50 CFR § 622.50-622.60 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic - Shrimp Fishery

305 Fishery Conservation and Management § 622.50 (c) Hogfish in the Gulf EEZ south of 25°09′ N. lat. off the west coast of Flor ida—see § 622.191(a)(12)(ii) for the com mercial trip limit. [78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 78 FR 27087, May 9, 2013; 80 FR 75436, Dec. 2, 2015; 82 FR 34581, July 25, 2017; 82 FR 59526, Dec. 15, 2017; 85 FR 20614, Apr. 14, 2020] Subpart C—Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico § 622.50 Permits, permit moratorium, and endorsements. (a) Gulf shrimp permit. For a person aboard a vessel to fish for shrimp in the Gulf EEZ or possess shrimp in or from the Gulf EEZ, a commercial ves sel permit for Gulf shrimp must have been issued to the vessel and must be on board. See paragraph (b) of this sec tion regarding a moratorium on com mercial vessel permits for Gulf shrimp and the associated provisions. See paragraph (c) of this section, regarding an additional endorsement require ment related to royal red shrimp. (b) Moratorium on commercial vessel permits for Gulf shrimp. The provisions of this paragraph (b) are applicable through October 26, 2026. (1) Moratorium permits are required. The only valid commercial vessel per mits for Gulf shrimp are commercial vessel moratorium permits for Gulf shrimp. In accordance with the proce dures specified in the Fishery Manage ment Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Shrimp FMP), all commercial vessel moratorium per mits for Gulf shrimp have been issued. No additional permits will be issued. (2) Permit transferability. Commercial vessel moratorium permits for Gulf shrimp are fully transferable, with or without the sale of the vessel. To re quest that the RA transfer a commer cial vessel moratorium permit for Gulf shrimp, the owner of a vessel that is to receive the transferred permit must complete the transfer information on the reverse of the permit and return the permit and a completed application for transfer to the RA. Transfer docu ments must be notarized as specified in § 622.4(f)(1). (3) Renewal. (i) Renewal of a commer cial vessel moratorium permit for Gulf shrimp is contingent upon compliance with the recordkeeping and reporting requirements for Gulf shrimp specified in § 622.51(a). (ii) Except as provided for in para graph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, a com mercial vessel moratorium permit for Gulf shrimp that is not renewed will be terminated and will not be reissued during the moratorium. A permit is considered to be not renewed when an application for renewal, as required, is not received by the RA within 1 year of the expiration date of the permit. (iii) When NMFS has determined that the number of commercial vessel mora torium permits for Gulf shrimp has reached the threshold number of per mits as described in the FMP, then a commercial vessel moratorium permit for Gulf shrimp that is not renewed will be converted to a Gulf shrimp re serve pool permit and held by NMFS for possible reissuance. Gulf shrimp re serve pool permits will not be issued until eligibility requirements are de veloped and implemented through sub sequent rulemaking. (c) Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement. For a person aboard a vessel to fish for royal red shrimp in the Gulf EEZ or possess royal red shrimp in or from the Gulf EEZ, a commercial vessel permit for Gulf shrimp with a Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement must be issued to the vessel and must be on board. (d) Permit procedures. See § 622.4 for information regarding general permit procedures including, but not limited to, application, fees, duration, transfer, renewal, display, sanctions and denials, and replacement. (e) Gulf shrimp transit provision. A ves sel that does not have a valid Gulf shrimp moratorium permit, as de scribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, may possess Gulf shrimp when in transit in the Gulf EEZ provided that the shrimp fishing gear is appro priately stowed. For the purposes of this paragraph, transit means non-stop progression through the Gulf EEZ. Fishing gear appropriately stowed means trawl doors and nets must be out of the water and the bag straps must be removed from the net. [78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 81 FR 47735, July 22, 2016; 82 FR 60567, Dec. 21, 2017] 306 50 CFR Ch. VI (10–1–22 Edition) § 622.51 § 622.51 Recordkeeping and reporting. (a) Commercial vessel owners and oper ators—(1) General reporting requirement. The owner or operator of a vessel that fishes for shrimp in the Gulf EEZ or in adjoining state waters, or that lands shrimp in an adjoining state, must pro vide information for any fishing trip, as requested by the SRD, including, but not limited to, vessel identifica