[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18232]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 070298E]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Texas Closure

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 is normally from May 15 through July 15 each year. 
This year the closure will end at 30 minutes after sunset on July 8, 
1998. 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.

DATES: The EEZ off Texas is closed to trawling from 30 minutes after 
sunset, May 15, 1998, to 30 minutes after sunset, July 8, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael E. Justen, 727-570-5305.

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 under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 622.
    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 Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, under procedures and 
restrictions specified in the FMP.
    This year, the Texas closure began on May 15, 1998. Biological data 
collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicate that 
ending the closure on July 8, 1998, will provide adequate protection of 
small brown shrimp emigrating from the Texas estuaries and, therefore, 
will be consistent with the FMP's criteria for adjustment of the 
closure. Accordingly, the time and date for ending the Texas closure as 
provided at 50 CFR 622.34(h) (1) is changed from 30 minutes after 
sunset, July 15, 1998, to 30 minutes after sunset on July 8, 1998. 
Texas waters are also to be opened beginning at 30 minutes after sunset 
on July 8, 1998.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.34(h)(2) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 2, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-18232 Filed 7-6-98; 4:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F