# 622.74 Area closures to protect Gulf corals.
For the purposes of this section, fishing gear is deployed if any part of the gear is in contact with the water.
(a) *Florida Middle Grounds HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap is prohibited year-round in the area bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 1 to Paragraph **(a)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 28°42.500′ | 84°24.800′ |
| B | 28°42.500′ | 84°16.300′ |
| C | 28°11.000′ | 84°00.000′ |
| D | 28°11.000′ | 84°07.000′ |
| E | 28°26.600′ | 84°24.800′ |
| A | 28°42.500′ | 84°24.800′ |
(b) *Tortugas marine reserves HAPC.* Fishing for any species and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the areas of the HAPC.
(1) *EEZ portion of Tortugas North HAPC.* The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: From point A at 24°40.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. to point B at 24°46.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. to point C at 24°46.000′ N lat., 83°00.000′ W long.; then along the line denoting the seaward limit of Florida state waters, as shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11434, to point A at 24°40.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long.
(2) *Tortugas South HAPC.* The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 2 to Paragraph **(b)(2)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 24°33.000′ | 83°09.000′ |
| B | 24°33.000′ | 83°05.000′ |
| C | 24°18.000′ | 83°05.000′ |
| D | 24°18.000′ | 83°09.000′ |
| A | 24°33.000′ | 83°09.000′ |
(c) *Pulley Ridge South HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 3 to Paragraph **(c)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 24°58.300′ | 83°38.550′ |
| B | 24°58.300′ | 83°37.000′ |
| C | 24°41.183′ | 83°37.000′ |
| D | 24°40.000′ | 83°41.367′ |
| E | 24°43.917′ | 83°47.250′ |
| A | 24°58.300′ | 83°38.550′ |
(d) *Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 4 to Paragraph **(d)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 24°40.000′ | 83°41.366′ |
| B | 24°39.666′ | 83°42.648′ |
| C | 24°47.555′ | 83°55.240′ |
| D | 24°57.065′ | 83°48.405′ |
| E | 24°52.859′ | 83°41.841′ |
| F | 24°43.917′ | 83°47.250′ |
| A | 24°40.000′ | 83°41.366′ |
(e) *West Florida Wall HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 5 to Paragraph **(e)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 26°28.835′ | 84°47.955′ |
| B | 26°28.816′ | 84°46.754′ |
| C | 26°10.471′ | 84°42.076′ |
| D | 26°10.528′ | 84°44.577′ |
| E | 26°25.028′ | 84°47.986′ |
| F | 26°25.100′ | 84°47.980′ |
| A | 26°28.835′ | 84°47.955′ |
(f) *Alabama Alps Reef HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 6 to Paragraph (**f**)
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 29°16.160′ | 88°20.525′ |
| B | 29°15.427′ | 88°18.990′ |
| C | 29°13.380′ | 88°19.051′ |
| D | 29°14.140′ | 88°20.533′ |
| A | 29°16.160′ | 88°20.525′ |
(g) *L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 7 to Paragraph (**g**)
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 29°18.595′ | 87°48.757′ |
| B | 29°18.484′ | 87°50.688′ |
| C | 29°19.754′ | 87°52.484′ |
| D | 29°20.401′ | 87°51.449′ |
| E | 29°20.095′ | 87°50.933′ |
| F | 29°20.832′ | 87°46.631′ |
| G | 29°21.473′ | 87°46.326′ |
| H | 29°21.314′ | 87°45.535′ |
| I | 29°22.518′ | 87°43.465′ |
| J | 29°21.144′ | 87°42.632′ |
| K | 29°19.269′ | 87°45.525′ |
| A | 29°18.595′ | 87°48.757′ |
(h) *Mississippi Canyon 118 HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 8 to Paragraph (**h**)
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 28°53.183′ | 88°30.789′ |
| B | 28°53.216′ | 88°27.819′ |
| C | 28°50.602′ | 88°27.782′ |
| D | 28°48.944′ | 88°27.759′ |
| E | 28°48.962′ | 88°30.727′ |
| A | 28°53.183′ | 88°30.789′ |
(i) *Roughtongue Reef HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 9 to Paragraph (**i**)
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 29°27.596′ | 87°37.527′ |
