{"data":{"id":"us/50-cfr-648.148","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"50 CFR 648.148","heading":"Special management zones.","body":"(a) General. The recipient of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for an artificial reef, fish attraction device, or other modification of habitat for purposes of fishing may request that an area surrounding and including the site be designated by the MAFMC as a special management zone (SMZ). The MAFMC may prohibit or restrain the use of specific types of fishing gear that are not compatible with the purpose of the artificial reef or fish attraction device or other habitat modification within the SMZ. The establishment of an SMZ will be effected by a regulatory amendment, pursuant to the following procedure: An SMZ monitoring team comprised of members of staff from the MAFMC, NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center will evaluate the request in the form of a written report.\n(1) Evaluation criteria. In establishing an SMZ, the SMZ monitoring team will consider the following criteria:\n(i) Fairness and equity;\n(ii) Promotion of conservation;\n(iii) Avoidance of excessive shares;\n(iv) Consistency with the objectives of Amendment 9 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law;\n(v) The natural bottom in and surrounding potential SMZs; and\n(vi) Impacts on historical uses.\n(2) The MAFMC Chairman may schedule meetings of MAFMC's industry advisors and/or the SSC to review the report and associated documents and to advise the MAFMC. The MAFMC Chairman may also schedule public hearings.\n(3) The MAFMC, following review of the SMZ monitoring team's report, supporting data, public comments, and other relevant information, may recommend to the Regional Administrator that an SMZ be approved. Such a recommendation will be accompanied by all relevant background information.\n(4) The Regional Administrator will review the MAFMC's recommendation. If the Regional Administrator concurs in the recommendation, he or she will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register in accordance with the recommendations. If the Regional Administrator rejects the MAFMC's recommendation, he or she shall advise the MAFMC in writing of the basis for the rejection.\n(5) The proposed rule to establish an SMZ shall afford a reasonable period for public comment. Following a review of public comments and any information or data not previously available, the Regional Administrator will publish a final rule if he or she determines that the establishment of the SMZ is supported by the substantial weight of evidence in the record and consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.\n(b) Approved/Established SMZs—(1) Delaware Special Management Zone Areas. Special management zones are established for Delaware artificial reef permit areas #9, 10, 11, and 13, in the area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. From January 1 through December 31 of each year, no person may fish in the Delaware Special Management Zones except by handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing (including the taking of fish by hand). The Delaware Special Management Zones are defined by rhumb lines connecting the following coordinates in the order stated:\n(i) Delaware artificial reef #9.\nPoint Corner N Latitude W Longitude\n1 9SE 38°39.972′ 74°59.298′\n2 9SW 38°40.05′ 75°0.702′\n3 9NW 38°40.848′ 75°0.402′\n4 9NE 38°40.8′ 74°58.902′\n5 9SE 38°39.972′ 74°59.298′\n(ii) Delaware artificial reef #10.\nPoint Corner N Latitude W Longitude\n1 10SE 38°36.198′ 74°55.674′\n2 10SW 38°36.294′ 74°57.15′\n3 10NW 38°37.098′ 74°56.802′\n4 10NE 38°37.002′ 74°55.374′\n5 10SE 38°36.198′ 74°55.674′\n(iii) Delaware artificial reef #11.\nPoint Corner N Latitude W Longitude\n1 11SE 38°39.882′ 74°43.05′\n2 11SW 38°40.002′ 74°44.802′\n3 11NW 38°40.848′ 74°44.502′\n4 11NE 38°40.752′ 74°42.75′\n5 11SE 38°39.882′ 74°43.05′\n(iv) Delaware artificial reef #13.