(a) The Atlantic Herring Plan Development Team (PDT) shall meet at least every 3 years, but no later than July of the year before new specifications are implemented, with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Atlantic Herring Plan Review Team (PRT) to develop and recommend the following specifications for a period of 3 years for consideration by the New England Fishery Management Council's Atlantic Herring Oversight Committee: Overfishing Limit (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Annual Catch Limit (ACL), Optimum yield (OY), domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic annual processing (DAP), U.S. at-sea processing (USAP), border transfer (BT), the sub-ACL for each management area, including seasonal periods as specified at Sec. 648.201(d) and modifications to sub-ACLs as specified at Sec. 648.201(f), the amount to be set aside for the RSA (from 0 to 3 percent of the sub-ACL from any management area), and river herring and shad catch caps, as specified in Sec. 648.201(a)(4). Recommended specifications shall be presented to the New England Fishery Management Council.
(1) The PDT shall meet with the Commission's PRT to review the status of the stock and the fishery and prepare a Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report at least every 3 years. The Herring PDT will meet at least once during interim years to review the status of the stock relative to the overfishing definition if information is available to do so. When conducting a 3-year review and preparing a SAFE Report, the PDT/PRT will recommend to the Council/Commission any necessary adjustments to the specifications for the upcoming 3 years.
(2) If the Council determines, based on information provided by the PDT/PRT or other stock-related information, that the specifications should be adjusted during the 3-year time period, it can do so through the same process outlined in this section during one or both of the interim years.
(b) Guidelines. As the basis for its recommendations under paragraph (a) of this section, the PDT shall review available data pertaining to: Commercial and recreational catch data; current estimates of fishing mortality; discards; stock status; recent estimates of recruitment; virtual population analysis results and other estimates of stock size; sea sampling and trawl survey data or, if sea sampling data are unavailable, length frequency information from trawl surveys; impact of other fisheries on herring mortality; and any other relevant information. The specifications recommended pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section must be consistent with the following:
(1) OFL must be equal to catch resulting from applying the maximum fishing mortality threshold to a current or projected estimate of stock size. When the stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, this is usually the fishing rate supporting maximum sustainable yield (FMSY). Catch that exceeds this amount would result in overfishing.
(2) ABC must be equal to or less than the OFL. The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) shall recommend ABC to the Council. Scientific uncertainty, including, but not limited to, uncertainty around stock size estimates, variability around estimates of recruitment, and consideration of ecosystem issues, shall be considered when setting ABC. If the stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, then ABC may be based on FMSY or its proxy, recent catch, or any other factor the SSC determines appropriate. If the stock is overfished, then ABC may be based on the rebuilding fishing mortality rate for the stock (FREB), or any other factor the SSC determines appropriate.
(3) ACL must be equal to or less than the ABC. Management uncertainty, which includes, but is not limited to, expected catch of herring in the New Brunswick weir fishery and the uncertainty around discard estimates of herring caught in Federal and state waters, shall be considered when setting the ACL. Catch in excess of the ACL shall trigger accountability measures (AMs), as described at Sec. 648.201(a).
(4) OY may not exceed OFL (i.e., MSY) and must take into account the need to prevent overfishing while allowing the fishery to achieve OY on a continuing basis. OY is prescribed on the basis of MSY, as reduced by social, economic, and ecological factors. OY may equal DAH.
(5) DAH is comprised of DAP and BT.
(6) River herring and shad catch caps may be allocated to the herring fishery by the following: Species, as defined in Sec. 648.2, either separately or combined; area as specified in paragraph (f)(7) of this section; vessel permit; gear type; or any combination of these.
(c) The Atlantic Herring Oversight Committee shall review the recommendations of the PDT and shall consult with the Commission's Herring Section. Based on these recommendations and any public comment received, the Herring Oversight Committee shall recommend to the Council appropriate specifications for a 3-year period. The Council shall review these recommendations and, after considering public comment, shall recommend appropriate 3-year specifications to NMFS. NMFS shall review the recommendations, consider any comments received from the Commission, and publish notification in the Federal Register proposing 3-year specifications. If the proposed specifications differ from those recommended by the Council, the reasons for any differences shall be clearly stated and the revised specifications must satisfy the criteria set forth in paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) NMFS shall make a final determination concerning the specifications for Atlantic herring. Notification of the final specifications and responses to public comments shall be published in the Federal Register. If the final specification amounts differ from those recommended by the Council, the reason(s) for the difference(s) must be clearly stated and the revised specifications must be consistent with the criteria set forth in paragraph (b) of this section. The previous year's specifications shall remain effective until they are revised through the specification process.
