§ 648.88 — Multispecies Stock Area Definitions

(a) Definition of stock areas. The species stock areas applicable for possession and trip limits specified in § 648.86, recreational minimum and maximum fish sizes, possession limits, and seasons specified in § 648.89, and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of ACE pursuant to § 648.87(b) are defined in paragraphs (1) through (17) of this section. For stocks that have incidental catch TACs pursuant to § 648.85(b), the areas also identify stock areas associated with those incidental catch TACs. Copies of a chart depicting these areas are available from the Regional Administrator upon request.

(1) GOM cod stock area. The GOM cod stock is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)—GOM Cod Stock Area

(2) GB cod stock area. The GB cod stock is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 2 to Paragraph (a)(2)—GB Cod Stock Area

(3) [Reserved]

(4) [Reserved]

(5) GB haddock stock area. The GB Haddock Stock Area is defined as the area bounded on the west by the coastline of the United States, on the south by a line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the north by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 5 to Paragraph (a)(5)—GB Haddock Stock Area

(6) GOM haddock stock area. The GOM Haddock Stock Area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 6 to Paragraph (a)(6)—GOM Haddock Stock Area

(7) GB yellowtail flounder stock area. The GB yellowtail flounder stock area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 7 to Paragraph (a)(7)—GB Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area

(8) SNE/MA yellowtail flounder stock area. (i) For the purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in § 648.86, and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of SNE/MA yellowtail flounder ACE pursuant to § 648.87(b), the SNE/MA yellowtail flounder stock area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 8 to Paragraph (a)(8)(i)—SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area

(ii) For the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program, the SNE/MA yellowtail flounder B DAS stock area is the area bounded on the north, east, and south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 9 to Paragraph (a)(8)(ii)—SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder B DAS Stock Area

(9) CC/GOM yellowtail flounder stock area. (i) For the purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in § 648.86, and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ACE pursuant to § 648.87(b), the CC/GOM yellowtail flounder stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 10 to Paragraph (a)(9)(i)—CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area

(ii) For the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program pursuant to § 648.85(b), the CC/GOM yellowtail flounder B DAS stock area is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 11 to Paragraph (a)(9)(ii)—CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder B DAS Stock Area

(10) American plaice stock area. The American plaice stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in paragraph (b) of this section.

(11) Witch flounder stock area. The witch flounder stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in paragraph (b) of this section.

(12) GB winter flounder stock area. The GB winter flounder stock area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 12 to Paragraph (a)(12)—GB Winter Flounder Stock Area

(13) GOM winter flounder stock area. The GOM Winter Flounder Stock Area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 13 to Paragraph (a)(13)—GOM Winter Flounder Stock Area

(14) SNE/MA winter flounder stock area. The SNE winter flounder stock area is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 14 to Paragraph (a)(14)—SNE/MA Winter Flounder Stock Area

(15) Redfish stock area. The redfish stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in paragraph (b) of this section.

(16) White hake stock area. The white hake stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, bounded on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in paragraph (b) of this section.

(17) Pollock stock area. The pollock stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Stock area for unit stocks. The stock area for all unit stocks listed in paragraph (a) of this section (American plaice, witch flounder, redfish, white hake, and pollock) are defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 15 to Paragraph (b)—Unit Stock Area