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 Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: May 6, 2024)
 Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
 Chapter VI - Fishery Conservation and Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
 Part 654 - STONE CRAB FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO
 Subpart A - General Measures

  § 654.7 - Prohibitions.  

Latest version.

  • In addition to the general prohibitions specified in § 620.7 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:

    (a) Falsify or fail to display and maintain vessel and gear identification, as required by § 654.6.

    (b) Possess a stone crab in the management area during the period specified in § 654.20(a).

    (c) Possess a stone crab trap in the management area during the period specified in § 654.20(c).

    (d) Remove from a stone crab in or from the management area, or possess in the management area, a claw that is less than the minimum size limit specified in § 654.21(a).

    (e) Fail to return immediately to the water unharmed an egg-bearing stone crab, or strip eggs from or otherwise molest an egg-bearing stone crab; as specified in § 654.21(b).

    (f) Hold a stone crab in or from the management area aboard a vessel other than as specified in § 654.21(c).

    (g) Use or possess in the management area a stone crab trap that does not comply with the trap construction requirements as specified in § 654.22(a).

    (h) Pull or tend a stone crab trap in the management area other than during daylight hours, as specified in § 654.22(b).

    (i) Willfully tend, open, pull, or otherwise molest another fisherman's trap, buoy, or line in the management area, as specified in § 654.22(c).

    (j) Trawl in a closed area or during a closed season, as specified in §§ 654.23 or 654.24, or as may be implemented under § 654.25(b).

    (k) Place a stone crab trap in a closed area or during a closed season, as specified in § 654.24, or as may be implemented under § 654.25(b).

    (l) Interfere with fishing or obstruct or damage fishing gear or the fishing vessel of another, as specified in § 654.25(a).

    (m) Make any false statement, oral or written, to an authorized officer concerning the taking, catching, harvesting, landing, purchase, sale, possession, or transfer of stone crab.

    (n) Interfere with, obstruct, delay, or prevent by any means an investigation, search, seizure, or disposition of seized property in connection with enforcement of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

    (o) Fish for any species or anchor a fishing vessel in a marine reserve as specified in § 654.28.

    (p) Except for a person who is in compliance with the FFWCC stone crab trap limitation program, possess or use a stone crab trap, possess more than 1 gallon (4.5 L) of stone crab claws, or sell stone crab claws in or from the management area without a commercial vessel permit as specified in § 654.4(a).

    (q) Falsify information on an application for a commercial vessel permit or submitted in support of such application as specified in § 654.4(a)(1) or (2).

    (r) [Reserved]

    (s) Pull or tend a stone crab trap, effective May 11, 2010, in the portion of the Gulf EEZ designated in § 622.34(n) of this chapter, due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.