(a) Hudson Canyon Closed Area.
No vessel may fish for scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the Hudson Canyon Closed Area. No vessel may possess scallops in the Hudson Canyon Closed Area, unless such vessel is only transiting the area as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. The Hudson Canyon Closed Area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request):
H1 |
39°30′ N. |
73°10′ W. |
H2 |
39°30′ N. |
72°30′ W. |
H3 |
38°30′ N. |
73°30′ W. |
H4 |
38°50′ N. |
73°30′ W. |
H5 |
38°50′ N. |
73°42′ W. |
H1 |
39°30′ N. |
73°10′ W. |
(c) Transiting.
No vessel possessing scallops may enter or be in the area(s) specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section unless the vessel is transiting the area and the vessel's fishing gear is unavailable for immediate use as defined in § 648.23(b), or there is a compelling safety reason to be in such areas.
(d) Vessels fishing for species other than scallops.
A vessel may fish for species other than scallops within the closed areas specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section as allowed in this part, provided the vessel does not fish for, catch, or retain scallops or intend to fish for, catch, or retain scallops. Declaration through VMS that the vessel is fishing in the general category scallop fishery is deemed to be an intent to fish for, catch, or retain scallops.
[71 FR 33228, June 8, 2006, as amended by 72 FR 72629, Dec. 21, 2007; 73 FR 30807, May 29, 2008; 75 FR 36571, June 28, 2010]