Sec.

PART 301-PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES

301.1 Regulatory areas.

301.2 Commercial fishing for halibut. 301.3 Fishing seasons. 301.4 Closed periods.

301.5 Closed area.

301.6 Catch limits.

301.7 Size limits.

301.8 Licensing of vessels.

301.9 Requirements for halibut processors. 301.10 Fishing gear.

301.11 Retention of tagged halibut. 301.12 Supervision of unloading and weighing.

301.13 Sport fishing for halibut.

301.14 Previous regulation superseded.

AUTHORITY: 5 UST 5; TIAS 2900; 16 USC 772-772j.

SOURCE: 46 FR 30345, June 8, 1981, unless otherwise noted.

§ 301.1 Regulatory areas.

(a) "Convention waters" means the waters off the west coasts of the United States and Canada, Figure 1, including the southern as well as the western coasts of Alaska, within the respective maritime areas in which each Party exercises exclusive fisheries jurisdiction as of March 29, 1979. For purposes of this Convention, the "maritime area" in which a Party exercises exclusive fisheries jurisdiction includes without distinction areas within and seaward of the territorial sea or internal waters of that Party. All bearings are magnetic, unless otherwise stated, and all positions are determined by the most recent charts issued by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey or National Ocean Survey.

125°

2/83

40°

(b) Area 2A includes all waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington in which the United States claims exclusive fisheries jurisdiction.

(c) Area 2B includes all waters off the coast of British Columbia in which Canada claims exclusive fisheries jurisdiction.

(d) Area 2C includes all waters off the coast of Alaska, in which the United States claims exclusive fisheries jurisdiction that are east of a line running northwest one-quarter west (312°) from Cape Spencer Light (latitude 58°11'57" N., longitude 136°38'18" W.), and south and east of a line running south one-quarter east (177°) from said light.

(e) Area 3A includes all waters between Area 2C and a line extending from the most northerly point on Cape Aklek (latitude 57°41'15" N., longitude 155°35′00′′ W.) to Cape Ikolik (latitude 57°17'17" longitude

N..

154°47′18′′ W.), then along the Kodiak Island coastline to Cape Trinity (latitude 56°44'50" N., longitude 154°08'44" W.), then southeast by east one-quarter east (121°).

(f) Area 3B includes all waters between Area 3A and a line extending southeast (135°) from Cape Lutke (latitude 54°29'00" N., longitude 164°20'00" W.).

(g) Area 4A includes all waters in the Bering Sea and all waters of the Gulf of Alaska west of Area 3B and west of the closed area defined in Section 5, east of the meridian of 172° W. and south of latitude 56°20′00′′N.

(h) Area 4B includes all waters in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska west of Area 4A and south of latitude 56°20′00′′N.

(i) Area 4C includes all waters in the Bering Sea north of Area 4A and north of the closed area defined in Section 5 that are east of a line ex

§ 301.3 Fishing seasons.

(a) The fishing seasons for each Regulatory Area are shown in the following table and will apply providing that the catch limits specified § 301.6 are not taken earlier.

in

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, if Area 3A is closed under the provisions of § 301.6 prior to attaining the catch limit in Area 3B, Area 3B will close on the same date. Area 3B will reopen on August 27 and continue on the schedule of fishing periods specified in paragraph (a) of this section or until the catch limit specified in § 301.6 is attained.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, if Area 3A is closed under the provisions of § 301.6 prior to attaining the catch limit in Area 4A, Area 4A will close on the same date. Area 4A will reopen 10 days later or on July 15, whichever is later, for a 12-day fishing period and then continue on the schedule of fishing seasons specified in paragraph (a) of this section or until the catch limit specified in § 301.6 is attained.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, if Area 3A is closed under the provisions of § 301.6 prior to attaining the catch limit in Area 4B, and/or Area 4D, Area 4B and/or Area 4D will close on the same date. The affected area(s) will reopen 10 days later for 14-day fishing period and then continue on the schedule of fishing seasons specified in paragraph (a) of this section or until the catch limit specified in § 301.6 is attained.

(e) Each fishing period shall begin and terminates at 1200 hours on the designated dates. All hours of opening and closing shall be Pacific Standard Time (See Table 1).