tion, gear, effort, amount of shrimp caught by species, shrimp condition (heads on/heads off), fishing areas and depths, and person to whom sold. (2) Electronic logbook reporting. The owner or operator of a vessel for which a Federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf shrimp has been issued and who is selected by the SRD must participate in the NMFS-sponsored electronic log book reporting program as directed by the SRD. In addition, such owner or op erator must provide information re garding the size and number of shrimp trawls deployed and the type of by catch reduction device (BRD) and tur tle excluder device used, as directed by the SRD. Compliance with the report ing requirements of this paragraph (a)(2) is required for permit renewal. (3) Vessel and Gear Characterization Form. All owners or operators of vessels applying for or renewing a commercial vessel moratorium permit for Gulf shrimp must complete an annual Gulf Shrimp Vessel and Gear Characteriza tion Form. The form will be provided by NMFS at the time of permit appli cation and renewal. Compliance with this reporting requirement is required for permit issuance and renewal. (4) Landings report. The owner or op erator of a vessel for which a Federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf shrimp has been issued must annually report the permitted vessel’s total an nual landings of shrimp and value, by species, on a form provided by the SRD. Compliance with this reporting requirement is required for permit re newal. (b) Gulf shrimp dealers. A person who purchases shrimp from a vessel, or per son, that fishes for shrimp in the Gulf EEZ or in adjoining state waters, or that lands shrimp in an adjoining state, must provide the following infor mation when requested by the SRD: (1) Name and official number of the vessel from which shrimp were received or the name of the person from whom shrimp were received, if received from other than a vessel. (2) Amount of shrimp received by spe cies and size category for each receipt. (3) Ex-vessel value, by species and size category, for each receipt. § 622.52 At-sea observer coverage. (a) Required coverage. A vessel for which a Federal commercial vessel per mit for Gulf shrimp has been issued must carry a NMFS-approved observer, if the vessel’s trip is selected by the SRD for observer coverage. Vessel per mit renewal is contingent upon compli ance with this paragraph (a). (b) Notification to the SRD. When ob server coverage is required, an owner or operator must advise the SRD in writing not less than 5 days in advance of each trip of the following: (1) Departure information (port, dock, date, and time). (2) Expected landing information (port, dock, and date). (c) Observer accommodations and ac cess. An owner or operator of a vessel on which a NMFS-approved observer is embarked must: (1) Provide accommodations and food that are equivalent to those provided to the crew. (2) Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel’s communications equipment and personnel upon request for the transmission and receipt of messages related to the observer’s du ties. (3) Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel’s navigation equip ment and personnel upon request to de termine the vessel’s position. (4) Allow the observer free and unob structed access to the vessel’s bridge, working decks, holding bins, weight scales, holds, and any other space used to hold, process, weigh, or store fish. (5) Allow the observer to inspect and copy the vessel’s log, communications logs, and any records associated with the catch and distribution of fish for that trip. 307 Fishery Conservation and Management § 622.53 § 622.53 Bycatch reduction device (BRD) requirements. (a) BRD requirement for Gulf shrimp. On a shrimp trawler in the Gulf EEZ, each net that is rigged for fishing must have a BRD installed that is listed in paragraph (a)(3) of this section and is certified or provisionally certified for the area in which the shrimp trawler is located, unless exempted as specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section. A trawl net is rigged for fish ing if it is in the water, or if it is shackled, tied, or otherwise connected to a sled, door, or other device that spreads the net, or to a tow rope, cable, pole, or extension, either on board or attached to a shrimp trawler. (1) Exemptions from BRD requirement— (i) Royal red shrimp exemption. A shrimp trawler is exempt from the require ment to have a certified or provision ally certified BRD installed in each net provided that at least 90 percent (by weight) of all shrimp on board or offloaded from such trawler are royal red shrimp. (ii) Try net exemption. A shrimp trawl er is exempt from the requirement to have a certified or provisionally cer tified BRD installed in a single try net with a headrope length of 16 ft (4.9 