{"data":{"id":"us/50-cfr-697.23","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"50 CFR 697.23","heading":"Restricted gear areas.","body":"(a) Resolution of lobster gear conflicts with fisheries managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act shall be done under provisions of § 648.55 of this chapter.\n(b) Restricted Gear Area I—(1) Duration—(i) Mobile Gear. From October 1 through June 15 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with mobile gear or person on a fishing vessel with mobile gear may fish, or be, in Restricted Gear Area I, as defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, unless transiting only, provided that all mobile gear is on board the vessel while inside the area.\n(ii) Lobster trap gear. From June 16 through September 30 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with lobster trap gear or person on a fishing vessel with lobster trap gear may fish, and no lobster trap gear may be deployed or remain, in Restricted Gear Area I as defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.\n(2) Definition of Restricted Gear Area I. Restricted Gear Area I is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines (points followed by an asterisk are shared with an adjacent Restricted Gear Area):\nTable 1 to Paragraph (b)(2)\nPoint Latitude Longitude Note\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\nAB 40°02.45′ N 70°14.10′ W (*)\nAC 40°05.20′ N 70°10.90′ W (*)\nAD 40°03.75′ N 70°10.15′ W (*)\nAE 40°00.70′ N 70°08.70′ W (*)\nAF 39°59.20′ N 70°04.90′ W (*)\nAG 39°58.25′ N 70°03.00′ W (*)\nAH 39°56.90′ N 69°57.45′ W (*)\nAI 39°57.40′ N 69°55.90′ W (*)\nAJ 39°57.55′ N 69°54.05′ W (*)\nAK 39°56.70′ N 69°53.60′ W (*)\nAL 39°55.75′ N 69°41.40′ W (*)\nAM 39°56.20′ N 69°40.20′ W (*)\nAN 39°58.80′ N 69°38.45′ W (*)\nAO 39°59.15′ N 69°37.30′ W (*)\nAP 40°00.90′ N 69°37.30′ W (*)\nAQ 40°00.65′ N 69°36.50′ W (*)\nAR 39°57.85′ N 69°35.15′ W (*)\nAS 39°56.80′ N 69°34.10′ W (*)\nAT 39°56.50′ N 69°26.35′ W (*)\nAU 39°56.75′ N 69°24.40′ W (*)\nAV 39°57.80′ N 69°20.35′ W (*)\nAW 40°00.05′ N 69°14.60′ W (*)\nAX 40°02.65′ N 69°11.15′ W (*)\nAY 40°02.00′ N 69°08.35′ W (*)\nAZ 40°02.65′ N 69°05.60′ W (*)\nBA 40°04.10′ N 69°03.90′ W (*)\nBB 40°05.65′ N 69°03.55′ W (*)\nBC 40°08.45′ N 69°03.60′ W (*)\nBD 40°09.75′ N 69°04.15′ W (*)\nBE 40°10.25′ N 69°04.40′ W (*)\nBF 40°11.60′ N 69°05.40′ W (*)\nBG 40°11.00′ N 69°03.80′ W (*)\nBH 40°08.90′ N 69°01.75′ W (*)\nBI 40°05.30′ N 69°01.10′ W (*)\nBJ 40°05.20′ N 69°00.50′ W (*)\nBK 40°04.35′ N 69°00.50′ W (*)\nBL 40°03.65′ N 69°00.00′ W (*)\nBM 40°03.60′ N 68°57.20′ W (*)\nBN 40°05.70′ N 68°52.40′ W (*)\nBO 40°08.10′ N 68°51.00′ W (*)\nBP 40°08.70′ N 68°49.60′ W (*)\nBQ 40°06.90′ N 68°46.50′ W (*)\nBR 40°07.20′ N 68°38.40′ W (*)\nBS 40°07.90′ N 68°36.00′ W (*)\nBT 40°06.40′ N 68°35.80′ W\nBU 40°05.25′ N 68°39.30′ W\nBV 40°05.40′ N 68°44.50′ W\nBW 40°06.00′ N 68°46.50′ W\nBX 40°07.40′ N 68°49.60′ W\nBY 40°05.55′ N 68°49.80′ W\nBZ 40°03.90′ N 68°51.70′ W\nCA 40°02.25′ N 68°55.40′ W\nCB 40°02.60′ N 69°00.00′ W\nCC 40°02.75′ N 69°00.75′ W\nCD 40°04.20′ N 69°01.75′ W\nCE 40°06.15′ N 69°01.95′ W\nCF 40°07.25′ N 69°02.00′ W\nCG 40°08.50′ N 69°02.25′ W\nCH 40°09.20′ N 69°02.95′ W\nCI 