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[Federal Register: July 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 131)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 35761]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jy01-7]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 062901C]

 
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 to the ending date of the annual 
closure of the shrimp fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off 
Texas. 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.

DATES: The EEZ off Texas is open to trawl fishing from 30 minutes after 
sunset, July 8, 2001, until 30 minutes after sunset, May 15, 2002, or 
until NMFS publishes further notice in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Steve Branstetter, 727-570-5305; 
fax: 727-570-5583; e-mail: <A HREF="mailto:Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov">Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov</A>.

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. 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 of Texas are re-opened 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 8, 2001. Accordingly, the time and date for ending 
the Texas closure is changed from 30 minutes after sunset on July 15, 
2001, to 30 minutes after sunset on July 8, 2001.

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, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Services.
[FR Doc. 01-17075 Filed 7-3-01; 2:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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