Gulf of Mexico Reef FishBottom Longline Vessels Seasonal Closure (35 Fathom) June 1, 2011-August 31,2011

NOAA Fisheries Service reminds fishermen of the seasonal bottom longline closure in the Gulf of Mexico from June 1, 2011, through August 31, 2011. This regulation prohibits the use of bottom longline gear in the reef fish fishery east of Cape San Blas, Florida, shoreward of a line approximating the 35-fathom depth contour (see map and table).





NOAA Fisheries Service published a final rule to implement Amendment 31 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources in the Gulf of Mexico in the Federal Register on April 26, 2010 (75 FR 21512). These provisions were effective May 26, 2010.

Additional requirements for bottom longline vessels include possession of the bottom longline endorsement and restriction of the number of hooks that may be possessed onboard each reef fish bottom longline vessel to 1,000 hooks total, only 750 of which may be fished or rigged for fishing at any given time.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the information pertinent to the rule. Any discrepancies between this bulletin and the rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.

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