Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: February 15, 2024) |
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries |
Chapter VI - Fishery Conservation and Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce |
Part 648 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States |
Subpart D - Management Measures for the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery |
§ 648.61 - [Reserved]
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§ 648.61 EFH and Groundfish Closed Areas.
(a) No vessel fishing for scallops, or person on a vessel fishing for scallops, may enter, fish in, or be in the EFH Closure Areas described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section, unless otherwise specified. A chart depicting these areas is available from the Regional Administrator upon request.
(1) Western GOM Habitat Closure Area. The restrictions specified in this paragraph (a) apply to the Western GOM Habitat Closure Area, which is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Western GOM Habitat Closure Area
Point Latitude Longitude WGM1 43°15′ N. 70°15′ W. WGM2 42°15′ N. 70°15′ W. WGM3 42°15′ N. 70°00′ W. WGM4 43°15′ N. 70°00′ W. WGM1 43°15′ N. 70°15′ W. (2) Cashes Ledge Habitat Closure Area. The restrictions specified in paragraph (a) of this section apply to the Cashes Ledge Habitat Closure Area, which is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Cashes Ledge Habitat Closure Area
Point Latitude Longitude CLH1 43°01′ N. 69°03′ W. CLH2 43°01′ N. 68°52′ W. CLH3 42°45′ N. 68°52′ W. CLH4 42°45′ N. 69°03′ W. CLH1 43°01′ N. 69°03′ W. (3) Jeffrey's Bank Habitat Closure Area. The restrictions specified in paragraph (a) of this section apply to the Jeffrey's Bank Habitat Closure Area, which is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Jeffrey's Bank Habitat Closure Area
Point Latitude Longitude JB1 43°40′ N. 68°50′ W. JB2 43°40′ N. 68°40′ W. JB3 43°20′ N. 68°40′ W. JB4 43°20′ N. 68°50′ W. JB1 43°40′ N. 68°50′ W. (4) Closed Area I Habitat Closure Areas. The restrictions specified in paragraph (a) of this section apply to the Closed Area I Habitat Closure Areas, Closed Area I-North and Closed Area I-South, which are the areas bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated, and so that the lines connecting Point CIN4 to Point CIN1, and Point CIS4 to Point CIS1 is the same as the portion of the western boundary line of Closed Area I, defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, that lies between those points:
Closed Area I - North Habitat Closure Area
Point Latitude Longitude Note CIN1 41°30′ N. 69°23′ W. CIN2 41°30′ N. 68°30′ W. CIN3 41°26′ N. 68°30′ W. CIN4 41°04′ N. 69°01′ W. (1) CIN1 41°30′ N. 69°23′ W. (1) Closed Area I - South Habitat Closure Area
Point Latitude Longitude Notes CIS1 40°54.95′ N. 68°53.37′ W. CIS2 40°58′ N. 68°30′ W. CIS3 40°45′ N. 68°30′ W. CIS4 40°45′ N. 68°45′ W. (1) CIS1 40°54.95′ N. 68°53.37′ W. (1) (5) Closed Area II Habitat Closure Area. The restrictions specified in this paragraph (a) apply to the Closed Area II Habitat Closure Area (also referred to as the Habitat Area of Particular Concern), which is the area bounded by straight lines, except where noted, connecting the following points in the order stated:
Closed Area II Habitat Closure Area
Point Latitude Longitude Note CIIH1 42°10′ N. 67°20′ W. CIIH2 42°10′ N. (1) (2) CIIH3 42°00′ N. (3) (2) CIIH4 42°00′ N. 67°10′ W. CIIH5 41°50′ N. 67°10′ W. CIIH6 41°50′ N. 67°20′ W. CIIH1 42°10′ N. 67°20′ W. (6) Nantucket Lightship Habitat Closure Area. The restrictions specified in this paragraph (a) apply to the Nantucket Lightship Habitat Closure Area, which is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Nantucket Lightship Habitat Closed Area
Point Latitude Longitude NLH1 41°10′ N. 70°00′ W. NLH2 41°10′ N. 69°50′ W. NLH3 40°50′ N. 69°30′ W. NLH4 40°20′ N. 69°30′ W. NLH5 40°20′ N. 70°00′ W. NLH1 41°10′ N. 70°00′ W. (b) Transiting. A vessel may transit the EFH Closure Areas as defined in paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section, unless otherwise restricted, provided that its gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in § 648.2. A vessel may transit the CAII EFH closed area, as defined in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, provided there is a compelling safety reason to enter the area and all gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in § 648.2.
(c) Groundfish Closure Areas. No vessel fishing for scallops, or person on a vessel fishing for scallops, may enter, fish in, or be in the Closure Areas described in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of this section, unless otherwise exempted in the scallop access area program, described in § 648.59. A chart depicting these areas is available from the Regional Administrator upon request.
(1) Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area. The Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area
Point N lat. W long. WGM1 42°15′ N 70°15′ W WGM2 42°15′ N 69°55′ W WGM3 43°15′ N 69°55′ W WGM4 43°15′ N 70°15′ W WGM1 42°15′ N 70°15′ W (2) Cashes Ledge Closure Area. The Cashes Ledge Closure Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Cashes Ledge Closure Area
Point N lat. W long. CL1 43°07′ N 69°02′ W CL2 42°49.5′ N 68°46′ W CL3 42°46.5′ N 68°50.5′ W CL4 42°43.5′ N 68°58.5′ W CL5 42°42.5′ N 69°17.5′ W CL6 42°49.5′ N 69°26′ W CL1 43°07′ N 69°02′ W (3) Closed Area I. Closed Area I is defined by straight lines, unless otherwise noted, connecting the following points in the order stated:
Closed Area I
Point N lat. W long. CI1 41°30′ 69°23′ CI2 40°45′ 68°45′ CI3 40°45′ 68°30′ CI4 41°30′ 68°30′ CI1 41°30′ 69°23′ (4) Closed Area II. Closed Area II is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Closed Area II
Point N lat. W long. Note CAII1 41°00′ N 67°20′ W CAII2 41°00′ N 66°35.8′ W CAII3 41°18.45′ N (1) (2) CAII4 (3) 67°20′ W (2) CAII5 42°22′ N 67°20′ W CAII1 41°00′ N 67°20′ W (5) Nantucket Lightship Closure Area. The Nantucket Lightship Closure Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
[79 FR 34265, June 16, 2014, as amended at 79 FR 52580, Sept. 4, 2014; 80 FR 22134, Apr. 21, 2015; 83 FR 15263, Apr. 9, 2018Nantucket Lightship Closure Area
Point N lat. W long. NL1 40°50′ N 69°00′ W NL2 40°20′ N 69°00′ W NL3 40°20′ N 70°20′ W NL4 40°50′ N 70°20′ W NL1 40°50′ N 69°00′ W [Reserved]