648.61—EFH closed areas.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the following areas identified in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section are closed to scallop fishing to protect EFH from adverse effects of scallop fishing (copies of charts depicting these areas are available from the Regional Administrator upon request):

(a) Closed Area I EFH Closure. No vessel may fish for scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the Closed Area I EFH Closure. No vessel may possess scallops in the Closed Area I EFH Closure, unless such vessel is only transiting the area as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. The Closed Area I EFH Closure consists of two sections, defined by straight lines connecting the points in the order stated in the following table:

Section 1

Point	Latitude	Longitude
CAIE1	41°30′ N.	69°23′ W.
CAIE2	41°30′ N.	68°35′ W.
CAIE3	41°08′ N.	69°4.2′ W.
CAIE4	41°30′ N.	69°23′ W.

Section 2

Point	Latitude	Longitude
CAIE5	41°04.5′ N.	69°1.2′ W.
CAIE6	41°09′ N.	68°30′ W.
CAIE7	40°45′ N.	68°30′ W.
CAIE8	40°45′ N.	68°45′ W.
CAIE5	41°04.5′ N.	69°1.2′ W.

(b) Closed Area II EFH Closure. No vessel may fish for scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the Closed Area II EFH Closure. No vessel may possess scallops in the Closed Area II EFH Closure, unless such vessel is only transiting the area as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. The Closed Area II EFH Closure is defined by straight lines connecting the points in the order stated in the following table:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
CAIIE1	42°22′ N.	67°20′ W. 1
CAIIE2	41°30′ N.	66°34.8′ W. 1
CAIIE3	41°30′ N.	67°20′ W.
CAIIE1	42°22′ N.	67°20′ W. 1
1 The U.S/Canada Maritime Boundary

(c) Nantucket Lightship Closed Area EFH Closure. No vessel may fish for scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area EFH Closure. No vessel may possess scallops in the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area EFH Closure, unless such vessel is only transiting the area as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. The Nantucket Lightship Closed Area EFH Closure is defined by straight lines connecting the points in the order stated in the following table:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
NLSE1	40°50′ N.	70°20′ W.
NLSE2	40°50′ N.	69°29.5′ W.
NLSE3	40°30′ N.	69°14.5′ W.
NLSE4	40°30′ N.	69°00′ W.
NLSE5	40°20′ N.	69°00′ W.
NLSE6	40°20′ N.	70°20′ W.
NLSE1	40°50′ N.	70°20′ W.

(d) Western Gulf of Maine EFH Closure. No vessel may fish for scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the Western Gulf of Maine EFH Closure. No vessel may possess scallops in the Western Gulf of Maine EFH Closure, unless such vessel is only transiting the area as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. The Western Gulf of Maine EFH Closure is defined by straight lines connecting the points in the order stated in the following table:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
WGOM1	43°15′ N.	70°15′ W.
WGOM2	43°15′ N.	69°55′ W.
WGOM3	42°15′ N.	69°55′ W.
WGOM4	42°15′ N.	70°15′ W.
WGOM1	43°15′ N.	70°15′ W.

(e) Transiting. A vessel may transit the area(s) specified in paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) of this section, provided that its gear is stowed in accordance with the provisions of § 648.23(b). A vessel may transit the area specified in paragraph (b) of this section, in accordance with § 648.81(b)(2)(iv).

[70 FR 66798, Nov. 3, 2005]

CFR

648.61—EFH closed areas.