[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 93 (Friday, May 12, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30547-30548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12032]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 050500G]


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 beginning date of the Texas closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an adjustment to the start 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 
2000, the closure will begin on May 11. The Texas closure is intended 
to prohibit the harvest of brown shrimp during the 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 trawl fishing, except for 
trawling for royal red shrimp beyond the 100-fathom (183 meter) depth 
contour, from 30 minutes after sunset, May 11, 2000, to 30 minutes 
after sunset, July 15, 2000, unless the latter date is changed through 
notification in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Branstetter, 813-570-5305.

[[Page 30548]]


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 622 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. Implementing regulations at 50 CFR 622.34 describe the 
Texas closure and provide for adjustments to the beginning and ending 
dates by the Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, under 
specified criteria.
    The beginning and ending dates of the Texas closure are based on 
biological sampling by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). This 
sampling is used to project when 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. 
Sampling during the spring of 2000 indicates that brown shrimp will be 
leaving the Texas estuaries earlier than normal. Thus, to provide 
adequate protection of small brown shrimp emigrating from the Texas 
estuaries, NMFS has determined that an adjustment to the closure date 
is necessary. During the closure, the EEZ off Texas is closed to all 
trawl fishing, except for vessels trawling for royal red shrimp beyond 
the 100-fathom (183-m) depth contour. State waters off Texas will also 
be closed commencing at 30 minutes after sunset on May 11, 2000.
    The termination date of the Texas closure is based on continued 
sampling by TPWD to develop projections of when brown shrimp will reach 
a mean size of 112 mm, and when maximum duration ebb tides will occur. 
If there is a need to adjust the July 15 date for the termination of 
the closure, notification of the revised termination date will be 
published in the Federal Register.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 622.26(b) and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: May 8, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-12032 Filed 5-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F