Updated through January 27, 2016 NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNOFFICIAL COMPILATION OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PREPARED IN THE SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE FOR THE INFORMATION AND CONVENIENCE OF INTERESTED PERSONS. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE CHANGES TO THESE REGULATIONS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED AFTER THE DATE INDICATED ABOVE. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 50 CFR Part 622 PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC TABLE OF CONTENTS Subpart A--General Provisions.................................. 8 § 622.1 Purpose and scope. ................................... 8 § 622.2 Definitions and acronyms ............................ 10 § 622.3 Relation to other laws and regulations .............. 20 § 622.4 Permits and fees--general ........................... 21 § 622.5 Recordkeeping and reporting--general ................ 25 § 622.6 Vessel identification ............................... 27 § 622.7 Fishing years ....................................... 28 § 622.8 Quotas--general ..................................... 29 § 622.9 Prohibited gear and methods--general ................ 30 § 622.10 Landing fish intact--general ....................... 31 § 622.11 Bag and possession limits--general applicability ... 32 § 622.12 Annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for Caribbean island management areas/Caribbean EEZ ... 32 § 622.13 Prohibitions--general .............................. 35 § 622.14 [Reserved] ......................................... 38 § 622.15 Notice regarding area closures to protect corals ... 38 § 622.16 Notice regarding South Atlantic special management zones (SMZs) ................................................ 38 § 622.17 Notice regarding seasonal/area closures to protect Gulf reef fish .............................................. 39 Subpart B--Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.......... 39 § 622.20 Permits and endorsements ........................... 39 § 622.21 Individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for Gulf red snapper. .................................................... 43 § 622.22 Individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for Gulf groupers and tilefishes. .................................... 56 §§ 622.23-622.24 [Reserved] ................................. 70 § 622.25 Exemptions for Gulf groundfish trawling ............ 70 1 § 622.26 Recordkeeping and reporting ........................ 70 § 622.27 At-sea observer coverage ........................... 72 § 622.28 Vessel monitoring systems (VMSs) ................... 73 § 622.29 Conservation measures for protected resources ...... 76 § 622.30 Required fishing gear .............................. 77 § 622.31 Buoy gear identification ........................... 77 § 622.32 Prohibited gear and methods ........................ 77 § 622.33 Prohibited species ................................. 78 § 622.34 Seasonal and area closures designed to protect Gulf reef fish ................................................... 78 § 622.35 Gear restricted areas .............................. 81 § 622.36 Seasonal harvest limitations ....................... 84 § 622.37 Size limits ........................................ 84 § 622.38 Bag and possession limits .......................... 85 § 622.39 Quotas ............................................. 86 § 622.40 Restrictions on sale/purchase ...................... 89 § 622.41 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) ................... 90 § 622.42 Adjustment of management measures .................. 99 § 622.43 Commercial trip limits ............................. 99 Subpart C--Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico.............. 100 § 622.50 Permits, permit moratorium, and endorsements ...... 100 § 622.51 Recordkeeping and reporting ....................... 101 § 622.52 At-sea observer coverage .......................... 102 § 622.53 Bycatch reduction device (BRD) requirements ....... 102 § 622.54 Prohibited gear and methods ....................... 105 § 622.55 Closed areas ...................................... 106 § 622.56 Size limits ....................................... 111 § 622.57 [Removed and Reserved] ............................ 111 § 622.58 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) .................. 112 § 622.59 Prevention of gear conflicts ...................... 112 § 622.60 Adjustment of management measures ................. 112 Subpart D--Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico....... 113 § 622.70 Permits ........................................... 113 § 622.71 Recordkeeping and reporting ....................... 115 § 622.72 Prohibited gear and methods ....................... 115 § 622.73 Prohibited species ................................ 115 § 622.74 Area closures to protect Gulf corals .............. 115 § 622.75 Harvest limitations ............................... 118 § 622.76 Restrictions on sale/purchase ..................... 119 § 622.77 Adjustment of management measures ................. 119 Subpart E--Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico............ 120 § 622.90 Permits ........................................... 120 § 622.91 Recordkeeping and reporting ....................... 120 § 622.92 Prohibited species ................................ 120 § 622.93 Adjustment of management measures. ................ 120 2 Subparts F-H [Reserved]...................................... 121 Subpart I--Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region ............................................................. 121 § 622.170 Permits and endorsements ......................... 121 § 622.171 South Atlantic snapper-grouper limited access .... 126 § 622.172 Wreckfish individual transferable quota (ITQ) system ........................................................... 127 §§ 622.173-622.175 [Reserved] .............................. 130 § 622.176 Recordkeeping and reporting ...................... 130 § 622.177 Gear identification .............................. 133 § 622.178 At-sea observer coverage ......................... 134 § 622.179 Conservation measures for protected resources .... 135 § 622.180 Prohibited gear and methods ...................... 136 § 622.181 Prohibited and limited-harvest species ........... 136 § 622.182 Gear-restricted areas ............................ 137 § 622.183 Area and seasonal closures ....................... 143 § 622.184 Seasonal harvest limitations ..................... 146 § 622.185 Size limits ...................................... 147 § 622.186 Landing fish intact .............................. 148 § 622.187 Bag and possession limits ........................ 148 § 622.188 Required gear, authorized gear, and unauthorized gear ........................................................... 150 § 622.189 Restrictions and requirements for sea bass pots .. 152 § 622.190 Quotas ........................................... 154 § 622.191 Commercial trip limits ........................... 157 § 622.192 Restrictions on sale/purchase .................... 159 § 622.193 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) .................. 161 § 622.194 Adjustment of management measures ................ 182 Subpart J--Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region....... 183 § 622.200 Permits .......................................... 183 § 622.201 South Atlantic rock shrimp limited access ........ 184 § 622.202 [Reserved] ....................................... 185 § 622.203 Recordkeeping and reporting ...................... 185 § 622.204 At-sea observer coverage ......................... 185 § 622.205 Vessel monitoring systems (VMSs) ................. 186 § 622.206 Area and seasonal closures ....................... 187 § 622.207 Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) requirements ...... 188 § 622.208 Minimum mesh size applicable to rock shrimp off Georgia and Florida ........................................ 191 § 622.209 Restrictions on sale/purchase .................... 191 § 622.210 Adjustment of management measures ................ 192 Subpart K--Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region.................................... 192 § 622.220 Permits .......................................... 192 § 622.221 Recordkeeping and reporting ...................... 194 § 622.222 Prohibited gear and methods ...................... 194 3 § 622.223 Prohibited species ............................... 194 § 622.224 Area closures to protect South Atlantic corals ... 195 § 622.225 Harvest limitations .............................. 216 § 622.226 Restrictions on sale/purchase .................... 217 § 622.227 Adjustment of management measures ................ 218 Subpart L--Golden Crab Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.. 218 § 622.240 Permits .......................................... 218 § 622.241 South Atlantic golden crab controlled access ..... 219 § 622.242 Recordkeeping and reporting ...................... 221 § 622.243 Gear identification .............................. 221 § 622.244 At-sea observer coverage ......................... 221 § 622.245 Prohibited species ............................... 222 § 622.246 Area closures .................................... 223 § 622.247 Landing golden crab intact ....................... 223 § 622.248 Authorized gear .................................. 223 § 622.249 Gear restrictions and requirements ............... 223 § 622.250 Restrictions on sale/purchase