\nPoint Corner N Latitude W Longitude\n1 13SE 38°30.138′ 74°30.582′\n2 13SW 38°30.222′ 74°31.5′\n3 13NW 38°31.614′ 74°30.864′\n4 13NE 38°31.734′ 74°30.018′\n5 13SE 38°30.138′ 74°30.582′\n(2) New Jersey Special Management Zone Areas. Special management zones are established for New Jersey artificial reef permit areas, in the area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. From January 1 through December 31 of each year, no person may fish in the New Jersey Special Management Zones except by handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing (including the taking of fish by hand). The New Jersey Special Management Zones are defined by rhumb lines connecting the following coordinates in the order stated:\n(i) Sea Girt Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 40°08.22′ 73°55.52′\nME Corner 40°07.30′ 73°56.67′\nSE Corner 40°06.13′ 73°57.12′\nSW Corner 40°06.17′ 73°57.57′\nMW Corner 40°07.48′ 73°57.15′\nNW Corner 40°08.63′ 73°55.73′\nNE Corner 40°08.22′ 73°55.52′\n(ii) Garden State North Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°38.05′ 74°00.70\nSE Corner 39°37.05′ 74°01.00′\nSW Corner 39°37.00′ 74°02.50′\nNW Corner 39°37.98′ 74°02.20′\nNE Corner 39°38.05′ 74°00.70′\n(iii) Garden State South Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°33.82′ 74°05.75′\nSE Corner 39°33.33′ 74°05.85′\nSW Corner 39°33.33′ 74°07.35′\nNW Corner 39°33.80′ 74°07.20′\nNE Corner 39°33.82′ 74°05.75′\n(iv) Little Egg Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°29.00′ 74°10.00′\nSE Corner 39°28.00′ 74°10.00′\nSW Corner 39°28.00′ 74°12.00′\nNW Corner 39°29.00′ 74°12.00′\nNE Corner 39°29.00′ 74°10.00′\n(v) Atlantic City Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°16.90′ 74°15.28′\nSE Corner 39°13.93′ 74°11.80′\nSW Corner 39°13.30′ 74°12.70′\nNW Corner 39°16.22′ 74°16.18′\nNE Corner 39°16.90′ 74°15.28′\n(vi) Great Egg Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°15.00′ 74°21.00′\nSE Corner 39°14.00′ 74°21.00′\nSW Corner 39°14.00′ 74°22.00′\nNW Corner 39°15.00′ 74°22.00′\nNE Corner 39°15.00′ 74°21.00′\n(vii) Ocean City Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°10.75′ 74°32.45′\nSE Corner 39°09.40′ 74°34.62′\nSW Corner 39°09.82′ 74°34.97′\nNW Corner 39°11.10′ 74°32.85′\nNE Corner 39°10.75′ 74°32.45′\n(viii) Shark River Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 40°07.33′ 73°41.08′\nSE Corner 40°06.20′ 73°41.08′\nSW Corner 40°06.20′ 73°41.80′\nNW Corner 40°07.33′ 73°41.80′\nNE Corner 40°07.33′ 73°41.08′\n(ix) Barnegat Light Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°45.87′ 74°01.10′\nSE Corner 39°44.62′ 74°01.10′\nSW Corner 39°44.62′ 74°01.95′\nNW Corner 39°45.87′ 74°01.95′\nNE Corner 39°45.87′ 74°01.10′\n(x) Wildwood Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 38°57.85′ 74°39.70′\nSE Corner 38°56.58′ 74°41.40′\nSW Corner 38°57.55′ 74°42.60′\nNW Corner 38°58.80′ 74°40.90′\nNE Corner 38°57.85′ 74°39.70′\n(xi) Deepwater Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 38°59.00′ 74°10.50′\nSE Corner 38°58.00′ 74°10.50′\nSW Corner 38°58.00′ 74°11.50′\nNW Corner 38°59.00′ 74°11.50′\nNE Corner 38°59.00′ 74°10.50′\n(xii) Cape May Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 38°53.45′ 74°39.43′\nSE Corner 38°50.07′ 74°42.25′\nSW Corner 38°50.67′ 74°43.25′\nNW Corner 38°53.97′ 74°40.62′\nNE Corner 38°53.45′ 74°39.43′\n(xiii) Townsend Inlet Reef Site.\nPoint N Latitude W Longitude\nNE Corner 39°06.70′ 74°36.00′\nSE Corner 39°06.25′ 74°36.00′\nSW Corner 39°06.25′ 74°37.50′\nNW Corner 39°06.70′ 74°37.50′\nNE Corner 39°06.70′ 74°36.00′","path":["Title 50—Wildlife and Fisheries","CHAPTER VI—FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES","Subpart I—Management Measures for the Black Sea Bass Fishery"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-50.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:39Z","sha256":"d80c8b5e49977d00fed83612549cea872d2f571c0d383a809c3e51ad16675f92","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/50-cfr-648.147","next":"us/50-cfr-648.149"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}