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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 622
DOCUMENT ID: [I.D. 070306A]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Adjustment of the ending date of the Texas closure.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Texas Closure
DATES: The EEZ off Texas is open to trawl fishing from 30 minutes after sunset on July 10, 2006.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS announces an adjustment to the ending date of the annual closure of the shrimp fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Texas. The closure is normally from May 15 to July 15 each year. For 2006, the closure began on May 15, and will end at 30 minutes after sunset on July 10. The Texas closure is intended to prohibit the harvest of brown shrimp during their major emigration from Texas estuaries to the Gulf of Mexico so the shrimp may reach a larger, more valuable size and to prevent the waste of brown shrimp that would be discarded in fishing operations because of their small size.
SUMMARY: Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic fisheries—; Shrimp fishery,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The EEZ off Texas is normally closed to all trawling each year from 30 minutes after sunset on May 15 to 30 minutes after sunset on July 15. The regulations at 50 CFR 622.34(h) describe the area of the Texas closure and provide for adjustments to the beginning and ending dates by the Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, under procedures and restrictions specified in the FMP.The beginning and ending dates of the Texas closure are based on biological sampling by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The closure date is established based on projected times that brown shrimp in Texas bays and estuaries will reach a mean size of 90 mm, and begin strong emigrations out of the bays and estuaries during maximum duration ebb tides. The waters off Texas are reopened to shrimping when projections indicate that brown shrimp will reach a mean size of 112 mm, in concurrence with maximum duration ebb tides. Biological data collected by TPDW indicate that the criteria to end the Texas closure will be met on July 10, 2006. Accordingly, the time and date for ending the Texas closure is changed from 30 minutes after sunset on July 15, 2006, to 30 minutes after sunset on July 10, 2006.
Classification
This action is authorized by 50 CFR 622.34(h)(2) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 3, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 066098 Filed 7506; 2:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Dr. Steve Branstetter, 727-824-5305; fax: 7278245308; email: Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov.
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