View Rule

In response to action requested by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to reduce illegal fishing activities within the Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), this rulemaking action would modify fishing access in said MPAs.  Currently, the only fishing permitted in these MPAs is surface trolling from May 1 through October 31.  Possession of Gulf reef fish species is prohibited year-round except on vessels in transit with fishing gear appropriately stowed.  This action would prohibit fishing year-round in the Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps MPAs.  This prohibition would not apply to Atlantic highly migratory species.  The action would also prohibit the possession of Gulf reef fish in the Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps MPAs, with no exception for vessels in transit unless the vessel has a valid federal commercial Gulf reef fish permit and, consistent with the requirements of that permit, has an operating vessel monitoring system.