| B | 29°27.621′ | 87°31.552′ |
| C | 29°25.007′ | 87°31.539′ |
| D | 29°24.981′ | 87°37.510′ |
| A | 29°27.596′ | 87°37.527′ |
(j) *Viosca Knoll 826 HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 10 to Paragraph (**j**)
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 29°10.920′ | 88°03.509′ |
| B | 29°10.877′ | 87°59.460′ |
| C | 29°07.974′ | 87°59.448′ |
| D | 29°08.017′ | 88°03.532′ |
| A | 29°10.920′ | 88°03.509′ |
(k) *Viosca Knoll 862/906 HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC. This prohibition does not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement, as specified in § 622.50(c), while the vessel is fishing for royal red shrimp. The HAPC is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 11 to Paragraph **(k)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 29°07.640′ | 88°23.608′ |
| B | 29°07.603′ | 88°20.590′ |
| C | 29°03.749′ | 88°20.554′ |
| D | 29°03.734′ | 88°22.016′ |
| E | 29°02.367′ | 88°21.998′ |
| F | 29°02.281′ | 88°24.972′ |
| G | 29°07.568′ | 88°25.044′ |
| H | 29°07.592′ | 88°25.044′ |
| I | 29°07.676′ | 88°25.045′ |
| A | 29°07.640′ | 88°23.608′ |
(l) *McGrail Bank HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 12 to Paragraph **(l)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°59.100′ | 92°37.320′ |
| B | 27°59.100′ | 92°32.290′ |
| C | 27°55.925′ | 92°32.290′ |
| D | 27°55.925′ | 92°37.320′ |
| A | 27°59.100′ | 92°37.320′ |
(m) *AT 047 HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 13 to Paragraph **(m)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°54.426′ | 89°49.404′ |
| B | 27°54.486′ | 89°46.464′ |
| C | 27°51.874′ | 89°46.397′ |
| D | 27°51.814′ | 89°49.336′ |
| A | 27°54.426′ | 89°49.404′ |
(n) *AT 357 HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 14 to Paragraph **(n)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°36.259' | 89°43.068' |
| B | 27°36.315' | 89°40.136' |
| C | 27°33.703' | 89°40.073' |
| D | 27°33.646' | 89°43.004' |
| A | 27°36.259' | 89°43.068' |
(o) *Green Canyon 852 HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 15 to Paragraph **(o)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°08.354′ | 91°08.929′ |
| B | 27°05.740′ | 91°08.963′ |
| C | 27°05.762′ | 91°10.610′ |
| D | 27°08.376′ | 91°10.567′ |
| A | 27°08.354′ | 91°08.929′ |
(p) *West Flower Garden Bank HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 16 to Paragraph **(p)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°55.380′ | 93°53.160′ |
| B | 27°55.380′ | 93°46.767′ |
| C | 27°49.050′ | 93°46.767′ |
| D | 27°49.050′ | 93°53.160′ |
| A | 27°55.380′ | 93°53.160′ |
(q) *East Flower Garden Bank HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 17 to Paragraph **(q)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°59.240′ | 93°38.970′ |
| B | 27°59.240′ | 93°34.058′ |
| C | 27°52.608′ | 93°34.058′ |
| D | 27°52.608′ | 93°38.970′ |
| A | 27°59.240′ | 93°38.970′ |
(r) *Stetson Bank HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 18 to Paragraph **(r)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 28°10.638′ | 94°18.608′ |
| B | 28°10.638′ | 94°17.105′ |
| C | 28°09.310′ | 94°17.105′ |
| D | 28°09.310′ | 94°18.608′ |
| A | 28°10.638′ | 94°18.608′ |
(s) *Harte Bank HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 19 to Paragraph **(s)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 26°40.826′ | 96°36.590′ |
| B | 26°40.789′ | 96°32.220′ |
| C | 26°37.992′ | 96°32.308′ |
| D | 26°38.043′ | 96°36.636′ |
| A | 26°40.826′ | 96°36.590′ |
(t) *Southern Bank HAPC.* Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
Table 20 to Paragraph **(t)**
| Point | North lat. | West long. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | 27°26.923′ | 96°31.902′ |
| B | 27°26.989′ | 96°30.881′ |
| C | 27°25.958′ | 96°31.134′ |
| D | 27°25.958′ | 96°31.892′ |
| A | 27°26.923′ | 96°31.902′ |
[85 FR 65746, Oct. 16, 2020]