[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: 50CFR640.20]

[Page 270-271]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 640--SPINY LOBSTER FISHERY OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SOUTH ATLANTIC--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart B--Management Measures
 
Sec. 640.20  Seasons.

    Source: 57 FR 56520, Nov. 30, 1992, unless otherwise noted.


    (a) EEZ off the southern Atlantic states, other than Florida. In the 
EEZ off the southern Atlantic states, other than Florida, there are no 
seasonal restrictions on the harvest of spiny lobster or on the 
possession of traps.
    (b) EEZ off Florida and off the Gulf states, other than Florida--(1) 
Commercial and recreational fishing season. The commercial and 
recreational fishing season for spiny lobster in the EEZ off Florida and 
the EEZ off the Gulf states, other than Florida, begins on August 6 and 
ends on March 31.
    (2) Special recreational fishing seasons--(i) EEZ off Florida. There 
is a 2-day special recreational fishing season in the EEZ off Florida on 
the last Wednesday and successive Thursday of July each year during 
which fishing for spiny lobster is limited to diving or use of a bully 
net or hoop net. (See Sec. 640.22(a) for general prohibitions on gear 
and methods.) In the EEZ off Monroe County, Florida, no person may 
harvest spiny lobster by diving at night, that is, from 1 hour after 
official sunset to 1 hour before official sunrise, during this 2-day 
special recreational fishing season.
    (ii) EEZ off the Gulf states, other than Florida. There is a 2-day 
special recreational fishing season in the EEZ off the Gulf states, 
other than Florida, during the last Saturday and successive Sunday of 
July each year during which fishing for spiny lobster may be conducted 
by authorized gear and methods other than traps. (See Sec. 640.22(a) for 
general prohibitions on gear and methods.)
    (3) Possession of traps. (i) In the EEZ off Florida, the rules and 
regulations applicable to the possession of spiny lobster traps in 
Florida's waters in Rule 46-24.005(3), (4), and (5), Florida 
Administrative Code, in effect as of June 1, 1994, apply in their 
entirety to the possession of spiny lobster traps in the EEZ off 
Florida. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of 
the Office of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Florida Marine 
Fisheries Commission, 2540 Executive Center Circle West, Suite 106, 
Tallahassee, FL 32301; telephone: 904-487-0554. Copies may be inspected 
at the Office of the Regional Director; the Office of Fisheries 
Conservation and Management, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD; or the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (ii) In the EEZ off the Gulf states, other than Florida, a spiny 
lobster trap may be placed in the water prior to the commercial and 
recreational fishing season, which is specified in paragraph (b)(1) of 
this section beginning on August 1 and must be removed from the water 
after such season not later than April 5.
    (iii) A spiny lobster trap, buoy, or rope in the EEZ off Florida or 
in the EEZ off the Gulf states, other than Florida, during periods not 
authorized in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (b)(3)(ii) of this section will 
be considered unclaimed or abandoned property and may be disposed of in 
any manner considered appropriate by the Assistant Administrator or an 
authorized officer. An owner of such trap, buoy, or rope remains subject 
to appropriate civil penalties.

[[Page 271]]

    (4) Possession of spiny lobsters. In the EEZ off Florida and the 
Gulf states, a whole or a part of a spiny lobster subject to these 
regulations may only be possessed during the commercial and recreational 
fishing season and the special recreational fishing season specified in 
Sec. 640.20, unless accompanied by proof of lawful harvest in the waters 
of a foreign nation. Consistent with the provisions of paragraphs 
(b)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, a spiny lobster in a trap in this 
area will not be deemed to be possessed provided such spiny lobster is 
returned immediately to the water unharmed when a trap is removed from 
the water between March 31 and April 15.
    (c) Primacy of seasonal restrictions in the EEZ off Florida. The 
seasonal restrictions applicable in the EEZ off Florida apply to all 
spiny lobsters and traps in the EEZ off Florida, without regard to 
harvest or use elsewhere, unless accompanied by proof of lawful harvest 
elsewhere.

[60 FR 41831, Aug. 14, 1995]