CFR > Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries > CHAPTER VI—FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE > PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC > SUBPART C—Management Measures (§622.30 to §622.50) > 622.33—Caribbean EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.

622.33—Caribbean EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.

(a) Seasonal closures. In addition to the other restrictions specified in this paragraph (a), fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets or trammel nets is prohibited year-round in the closed areas specified in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this section.
(1) Mutton snapper spawning aggregation area. From March 1 through June 30, each year, fishing is prohibited in that part of the following area that is in the EEZ. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the points listed.
Point North lat. West long.
A 17°37.8′ 64°53.0′
B 17°39.0′ 64°53.0′
C 17°39.0′ 64°50.5′
D 17°38.1′ 64°50.5′
E 17°37.8′ 64°52.5′
A 17°37.8′ 64°53.0′
(2) Red hind spawning aggregation areas. From December 1 through February 28, each year, fishing is prohibited in those parts of the following areas that are in the EEZ. Each area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the points listed.
(i) East of St. Croix.
Point North lat. West long.
A 17°50.2′ 64°27.9′
B 17°50.1′ 64°26.1′
C 17°49.2′ 64°25.8′
D 17°48.6′ 64°25.8′
E 17°48.1′ 64°26.1′
F 17°47.5′ 64°26.9′
A 17°50.2′ 64°27.9′
(ii) West of Puerto Rico— (A) Bajo de Cico.
Point A North lat. West long.
A 18°15.7′ 67°26.4′
B 18°15.7′ 67°23.2′
C 18°12.7′ 67°23.4′
D 18°12.7′ 67°26.4′
A 18°15.7′ 67°26.4′
(B) Tourmaline Bank.
Point North lat. West long.
A 18°11.2′ 67°22.4′
B 18°11.2′ 67°19.2′
C 18°08.2′ 67°19.2′
D 18°08.2′ 67°22.4′
A 18°11.2′ 67°22.4′
(C) Abrir La Sierra Bank.
Point North lat. West long.
A 18°06.5′ 67°26.9′
B 18°06.5′ 67°23.9′
C 18°03.5′ 67°23.9′
D 18°03.5′ 67°26.9′
A 18°06.5′ 67°26.9′
(3) Grammanik Bank closed area. (i) The Grammanik Bank closed area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points:
Point North lat. West long.
A 18°11.898′ 64°56.328′
B 18°11.645′ 64°56.225′
C 18°11.058′ 64°57.810′
D 18°11.311′ 64°57.913′
A 18°11.898′ 64°56.328′
(ii) From February 1 through April 30, each year, no person may fish for or possess any species of fish, except highly migratory species, in or from the Grammanik Bank closed area. This prohibition on possession does not apply to such fish harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure. For the purpose of paragraph (a)(4) of this section, “fish” means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. “Highly migratory species” means bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, albacore, and skipjack tunas; swordfish; sharks (listed in Appendix A to part 635 of this title ); and white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and longbill spearfish.
(4) Red, black, tiger, yellowfin, or yellowedge grouper. From February 1 through April 30, each year, no person may fish for or possess red, black, tiger, yellowfin, or yellowedge grouper in or from the Caribbean EEZ. This prohibition on possession does not apply to such grouper harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure.
(5) Additional red hind closure. From December 1 through the last day of February, each year, no person may fish for or possess red hind in or from the Caribbean EEZ west of 67°10′ W. longitude. This prohibition on possession does not apply to red hind harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure.
(6) Vermilion, black, silk, or blackfin snapper. From October 1 through December 31, each year, no person may fish for or possess vermilion, black, silk, or blackfin snapper in or from the Caribbean EEZ. This prohibition on possession does not apply to such snapper harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure.
(7) Lane or mutton snapper. From April 1 through June 30, each year, no person may fish for or possess lane or mutton snapper in or from the Caribbean EEZ. This prohibition on possession does not apply to such snapper harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure.
(b) Year-round area closures— (1) Hind Bank Marine Conservation District (MCD). The following activities are prohibited within the Hind Bank MCD: Fishing for any species, and anchoring by fishing vessels. The Hind Bank MCD is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the points listed.
Point North lat. West long.
A 18°13.2′ 65°06.0′
B 18°13.2′ 64°59.0′
C 18°11.8′ 64°59.0′
D 18°10.7′ 65°06.0′
A 18°13.2′ 65°06.0′
(2) [Reserved]
(c) Caribbean EEZ area closure related to Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Effective [May 11, 2010, all fishing is prohibited in the portion of the Caribbean EEZ identified in the map shown on the NMFS Web site: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm.
[64 FR 60133, Nov. 4, 1999, as amended at 70 FR 62081, Oct. 28, 2005; 73 FR 68361, Nov. 18, 2008; 75 FR 27218, May 14, 2010]