m) or less provided the single try net is ei ther placed immediately in front of an other net or is not connected to an other net. (iii) Roller trawl exemption. A shrimp trawler is exempt from the require ment to have a certified or provision ally certified BRD installed in up to two rigid-frame roller trawls that are 16 ft (4.9 m) or less in length used or possessed on board. A rigid-frame roller trawl is a trawl that has a mouth formed by a rigid frame and a grid of rigid vertical bars; has rollers on the lower horizontal part of the frame to allow the trawl to roll over the bottom and any obstruction while being towed; and has no doors, boards, or similar de vices attached to keep the mouth of the trawl open. (iv) BRD certification testing exemp tion. A shrimp trawler that is author ized by the RA to participate in the pre-certification testing phase or to test a BRD in the EEZ for possible cer tification, has such written authoriza tion on board, and is conducting such test in accordance with the ‘‘Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Manual’’ is granted a limited exemption from the BRD requirement specified in this sec tion. The exemption from the BRD re quirement is limited to those trawls that are being used in the certification trials. All other trawls rigged for fish ing must be equipped with certified or provisionally certified BRDs. (2) Procedures for certification and de certification of BRDs. The process for the certification of BRDs consists of two phases—an optional pre-certifi cation phase and a required certifi cation phase. The RA may also provi sionally certify a BRD. (i) Pre-certification. The pre-certifi cation phase allows a person to test and evaluate a new BRD design for up to 60 days without being subject to the observer requirements and rigorous testing requirements specified for cer tification testing in the ‘‘Bycatch Re duction Device Testing Manual.’’ (A) A person who wants to conduct pre-certification phase testing must submit an application to the RA, as specified in the ‘‘Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Manual.’’ The ‘‘Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Manual,’’ which is available from the RA, upon request, contains the application forms. (B) After reviewing the application, the RA will determine whether to issue a Gear Test Authorization (GTA) to conduct pre-certification trials upon the vessel specified in the application. If the RA authorizes pre-certification, the RA’s GTA must be on board the vessel during any trip involving the BRD testing. (ii) Certification. A person who pro poses a BRD for certification for use in the Gulf EEZ must submit an applica tion to test such BRD, conduct the testing, and submit the results of the test in accordance with the ‘‘Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Manual.’’ The RA will issue a GTA to conduct certification trials upon the vessel specified in the application if the RA finds that: The operation plan sub mitted with the application meets the requirements of the ‘‘Bycatch Reduc tion Device Testing Manual’’; the ob server identified in the application is qualified; and the results of any pre 308 50 CFR Ch. VI (10–1–22 Edition) § 622.54 certification trials conducted have been reviewed and deemed to indicate a reasonable scientific basis for con ducting certification testing. If an ap plication for a GTA is denied, the RA will provide a letter of explanation to the applicant, together with relevant recommendations to address the defi ciencies that resulted in the denial. To be certified for use in the fishery, the BRD candidate must successfully dem onstrate a 30 percent reduction in total weight of finfish bycatch. In addition, the BRD candidate must satisfy the following conditions: There is at least a 50-percent probability the true reduc tion rate of the BRD candidate meets the bycatch reduction criterion and there is no more than a 10-percent probability the true reduction rate of the BRD candidate is more than 5 per centage points less than the bycatch reduction criterion. If a BRD meets both conditions, consistent with the ‘‘Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Manual,’’ NMFS, through appropriate rulemaking procedures, will add the BRD to the list of certified BRDs in paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and provide the specifications for the newly certified BRD, including any special conditions deemed appropriate based on the certification testing results. (iii) Provisional certification. Based on data provided consistent with the ‘‘By catch Reduction Device Testing Man ual,’’ the RA may provisionally certify a BRD if there is at least a 50-percent probability the true reduction rate of the BRD is no more than 5 percentage points less than the bycatch reduction criterion, i.e., 25 percent reduction