(e) In-season adjustments. The specifications and sub-ACLs established pursuant to this section may be adjusted by NMFS to achieve conservation and management objectives, after consulting with the Council, during the fishing year in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Any adjustments must be consistent with the Atlantic Herring FMP objectives and other FMP provisions.
(f) Management areas. The specifications process establishes sub-ACLs and other management measures for the three management areas, which may have different management measures. Management Area 1 is subdivided into inshore and offshore sub-areas. The management areas are defined as follows:
(1) Management Area 1 (Gulf of Maine): All U.S. waters of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) north of a line extending from a point at 4139 N. lat, 7000 W. long. to 4253 14.32125" N. lat., 67 44 33.01613" W. long., thence northerly along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary to the U.S.-Canadian border, to include state and Federal waters adjacent to the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Management Area 1 is divided into Area 1A (inshore) and Area 1B (offshore). The line dividing these areas is described by the following coordinates: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------1.......... 4158 N 70 00 W2.......... 4238 N 70 00 W3.......... 4253 N 69 40 W4.......... 4312 N 69 00 W5.......... 4340 N 68 00 W6.......... 435816.0314" N 67 2126.157" W (\1\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Point 6 falls on the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
(2) Management Area 2 (South Coastal Area): All state and Federal waters inclusive of sounds and bays, bounded on the east by 7000 W. long. and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; bounded on the north and west by the southern coastline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the coastlines of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina; and bounded on the south by a line following the lateral seaward boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina from the coast to the Submerged Lands Act line, approximately 334846.37" N. lat, 782946.46" W. long., and then heading due east along 384846.37" N. lat. to the outer limit of the US Exclusive Economic Zone.
(3) Management Area 3 (Georges Bank): All U.S. waters east of 7000 W. long. and southeast of the line that runs from a point at 4139 N. lat. and 7000 W. long., northeasterly to U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary at 425314.32125" N. lat., 674433.01613" W. long.
(4) River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas--(i) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include four sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(i) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include four sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(A) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------JF1A................. 4300 N 7100 WJF1B................. 4300 N 7030 WJF1C................. 4230 N 7030 WJF1D................. 4230 N 7100 WJF1A................. 4300 N 7100 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------JF2A................. 4200 N 7000 WJF2B................. 4200 N 6930 WJF2C................. 4130 N 6930 WJF2D................. 4130 N 7000 W
JF2A................. 4200 N 7000 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 3. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------JF3A........... 4130 N 7200 WJF3B........... 4130 N 7100 WJF3C........... 4030 N 7100 WJF3D........... 4030 N 7230 WJF3E........... (\1\) 7230 W (\3\)JF3F........... (\2\) 7200 W (\3\)JF3A........... 4130 N 7200 W------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The southernmost shoreline of Long Island, New York.\2\ The north-facing shoreline of Long Island, New York.\3\ Points JF3E and JF3F are connected following the coastline of the
south fork of eastern Long Island, New York.
(D) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------JF4A........... 4030 N 7400 WJF4B........... 4030 N 7230 WJF4C........... 4000 N 7230 WJF4D........... 4000 N 7200 WJF4E........... 3930 N 7200 WJF4F........... 3930 N 7330 WJF4G........... 4000 N 7330 WJF4H........... 4000 N 7400 W (\1\)JF4A........... 4030 N 7400 W (\1\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Points JF4H and JF4A are connected following 74 W longitude and the
easternmost shoreline of New Jersey, whichever is furthest east.
(ii) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include five sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(A) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------MA1A................. 4300 N 7100 WMA1B................. 4300 N 7030 WMA1C................. 4230 N 7030 WMA1D................. 4230 N 7100 WMA1A................. 4300 N 7100 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------MA2A................. 4200 N 7000 WMA2B................. 4200 N 6930 WMA2C................. 4130 N 6930 WMA2D................. 4130 N 7000 WMA2A................. 4200 N 7000 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 3. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------MA3A........... 4100 N (\1\)MA3B........... 4100 N 7100 WMA3C........... 4030 N 7100 WMA3D........... 4030 N 7130 WMA3E........... 4000 N 7130 WMA3F........... 4000 N 7230 WMA3G........... (\2\) 7230 W (\3\)MA3A........... 4100 N (\1\) (\3\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The easternmost shoreline of Long Island, New York.\2\ The southernmost shoreline of Long Island, New York.\3\ Points MA3G and MA3A are connected following the southern shoreline
of Long Island, New York.
(D) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------MA4A................. 4000 N 7330 WMA4B................. 4000 N 7230 WMA4C................. 3900 N 7230 WMA4D................. 3900 N 7330 WMA4A................. 4000 N 7330 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 5. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------MA5A........... 4030 N 7400 WMA5B........... 4030 N 7330 WMA5C........... 4000 N 7330 WMA5D........... 4000 N 7400 W (\1\)MA5A........... 4030 N 7400 W (\1\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Points MA5D and MA5A are connected following 74 W longitude and the
easternmost shoreline of New Jersey, whichever is furthest east.
