[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR635.6]

[Page 229-230]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 635.6  Vessel and gear identification.

    (a) Vessel number. For the purposes of this section, a vessel's 
number is the vessel's official number issued by either by the U.S. 
Coast Guard or by the appropriate state agency.
    (b) Vessel identification. (1) An owner or operator of a vessel for 
which a permit has been issued under Sec. 635.4, other than a permit for 
the Atlantic tunas Angling category, must display the vessel number--
    (i) On the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull and on 
an appropriate weather deck, so as to be clearly visible from an 
enforcement vessel or aircraft.
    (ii) In block arabic numerals permanently affixed to or painted on 
the vessel in contrasting color to the background.
    (iii) At least 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height for vessels over 65 ft 
(19.8 m) in length; at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) in height for all other 
vessels over 25 ft (7.6 m) in length; and at least 3 inches

[[Page 230]]

(7.6 cm) in height for vessels 25 ft (7.6 m) in length or less.
    (2) The owner or operator of a vessel for which a permit has been 
issued under Sec. 635.4 must keep the vessel's number clearly legible 
and in good repair and ensure that no part of the vessel, its rigging, 
its fishing gear, or any other material on board obstructs the view of 
the vessel's number from an enforcement vessel or aircraft.
    (c) Gear identification. (1) The owner or operator of a vessel for 
which a permit has been issued under Sec. 635.4 and that uses a 
handline, harpoon, longline, or gillnet, must display the vessel's name, 
registration number or Atlantic Tunas permit number on each float 
attached to a handline or harpoon and on the terminal floats and high-
flyers (if applicable) on a longline or gillnet used by the vessel. The 
vessel's name or number must be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) in height in 
block letters or arabic numerals in a color that contrasts with the 
background color of the float or high-flyer.
    (2) An unmarked handline, harpoon, longline, or gillnet, is illegal 
and may be disposed of in an appropriate manner by NMFS or an authorized 
officer.
    (3) In addition to gear marking requirements in this paragraph 
(c)(1), provisions on gear marking for the southeast U.S. shark gillnet 
fishery to implement the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan are 
set forth in Sec. 229.32(b) of this title.

[64 FR 29135, May 28, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 42804, Aug. 15, 2001]