in total weight of finfish bycatch. Through appropriate rulemaking pro cedures, NMFS will add the BRD to the list of provisionally certified BRDs in paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and provide the specifications for the BRD, including any special conditions deemed appropriate based on the cer tification testing results. A provisional certification is effective for 2 years from the date of publication of the no tification in the FEDERAL REGISTER an nouncing the provisional certification. (iv) Decertification. The RA will decer tify a BRD if NMFS determines the BRD does not meet the requirements for certification or provisional certifi cation. Before determining whether to decertify a BRD, the RA will notify the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council in writing, and the public will be provided an opportunity to com ment on the advisability of any pro posed decertification. The RA will con sider any comments from the Council and public, and if the RA elects to de certify the BRD, the RA will proceed with decertification via appropriate rulemaking. (3) Certified and provisionally certified BRDs—(i) Certified BRDS. The following BRDs are certified for use in the Gulf EEZ. Specifications of these certified BRDs are contained in Appendix D to this part. (A) Fisheye—see Appendix D to part 622 for separate specifications in the Gulf and South Atlantic EEZ. (B) Jones-Davis. (C) Modified Jones-Davis. (D) Cone Fish Deflector Composite Panel. (E) Square Mesh Panel (SMP) Com posite Panel. (ii) [Reserved] (b) [Reserved] [78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 85 FR 6818, Feb. 6, 2020] § 622.54 Prohibited gear and methods. Also see § 622.9 for additional prohib ited gear and methods that apply more broadly to multiple fisheries or in some cases all fisheries. (a) Traps for royal red shrimp in the Gulf EEZ and transfer at sea. A trap may not be used to fish for royal red shrimp in the Gulf EEZ. Possession of a trap and royal red shrimp on board a vessel is prohibited. A trap used to fish for royal red shrimp in the Gulf EEZ may be disposed of in any appropriate manner by the Assistant Adminis trator or an authorized officer. In addi tion, royal red shrimp cannot be trans ferred in the Gulf EEZ, and royal red shrimp taken in the Gulf EEZ cannot be transferred at sea regardless of where the transfer takes place. (b) [Reserved] § 622.55 Closed areas. (a) Texas closure. (1) From 30 minutes after official sunset on May 15 to 30 minutes after official sunset on July 15, trawling, except trawling for royal 309 Fishery Conservation and Management § 622.55 red shrimp beyond the 100-fathom (183 m) depth contour, is prohibited in the Gulf EEZ off Texas. (2) In accordance with the procedures and restrictions of the Gulf Shrimp FMP, the RA may adjust the closing and/or opening date of the Texas clo sure to provide an earlier, later, short er, or longer closure, but the duration of the closure may not exceed 90 days or be less than 45 days. Notification of the adjustment of the closing or open ing date will be published in the FED ERAL REGISTER. (b) Southwest Florida seasonal trawl closure. From January 1 to 1 hour after official sunset on May 20, each year, trawling, including trawling for live bait, is prohibited in that part of the Gulf EEZ shoreward of rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (B) Point North lat. West long. B1 ............... 26°16.0′ 81°58.5′ C ................ 26°00.0′ 82°04.0′ D ................ 25°09.0′ 81°47.6′ E ................ 24°54.5′ 81°50.5′ M1 .............. 24°49.3′ 81°46.4′ 1 On the seaward limit of Florida’s waters. (c) Tortugas shrimp sanctuary. (1) The Tortugas shrimp sanctuary is closed to trawling. The Tortugas shrimp sanc tuary is that part of the EEZ off Flor ida shoreward of rhumb lines con necting, in order, the following points: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (C)(1) Point North lat. West long. N 1 .............................................. 25°52′54″ 81°37′56″ F ................................................ 24°50′42″ 81°51′18″ G 2 .............................................. 24°40′00″ 82°26′39″ H 3 .............................................. 24°34′44″ 82°35′27″ P 4 .............................................. 24°35′00″ 82°08′00″ 1 Coon Key Light. 2 New Ground Shoals Light. 3 Rebecca Shoals Light. 