(iii) May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(A) May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------MJ1A................. 4400 N 6930 WMJ1B................. 4400 N 6900 WMJ1C................. 4330 N 6900 WMJ1D................. 4330 N 6930 WMJ1A................. 4400 N 6930 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B) May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------MJ2A................. 4200 N 7000 WMJ2B................. 4200 N 6930 WMJ2C................. 4130 N 6930 WMJ2D................. 4130 N 7000 WMJ2A................. 4200 N 7000 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iv) July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(A) July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------JA1A........... 4400 N 7000 WJA1B........... 4400 N 6930 WJA1C........... 4300 N 6930 WJA1D........... 4300 N 7000 W (\1\)JA1A........... 4400 N 7000 W (\1\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The boundary from Points JA1D to JA1A excludes the portions Maquoit
Bay and Middle Bay (Brunswick, ME) east of 7000 W.
(B) July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------JA2A................. 4400 N 6900 WJA2B................. 4400 N 6830 WJA2C................. 4330 N 6830 WJA2D................. 4330 N 6900 WJA2A................. 4400 N 6900 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(v) September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(A) September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------SO1A........... 4430 N 6800 WSO1B........... 4430 N (\1\) (\2\)SO1C........... 4400 N (\3\) (\2\)SO1D........... 4400 N 6800 WSO1A........... 4430 N 6800 W------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 4430 N and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.\2\ Point SO1B and Point SO1C are connected along the U.S.-Canada
Maritime Boundary.\3\ The intersection of 4400 N and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
(B) September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------SO2A................. 4300 N 7100 WSO2B................. 4300 N 7030 WSO2C................. 4230 N 7030 WSO2D................. 4230 N 7100 WSO2A................. 4300 N 7100 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(vi) November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
(A) November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------ND1A........... 4300 N 7100 WND1B........... 4300 N 7000 WND1C........... 4200 N 7000 WND1D........... 4200 N 6930 WND1E........... 4130 N 6930 WND1F........... 4130 N 7000 WND1G........... (\1\) 7000 W (\3\)ND1H........... 4200 N (\2\) (\3\)ND1I........... 4200 N 7030 WND1J........... 4230 N 7030 WND1K........... 4230 N 7100 WND1A........... 4300 N 7100 W------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The south-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.\2\ The west-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.\3\ Point ND1G and ND1H are connected following the coastline of Cape
Cod, Massachusetts.
(B) November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------ND2A................. 4130 N 7200 WND2B................. 4130 N 7000 WND2C................. 4030 N 7000 WND2D................. 4030 N 7030 WND2E................. 4100 N 7030 WND2F................. 4100 N 7200 WND2A................. 4130 N 7200 W------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Gulf of Maine Modified Haddock Stock Area. The Gulf of Maine Modified Haddock Stock Area is composed of the portions of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas #464, #465, #511, #512, #513, #514, and #515 in U.S. waters, and is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------A.............. (\1\) 6700 WB.............. (\2\) 6700 W (\3\)C.............. 4220 N (\4\) (\3\)D.............. 4220 N 7000 WE.............. (\5\) 7000 W (\6\)A.............. (\1\) 6700 W (\6\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 6700 W longitude and the southern coast of
Maine.\2\ The intersection of 6700 W longitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime
Boundary.\3\ From POINT B to POINT C along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.\4\ The intersection of 4220 N latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime
Boundary.\5\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the northeast-facing
shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
\6\ From POINT E back to POINT A along the coastline of the United
States.
(6) Georges Bank Modified Haddock Stock Area. The Georges Bank Modified Haddock Stock Area is composed of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas #521, #522, #525, #526, #561, and #562, and is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------A.............. 4220 N 7000 WB.............. 4220 N (\1\) (\2\)C.............. 4030 N (\3\) (\2\)D.............. 4030 N 6640 WE.............. 3950 N 6640 WF.............. 3950 N 7000 W (\4\)A.............. 4220 N 7000 W (\4\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 4220 N latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime
Boundary.\2\ From POINT B to POINT C following the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.\3\ The intersection of 4030 N latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime
Boundary.\4\ From POINT F back to POINT A along 7000 W longitude and the
coastlines of Nantucket Island and mainland Cape Cod, Massachusetts,
whichever is further east.