40°09.75′ N 69°03.30′ W\nCJ 40°09.55′ N 69°03.85′ W\nCK 40°08.40′ N 69°03.40′ W\nCL 40°07.20′ N 69°03.30′ W\nCM 40°06.00′ N 69°03.10′ W\nCN 40°05.40′ N 69°03.05′ W\nCO 40°04.80′ N 69°03.05′ W\nCP 40°03.55′ N 69°03.55′ W\nCQ 40°01.90′ N 69°03.95′ W\nCR 40°01.00′ N 69°04.40′ W\nCS 39°59.90′ N 69°06.25′ W\nCT 40°00.60′ N 69°10.05′ W\nCU 39°59.25′ N 69°11.15′ W\nCV 39°57.45′ N 69°16.05′ W\nCW 39°56.10′ N 69°20.10′ W\nCX 39°54.60′ N 69°25.65′ W\nCY 39°54.65′ N 69°26.90′ W\nCZ 39°54.80′ N 69°30.95′ W\nDA 39°54.35′ N 69°33.40′ W\nDB 39°55.00′ N 69°34.90′ W\nDC 39°56.55′ N 69°36.00′ W\nDD 39°57.95′ N 69°36.45′ W\nDE 39°58.75′ N 69°36.30′ W\nDF 39°58.80′ N 69°36.95′ W\nDG 39°57.95′ N 69°38.10′ W\nDH 39°54.50′ N 69°38.25′ W\nDI 39°53.60′ N 69°46.50′ W\nDJ 39°54.70′ N 69°50.00′ W\nDK 39°55.25′ N 69°51.40′ W\nDL 39°55.20′ N 69°53.10′ W\nDM 39°54.85′ N 69°53.90′ W\nDN 39°55.70′ N 69°54.90′ W\nDO 39°56.15′ N 69°55.35′ W\nDP 39°56.05′ N 69°56.25′ W\nDQ 39°55.30′ N 69°57.10′ W\nDR 39°54.80′ N 69°58.60′ W\nDS 39°56.05′ N 70°00.65′ W\nDT 39°55.30′ N 70°02.95′ W\nDU 39°56.90′ N 70°11.30′ W\nDV 39°58.90′ N 70°11.50′ W\nDW 39°59.60′ N 70°11.10′ W\nDX 40°01.35′ N 70°11.20′ W\nDY 40°02.60′ N 70°12.00′ W\nDZ 40°00.40′ N 70°12.30′ W\nEA 39°59.75′ N 70°13.05′ W\nEB 39°59.30′ N 70°14.00′ W *\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W *\n(c) Restricted Gear Area II—(1) Duration—(i) Mobile Gear. From November 27 through June 15 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with mobile gear or person on a fishing vessel with mobile gear may fish, or be, in Restricted Gear Area II (as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section) unless transiting only, provided that all mobile gear is on board the vessel while inside the area.\n(ii) Lobster trap gear. From June 16 through November 26 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with lobster trap gear or person on a fishing vessel with lobster trap gear may fish, and no lobster trap gear may be deployed or remain, in Restricted Gear Area II as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.\n(2) Definition of Restricted Gear Area II. Restricted Gear Area II is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines (points followed by an asterisk are shared with an adjacent Restricted Gear Area):\nTable 2 to Paragraph (c)(2)\nPoint Latitude Longitude Note\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\nEB 39°59.30′ N 70°14.00′ W (*)\nEC 39°58.85′ N 70°15.20′ W\nED 39°59.30′ N 70°18.40′ W\nEE 39°58.10′ N 70°19.40′ W\nEF 39°57.00′ N 70°19.85′ W\nEG 39°57.55′ N 70°21.25′ W\nEH 39°57.50′ N 70°22.80′ W\nEI 39°57.10′ N 70°25.40′ W\nEJ 39°57.65′ N 70°27.05′ W\nEK 39°58.58′ N 70°27.70′ W\nEL 40°00.65′ N 70°28.80′ W\nEM 40°02.20′ N 70°29.15′ W\nEN 40°01.00′ N 70°30.20′ W\nEO 39°58.58′ N 70°31.85′ W\nEP 39°57.05′ N 70°34.35′ W\nEQ 39°56.42′ N 70°36.80′ W\nER 39°58.15′ N 70°48.00′ W\nES 39°58.30′ N 70°51.10′ W\nET 39°58.10′ N 70°52.25′ W\nEU 39°58.05′ N 70°53.55′ W\nEV 39°58.40′ N 70°59.60′ W\nEW 39°59.80′ N 71°01.05′ W\nEX 39°58.20′ N 71°05.85′ W\nEY 39°57.45′ N 71°12.15′ W\nEZ 39°57.20′ N 71°15.00′ W\nFA 39°56.30′ N 71°18.95′ W\nFB 39°51.40′ N 71°36.10′ W\nFC 39°51.75′ N 71°41.50′ W\nFD 39°50.05′ N 71°42.50′ W\nFE 