4 Marquesas Keys. (2) The provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of this section notwithstanding— (i) Effective from April 11 through September 30, each year, that part of the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary sea ward of rhumb lines connecting the fol lowing points is open to trawling: From point T at 24°47.8′ N. lat., 82°01.0′ W. long. to point U at 24°43.83′ N. lat., 82°01.0′ W. long. (on the line denoting the seaward limit of Florida’s waters); thence along the seaward limit of Flor ida’s waters, as shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11439, to point V at 24°42.55′ N. lat., 82°15.0′ W. long.; thence north to point W at 24°43.6′ N. lat., 82°15.0′ W. long. (ii) Effective from April 11 through July 31, each year, that part of the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary seaward of rhumb lines connecting the following points is open to trawling: From point W to point V, both points as specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, to point G, as specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. (iii) Effective from May 26 through July 31, each year, that part of the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary seaward of rhumb lines connecting the following points is open to trawling: From point F, as specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, to point Q at 24°46.7′ N lat., 81°52.2′ W long. (on the line denot ing the seaward limit of Florida’s waters); thence along the seaward limit of Florida’s waters, as shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11439, to point U and north to point T, both points as specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section. (d) Closures of the Gulf shrimp fishery to reduce red snapper bycatch. During a closure implemented in accordance with this paragraph (d), trawling is prohibited within the specified closed area(s). (1) Procedure for determining need for and extent of closures. Each year, in accordance with the applicable framework procedure established by the Gulf Shrimp FMP, the RA will, if necessary, establish a seasonal area closure for the shrimp fishery in all or a portion of the areas of the Gulf EEZ specified in paragraphs (d)(2) through (4) of this section. The RA’s determina tion of the need for such closure and its geographical scope and duration will be based on an annual assessment, by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, of the shrimp effort and associated shrimp trawl bycatch mortality on red snapper in the 10–30 fathom area of sta tistical zones 10–21, compared to the 60 percent target reduction of shrimp trawl bycatch mortality on red snapper from the benchmark years of 2001–2003 310 50 CFR Ch. VI (10–1–22 Edition) § 622.55 established in the FMP (which cor responds in terms of annual shrimp ef fort to 33,124 days fished). The frame work procedure provides for adjust ment of this target reduction level, consistent with the red snapper stock rebuilding plan and the findings of sub sequent stock assessments, via appro priate rulemaking. The assessment will use shrimp effort data for the most re cent 12-month period available and will include a recommendation regarding the geographical scope and duration of the closure. The Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s assessment will be provided to the RA on or about March 1 of each year. If the RA determines that a closure is necessary, the closure falls within the scope of the potential closures evaluated in the Gulf Shrimp FMP, and good cause exists to waive notice and comment, NMFS will imple ment the closure by publication of a final rule in the FEDERAL REGISTER. If such good cause waiver is not justified, NMFS will implement the closure via appropriate notice and comment rule making. NMFS intends that any clo sure implemented consistent with this paragraph (d)(l) will begin on the same date and time as the Texas closure, as described in paragraph (a) of this sec tion, unless circumstances dictate oth erwise. (2) Eastern zone. The eastern zone is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (D) Point North lat. West long. A ................ 29°14′ 88°57′ B ................ 29°24′ 88°34′ C ................ 29°34′ 87°38′ D ................ 30°04′ 87°00′ E ................ 30°04′ 88°41′ F ................. 29°36′ 88°37′ G ................ 29°21′ 88°59′ A ................ 29°14′ 88°57′ (3) Louisiana zone. The Louisiana zone is bounded by rhumb lines con necting, in order, the following points: TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (D) Point North lat. West long. A ................ 29°09.1′ 93°41.4′ B ................ 29°09.25′ 92°36′ C ................ 28°35′ 90°44′ D ................ 29°09′ 89°48′ E ................ 28°57′ 89°34′ TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (D)—Continued Point North lat. West long. F ................. 28°40′ 90°09′ G ................ 28°18′ 90°33′ H ................ 28°25′ 91°37′ I .................. 28°21.7′ 93°28.4′ A ................ 29°09.1′ 93°41.4′ (4) Texas zone. The Texas zone is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points: TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH (D) Point North lat. West long. A ................ 29°09.1′ 93°41.4′ B ................ 28°44′ 95°15′ C ................ 