[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16306]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 658

[I.D. 062994E]

 

Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Adjustment of the ending date of the Texas closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an adjustment of the ending date of the annual 
closure of the shrimp fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off 
Texas. The closure normally ends on July 15 each year. Because 
biological data indicate that brown shrimp leaving the Texas estuaries 
will have reached the desired size by July 7, 1994, the ending date is 
changed to this earlier date. The Texas closure is intended to prohibit 
the harvest of brown shrimp during their major period of 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.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The EEZ off Texas is closed to trawl fishing from 30 
minutes after sunset, May 13, 1994, to 30 minutes after sunset, July 7, 
1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael E. Justen, 813-893-3161.

SUPPLEMENTARY 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 658 
under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The FMP's implementing regulations at 50 
CFR 658.25 describe the Texas closure and provide for adjustments to 
the beginning and ending dates by the Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, 
under specified criteria.
    Available information meeting the criteria specified at 50 CFR 
658.25(b)(1) indicates that an early ending of the Texas closure is 
warranted and desirable. Biological data collected by the Texas Parks 
and Wildlife Department indicate that ending the closure on July 7, 
1994, will provide adequate protection of small brown shrimp emigrating 
from the Texas estuaries.
    Accordingly, the time and date at 50 CFR 658.25(a) for ending the 
Texas closure is changed from 30 minutes after sunset, July 15, 1994, 
to 30 minutes after sunset on July 7, 1994. During the closure, the 
area described at 50 CFR 658.25(a) is closed to all trawl fishing, 
except that a vessel may fish for royal red shrimp beyond the 100-
fathom (183-m) depth contour. The waters of Texas are also closed 
during this period.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 658.25 and has been determined 
to be not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

    Dated: June 29, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16306 Filed 6-30-94; 4:41 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F