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Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council manages fi sheries in the federal waters of the Gulf
of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone. Federal waters begin where state waters end and extend to the
200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
Part 600 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions
Subpart B - Regional Fishery Management Councils
§ 600.105 Intercouncil boundaries.
(c) South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Councils. The Boundary coincides with the line of demarcation
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, which begins at the intersection of the outer
boundary of the EEZ, as specifi ed in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 83°00’ W long., proceeds
northward along that meridian to 24° 35’ N lat. (near the Dry Tortugas Islands), thence eastward
along that parallel, through Rebecca Shoal and the Quicksand Shoal, to the Marquesas Keys, and
then through the Florida Keys to the mainland at the eastern end of Florida Bay, the line so running
that the narrow waters within the Dry Tortugas Islands, the Marquesas Keys and the Florida Keys, and
between the Florida Keys and the mainland are within the Gulf of Mexico.
State Authority in Federal Waters
A state may regulate vessels that are registered in that state and fi shing in federal waters for species
for which there are no federal fi shery management plans or applicable federal regulations, or for
which the appropriate fi shery management plan has delegated management of the state and the
state rules are consistent with federal regulations.
NOTE: Federally permitted for-hire reef fi sh vessels must comply with the more restrictive of federal
or state reef fi sh regulations when fi shing for reef fi sh in state waters.
373
Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council manages fi sheries in the federal waters of the Gulf
of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone. Federal waters begin where state waters end and extend to the
200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
Part 600 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions
Subpart B - Regional Fishery Management Councils
§ 600.105 Intercouncil boundaries.
(c) South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Councils. The Boundary coincides with the line of demarcation
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, which begins at the intersection of the outer
boundary of the EEZ, as specifi ed in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 83°00’ W long., proceeds
northward along that meridian to 24° 35’ N lat. (near the Dry Tortugas Islands), thence eastward
along that parallel, through Rebecca Shoal and the Quicksand Shoal, to the Marquesas Keys, and
then through the Florida Keys to the mainland at the eastern end of Florida Bay, the line so running
that the narrow waters within the Dry Tortugas Islands, the Marquesas Keys and the Florida Keys, and
between the Florida Keys and the mainland are within the Gulf of Mexico.
State Authority in Federal Waters
A state may regulate vessels that are registered in that state and fi shing in federal waters for species
for which there are no federal fi shery management plans or applicable federal regulations, or for
which the appropriate fi shery management plan has delegated management of the state and the
state rules are consistent with federal regulations.
NOTE: Federally permitted for-hire reef fi sh vessels must comply with the more restrictive of federal
or state reef fi sh regulations when fi shing for reef fi sh in state waters.
373