28°11′ 96°17′ D ................ 27°44′ 96°53′ E ................ 27°02′ 97°11′ F ................. 26°00.5′ 96°57.3′ G ................ 26°00.5′ 96°35.85′ H ................ 26°24′ 96°36′ I .................. 26°49′ 96°52′ J ................. 27°12′ 96°51′ K ................ 27°39′ 96°33′ L ................. 27°55′ 96°04′ M ................ 28°21.7′ 93°28.4′ A ................ 29°09.1′ 93°41.4′ (e) Shrimp/stone crab separation zones. Five zones are established in the Gulf EEZ and Florida’s waters off Citrus and Hernando Counties for the separa tion of shrimp trawling and stone crab trapping. Although Zone II is entirely within Florida’s waters, it is included in this paragraph (e) for the conven ience of fishermen. Restrictions that apply to Zone II and those parts of the other zones that are in Florida’s waters are contained in Rule 68B–38.001, Flor ida Administrative Code, in effect as of March 1, 2005 (incorporated by ref erence, see § 622.413). Geographical co ordinates of the points referred to in this paragraph (e) are as follows: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (E) Point North lat. West long. A ................ 28°59′30″ 82°45′36″ B ................ 28°59′30″ 83°00′10″ C ................ 28°26′01″ 82°59′47″ D ................ 28°26′01″ 82°56′54″ E ................ 28°41′39″ 82°55′25″ F ................. 28°41′39″ 82°56′09″ G ................ 28°48′56″ 82°56′19″ H ................ 28°53′51″ 82°51′19″ I 1 ................ 28°54′43″ 82°44′52″ J 2 ............... 28°51′09″ 82°44′00″ K ................ 28°50′59″ 82°54′16″ L ................. 28°41′39″ 82°53′56″ M 3 .............. 28°41′39″ 82°38′46″ N ................ 28°41′39″ 82°53′12″ O ................ 28°30′51″ 82°55′11″ 311 Fishery Conservation and Management § 622.58 TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (E)—Continued Point North lat. West long. P ................ 28°40′00″ 82°53′08″ Q ................ 28°40′00″ 82°47′58″ R ................ 28°35′14″ 82°47′47″ S ................ 28°30′51″ 82°52′55″ T ................. 28°27′46″ 82°55′09″ U ................ 28°30′51″ 82°52′09″ 1 Crystal River Entrance Light 1A. 2 Long Pt. (southwest tip). 3 Shoreline. (1) Zone I is enclosed by rhumb lines connecting, in order, points A, B, C, D, T, E, F, G, H, I, and J, plus the shore line between points A and J. It is un lawful to trawl in that part of Zone I that is in the EEZ from October 5 through May 20, each year. (2) Zone II is enclosed by rhumb lines connecting, in order, points J, I, H, K, L, and M, plus the shoreline between points J and M. Restrictions that apply to Zone II and those parts of the other zones that are in Florida’s waters are contained in Rule 68B–38.001, Florida Administrative Code, in effect as of March 1, 2005 (incorporated by ref erence, see § 622.413). (3) Zone III is enclosed by rhumb lines connecting, in order, points P, Q, R, U, S, and P. It is unlawful to trawl in that part of Zone III that is in the EEZ from October 5 through May 20, each year. (4) Zone IV is enclosed by rhumb lines connecting, in order, points E, N, S, O, and E. (i) It is unlawful to place a stone crab trap in that part of Zone IV that is in the EEZ from October 5 through De cember 1 and from April 2 through May 20, each year. (ii) It is unlawful to trawl in that part of Zone IV that is in the EEZ from December 2 through April 1, each year. (5) Zone V is enclosed by rhumb lines connecting, in order, points F, G, K, L, and F. (i) It is unlawful to place a stone crab trap in that part of Zone V that is in the EEZ from October 5 through No vember 30 and from March 16 through May 20, each year. (ii) It is unlawful to trawl in that part of Zone V that is in the EEZ from December 1 through March 15, each year. [78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 82 FR 60567, Dec. 21, 2017; 83 FR 29046, June 22, 2018; 85 FR 6818, Feb. 6, 2020] EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: At 87 FR 56237, Sept. 13, 2022, § 622.55 was amended in para graphs (e) introductory text and (e)(2). by re moving all references to ‘‘622.413’’ and add ing, in their place, ‘‘622.19’’, effective Oct. 13, 2022. § 622.56 Size limits. Shrimp not in compliance with the applicable size limit as specified in this section may not be possessed, sold, or purchased and must be released imme diately with a minimum of harm. The operator of a vessel that fishes in the EEZ is responsible for ensuring that shrimp on board are in compliance with the size limit specified in this sec tion. (a) White shrimp. White shrimp har vested in the Gulf EEZ are subject to the minimum-size landing and posses sion limits of Louisiana when possessed within the jurisdiction of that State. (b) [Reserved] § 622.57 [Reserved] § 622.58 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs). (a) Royal red shrimp in the Gulf—(1) Commercial