National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 3370

NOAA Fisheries announces new fish trap regulations for the Gulf of Mexico effective January 10, 2000, to (1) provide for a fish trap vessel inspection, (2) require fish trap vessels to submit trip initiation and trip termination reports, and (3) prohibit the possession of reef fish exhibiting the condition of trap rash on board any vessel without a valid fish trap endorsement. In addition to the existing reporting requirements, the owner or operator of a vessel for which a fish trap endorsement has been issued, must comply with the following requirements.

Inspection. NOAA Fisheries will establish a 1-month period for mandatory inspection of all fish trap gear, permits, and vessels. NOAA Fisheries will provide written notification of the inspection period to each owner of a vessel for which a fish trap endorsement has been issued. Each such owner or operator must contact the Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC), NMFS, Office of Enforcement, Southeast Region, St. Petersburg, FL, or his designee by telephone (727-570-5344) to schedule an inspection during the 1-month period. Requests for inspection must be made between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and must be made at least 72 hours in advance of the desired inspection date. Inspections will be conducted Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. only.

On the inspection date, the owner or operator must make all fish trap gear with attached trap tags and buoys and all applicable permits available for inspection on land. Vessels must also be made available for inspection as directed by the SAC or his designee. Upon completion of the inspection and a determination that all fish trap gear, permits, and vessels are in compliance, an owner or operator may resume fishing with the lawful gear. However, an owner or operator who fails to comply with the inspection requirements during the 1-month inspection period or during any other random inspection may not use or possess a fish trap in the Gulf EEZ until the required inspection or reinspection, as directed by the SAC, has been completed and all fish trap gear, permits, and vessels are determined to be in compliance with all applicable regulations.

Trip reports. For each fishing trip on which a fish trap will be used or possessed, an owner or operator of a vessel for which a fish trap endorsement has been issued, must submit a trip initiation report and a trip termination report to the SAC or his designee, by telephone, using the following 24-hour toll-free number--800-305-0697. The trip initiation report must be submitted before beginning the trip and must include: vessel name; official number; number of traps to be deployed; sequence of trap tag numbers; date, time, and point of departure; and intended time and date of trip termination. A trip termination report must be submitted immediately upon returning to port and prior to any offloading of catch or fish traps. The trip termination report must include: vessel name; official number; name and address of dealer where catch will be offloaded and sold; the time offloading will begin; notification of any lost traps; and notification of any traps left deployed for any reason.

Gulf reef fish exhibiting trap rash. Gulf reef fish in or from the Gulf EEZ that exhibit trap rash may be possessed on board a vessel only if that vessel has a valid fish trap endorsement. Possession of such fish on board a vessel without a valid fish trap endorsement is prima facie evidence of illegal trap use and is prohibited. Trap rash is defined as physical damage to fish that characteristically results from contact with wire fish traps. Such damage includes, but is not limited to, broken fin spines, fin rays, or teeth; visually obvious loss of scales; and cuts or abrasions on the body of the fish, particularly on the head, snout, or mouth.