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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.
413
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.
413