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Madison Swanson, Steamboat Lumps, and the Edges
50 CFR: Wildlife and Fisheries - PART 622 FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC
§622.34 - Gulf EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.
(k) Closure provisions applicable to the Madison and Swanson sites, Steamboat Lumps, and the Edges.
(2) Within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps, possession of Gulf reef fi sh is prohibited, except
for such possession aboard a vessel in transit with fi shing gear stowed as specifi ed in paragraph (k)(4) of this
section.
(3) Within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps during November through April, and within
the Edges during January through April, all fi shing is prohibited, and possession of any fi sh species is prohibited,
except for such possession aboard a vessel in transit with fi shing gear stowed as specifi ed in paragraph (k)(4) of
this section. The provisions of this paragraph, (k)(3), do not apply to highly migratory species.
(4) For the purpose of paragraph (k) of this section, transit means non-stop progression through the area; fi shing
gear appropriately stowed means -
(i) A longline may be left on the drum if all gangions and hooks are disconnected and stowed below
deck. Hooks cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the gear; however, buoys may remain on
deck.
(ii) A trawl net may remain on deck, but trawl doors must be disconnected from the trawl gear and must be
secured.
(iii) A gillnet must be left on the drum. Any additional gillnets not attached to the drum must be stowed below
deck.
(iv) A rod and reel must be removed from the rod holder and stowed securely on or below deck. Terminal gear
(i.e., hook, leader, sinker, fl asher, or bait) must be disconnected and stowed separately from the rod and reel.
Sinkers must be disconnected from the down rigger and stowed separately.
(5) Within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps, during May through October, surface trolling
is the only allowable fi shing activity. For the purpose of this paragraph (k)(5), surface trolling is defi ned as fi shing
with lines trailing behind a vessel which is in constant motion at speeds in excess of four knots with a visible
wake. Such trolling may not involve the use of down riggers, wire lines, planers, or similar devices.
(6) For the purpose of paragraph (k) of this section, fi sh means fi nfi sh, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms
of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. Highly migratory species means tuna
species, marlin (Tetrapturus spp. and Makaira spp.), oceanic sharks, sailfi shes (Istiophorus spp.), and swordfi sh
(Xiphias gladius).
362
Madison Swanson, Steamboat Lumps, and the Edges
50 CFR: Wildlife and Fisheries - PART 622 FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC
§622.34 - Gulf EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.
(k) Closure provisions applicable to the Madison and Swanson sites, Steamboat Lumps, and the Edges.
(2) Within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps, possession of Gulf reef fi sh is prohibited, except
for such possession aboard a vessel in transit with fi shing gear stowed as specifi ed in paragraph (k)(4) of this
section.
(3) Within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps during November through April, and within
the Edges during January through April, all fi shing is prohibited, and possession of any fi sh species is prohibited,
except for such possession aboard a vessel in transit with fi shing gear stowed as specifi ed in paragraph (k)(4) of
this section. The provisions of this paragraph, (k)(3), do not apply to highly migratory species.
(4) For the purpose of paragraph (k) of this section, transit means non-stop progression through the area; fi shing
gear appropriately stowed means -
(i) A longline may be left on the drum if all gangions and hooks are disconnected and stowed below
deck. Hooks cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the gear; however, buoys may remain on
deck.
(ii) A trawl net may remain on deck, but trawl doors must be disconnected from the trawl gear and must be
secured.
(iii) A gillnet must be left on the drum. Any additional gillnets not attached to the drum must be stowed below
deck.
(iv) A rod and reel must be removed from the rod holder and stowed securely on or below deck. Terminal gear
(i.e., hook, leader, sinker, fl asher, or bait) must be disconnected and stowed separately from the rod and reel.
Sinkers must be disconnected from the down rigger and stowed separately.
(5) Within the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps, during May through October, surface trolling
is the only allowable fi shing activity. For the purpose of this paragraph (k)(5), surface trolling is defi ned as fi shing
with lines trailing behind a vessel which is in constant motion at speeds in excess of four knots with a visible
wake. Such trolling may not involve the use of down riggers, wire lines, planers, or similar devices.
(6) For the purpose of paragraph (k) of this section, fi sh means fi nfi sh, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms
of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. Highly migratory species means tuna
species, marlin (Tetrapturus spp. and Makaira spp.), oceanic sharks, sailfi shes (Istiophorus spp.), and swordfi sh
(Xiphias gladius).
362