(7) River herring and shad catch cap areas--(i) Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area. The Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area is composed of the portions of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas #464, #465, #467, #511, #512, #513, #514, and #515 in U.S. waters. The Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area is bounded on the west by the coastline of the United States, bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, and bounded on the south by the following coordinates connected by straight lines in the order listed: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude------------------------------------------------------------------------A.................... (\1\) 7000 WB.................... 4220 N 7000 WC.................... 4220 N (\2\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the northwest facing
shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts\2\ The intersection of 4200 N latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime
Boundary.
(ii) Cape Cod Catch Cap Area. The Cape Cod Catch Cap Area is composed of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Area #521, and is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------A.............. (\1\) 7000 WB.............. 4220 N 7000 WC.............. 4220 N 6850 WD.............. 4100 N 6850 WE.............. 4100 N 6930 WF.............. 4110 N 6930 WG.............. 4110 N 6950 WH.............. 4120 N 6950 WI.............. 4120 N (\2\) (\3\)J.............. (\4\) 7000 W (\3\)K.............. (\5\) 7000 W (\6\)A.............. (\1\) 7000 W (\6\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the northeast-facing
shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts\2\ The intersection of 4120 N latitude and the northeast-facing
shoreline of Nantucket Island.\3\ From Point I to Point J along the northeast-facing shoreline of
Nantucket Island.\4\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the northeast-facing
shoreline of Nantucket Island.\5\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the south-facing shoreline
of mainland Cape Cod, Massachusetts.\6\ From Point K back to Point A along the east-facing shoreline of Cape
Cod, Massachusetts.
(iii) Georges Bank Catch Cap Area. The Georges Bank Catch Cap Area is composed of the portions of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas #522, #525, #526, #541, #542, #543, #561, #562, and #640 in U.S. waters, and is defined by the following points, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------A.............. (\1\) 7000 WB.............. (\2\) 7000 W (\3\)C.............. 4120 N (\4\) (\3\)D.............. 4120 N 6950 WE.............. 4110 N 6950 WF.............. 4110 N 6930 WG.............. 4100 N 6930 WH.............. 4100 N 6850 WI.............. 4220 N 6850 WJ.............. 4220 N (\5\) (\6\)A.............. (\1\) 7000 W (\6\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the outer limit of the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone.\2\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the south-facing shoreline
of Nantucket Island.\3\ From Point B to Point C along the south- and east-facing shorelines
of Nantucket Island.\4\ The intersection of 4120 N latitude and the northeast-facing
shoreline of Nantucket Island.\5\ The intersection of 4220 N latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime
Boundary.\6\ From Point J back to Point A along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary
and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
(iv) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Catch Cap Area. The coordinates of this area are the same as Management Area 2 (South Coastal Area), as specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this section.
(8) River herring and shad catch cap closure areas--(i) Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this area are the same as the Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area, as specified in paragraph (f)(7)(i) of this section.
(i) Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this area are the same as the Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area, as specified in paragraph (f)(7)(i) of this section.
(ii) Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this area are the same as the Cape Cod Catch Cap Area, as specified in paragraph (f)(7)(ii) of this section.
(iii) Georges Bank Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this area are the same as the Georges Bank Catch Cap Area, as specified in paragraph (f)(7)(iii) of this section.
(iv) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Catch Cap Closure Area. The Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Catch Cap Closure Area is composed of the portions of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas #537, #538, #539, #611, #612, #613, #614, #615, #616, #621, #622, #623, #625, #626, #627, #631, #632, #635, and #636 in US waters, and is defined by the following coordinates, connected by straight lines in the order listed unless otherwise noted: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Note------------------------------------------------------------------------A.............. 3500 N (\1\)B.............. 3500 N 7400 WC.............. 3700 N 7400 WD.............. 3700 N 7300 WE.............. 3800 N 7300 WF.............. 3800 N 7200 WG.............. 3900 N 7200 WH.............. 3900 N 7140 WI.............. 3950 N 7140 WJ.............. 3950 N 7000 WK.............. (\2\) 7000 W (\3\)A.............. 3500 N (\1\) (\3\)------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ The intersection of 3500 N latitude and the mainland shoreline of
North Carolina.\2\ The intersection of 7000 W longitude and the south-facing shoreline
of mainland Cape Cod, Massachusetts.\3\ From Point K back to Point A along the mainland shoreline of the
United States.
(g) All aspects of the following measures can be modified through the specifications process:
(1) AMs;
(2) Possession limits;
(3) River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas; and
(4) River herring and shad catch caps. [72 FR 11277, Mar. 12, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 4757, Jan. 28, 2008; 76 FR 11379, Mar. 2, 2011; 76 FR 81850, Dec. 29, 2011; 79 FR 8815, Feb. 13, 2014; 79 FR 71968, Dec. 4, 2014; 80 FR 37197, June 30, 2015]