sector. If commercial land ings, as estimated by the SRD, exceed the commercial ACL, then during the following fishing year, if commercial landings reach or are projected to reach the commercial ACL, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commer cial sector for the remainder of that fishing year. When the commercial sec tor is closed, royal red shrimp in or from the Gulf EEZ may not be re tained, and the sale or purchase of royal red shrimp taken from the Gulf EEZ is prohibited. This prohibition on sale or purchase during a closure for royal red shrimp does not apply to royal red shrimp that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to the date of the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. The commercial ACL for royal red 312 50 CFR Ch. VI (10–1–22 Edition) § 622.59 shrimp is 337,000 lb (152,861 kg), tail weight. (2) [Reserved] (b) [Reserved] [78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 80 FR 15692, Mar. 25, 2015] § 622.59 Prevention of gear conflicts. (a) No person may knowingly place in the Gulf EEZ any article, including fishing gear, that interferes with fish ing or obstructs or damages fishing gear or the fishing vessel of another; or knowingly use fishing gear in such a fashion that it obstructs or damages the fishing gear or fishing vessel of an other. (b) In accordance with the procedures and restrictions of the Gulf Shrimp FMP, the RA may modify or establish separation zones for shrimp trawling and the use of fixed gear to prevent gear conflicts. Necessary prohibitions or restrictions will be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. § 622.60 Adjustment of management measures. In accordance with the framework procedures of the Gulf Shrimp FMP, the RA may establish or modify the following: (a) Gulf penaeid shrimp. For a species or species group: Reporting and moni toring requirements, permitting re quirements, size limits, vessel trip lim its, closed seasons or areas and re openings, quotas (including a quota of zero), MSY (or proxy), OY, manage ment parameters such as overfished and overfishing definitions, gear re strictions (ranging from regulation to complete prohibition), gear markings and identification, vessel markings and identification, acceptable biological catch (ABC) and ABC control rules, re building plans, restrictions relative to conditions of harvested shrimp (main taining shrimp in whole condition, use as bait), target effort and fishing mor tality reduction levels, bycatch reduc tion criteria, BRD certification and de certification criteria, BRD testing pro tocol and certified BRD specifications, and target effort reduction for juvenile red snapper mortality. (b) Gulf royal red shrimp. Reporting and monitoring requirements, permit ting requirements, size limits, vessel trip limits, closed seasons or areas and reopenings, annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), quotas (including a quota of zero), ac countability measures (AMs), MSY (or proxy), OY, management parameters such as overfished and overfishing defi nitions, gear restrictions (ranging from regulation to complete prohibition), gear markings and identification, ves sel markings and identification, ABC and ABC control rules, rebuilding plans, and restrictions relative to con ditions of harvested shrimp (maintain ing shrimp in whole condition, use as bait), and target effort reduction for juvenile red snapper mortality. [78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 80 FR 74712, Nov. 30, 2015; 85 FR 6819, Feb. 6, 2020] Subpart D—Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico § 622.70 Permits. See § 622.4 for information regarding general permit procedures including, but not limited to fees, duration, trans fer, renewal, display, sanctions and de nials, and replacement. (a) Required permits—-(1) Allowable chemical. For an individual to take or possess fish or other marine organisms with an allowable chemical in a coral area, other than fish or other marine organisms that are landed in Florida, a Federal allowable chemical permit must have been issued to the indi vidual. Such permit must be available when the permitted activity is being conducted and when such fish or other marine organisms are possessed, through landing ashore. (2) Aquacultured live rock. For a per son to take or possess aquacultured live rock in the Gulf EEZ, a Federal aquacultured live rock permit must have been issued for the specific har vest site. Such permit, or a copy, must be on board a vessel depositing or pos sessing material on an aquacultured live rock site or harvesting or pos sessing live rock from an aquacultured live rock site. (3) Prohibited coral. A Federal permit may be issued to take or possess Gulf prohibited coral only as scientific re search activity, exempted fishing, or exempted educational activity. See