]