39°50.00′ N 71°45.00′ W\nFF 39°48.95′ N 71°46.05′ W\nFG 39°46.60′ N 71°46.10′ W\nFH 39°43.50′ N 71°49.40′ W\nFI 39°41.30′ N 71°55.00′ W\nFJ 39°39.00′ N 71°55.60′ W\nFK 39°36.72′ N 71°58.25′ W\nFL 39°35.15′ N 71°58.55′ W\nFM 39°34.50′ N 72°00.75′ W\nFN 39°32.20′ N 72°02.25′ W\nFO 39°32.15′ N 72°04.10′ W\nFP 39°28.50′ N 72°06.50′ W\nFQ 39°29.00′ N 72°09.25′ W\nFR 39°29.75′ N 72°09.80′ W (*)\nFS 39°32.65′ N 72°06.10′ W (*)\nFT 39°35.45′ N 72°02.00′ W (*)\nFU 39°41.15′ N 71°57.10′ W (*)\nFV 39°46.95′ N 71°49.00′ W (*)\nFW 39°53.10′ N 71°42.70′ W (*)\nFX 39°52.60′ N 71°40.35′ W (*)\nFY 39°53.10′ N 71°36.10′ W (*)\nFZ 39°57.50′ N 71°20.60′ W (*)\nGA 40°00.70′ N 71°19.80′ W (*)\nGB 39°59.30′ N 71°18.40′ W (*)\nGC 40°02.00′ N 71°01.30′ W (*)\nGD 40°00.50′ N 70°57.60′ W (*)\nGE 40°00.10′ N 70°45.10′ W (*)\nGF 39°58.90′ N 70°38.65′ W (*)\nGG 39°59.15′ N 70°34.45′ W (*)\nGH 40°00.55′ N 70°32.10′ W (*)\nGI 40°03.85′ N 70°28.75′ W (*)\nGJ 39°59.75′ N 70°25.50′ W (*)\nGK 39°59.80′ N 70°21.75′ W (*)\nGL 40°00.70′ N 70°18.60′ W (*)\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\n(d) Restricted Gear Area III—(1) Duration—(i) Mobile Gear. From June 16 through November 26 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with mobile gear or person on a fishing vessel with mobile gear may fish, or be, in Restricted Gear Area III (as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section) unless transiting only, provided that all mobile gear is on board the vessel while inside the area.\n(ii) Lobster trap gear. From January 1 through April 30 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with lobster trap gear or person on a fishing vessel with lobster trap gear may fish, and no lobster trap gear may be deployed or remain, in Restricted Gear Area III as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.\n(2) Definition of Restricted Gear Area III. Restricted Gear Area III is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines (points followed by an asterisk are shared with an adjacent Restricted Gear Area):\nTable 3 to Paragraph (d)(2)\nPoint Latitude Longitude Note\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\nGL 40°00.70′ N 70°18.60′ W (*)\nGK 39°59.80′ N 70°21.75′ W (*)\nGJ 39°59.75′ N 70°25.50′ W (*)\nGI 40°03.85′ N 70°28.75′ W (*)\nGH 40°00.55′ N 70°32.10′ W (*)\nGG 39°59.15′ N 70°34.45′ W (*)\nGF 39°58.90′ N 70°38.65′ W (*)\nGE 40°00.10′ N 70°45.10′ W (*)\nGD 40°00.50′ N 70°57.60′ W (*)\nGC 40°02.00′ N 71°01.30′ W (*)\nGB 39°59.30′ N 71°18.40′ W (*)\nGA 40°00.70′ N 71°19.80′ W (*)\nFZ 39°57.50′ N 71°20.60′ W (*)\nFY 39°53.10′ N 71°36.10′ W (*)\nFX 39°52.60′ N 71°40.35′ W (*)\nFW 39°53.10′ N 71°42.70′ W (*)\nFV 39°46.95′ N 71°49.00′ W (*)\nFU 39°41.15′ N 71°57.10′ W (*)\nFT 39°35.45′ N 72°02.00′ W (*)\nFS 39°32.65′ N 72°06.10′ W (*)\nFR 39°29.75′ N 72°09.80′ W (*)\nGM 39°33.65′ N 72°15.00′ W\nGN 39°47.20′ N 72°01.60′ W\nGO 39°53.75′ N 71°52.25′ W\nGP 39°55.85′ N 71°45.00′ W\nGQ 39°55.60′ N 71°41.20′ W\nGR 39°57.90′ N 71°28.70′ W\nGS 40°10.70′ N 71°10.25′ W\nGT 40°12.75′ N 70°55.05′ W\nGU 40°11.05′ N 70°45.80′ W\nGV 40°06.50′ N 70°40.05′ W\nGW 40°05.60′ N 70°17.70′ W\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\n(e) Restricted Gear Area IV—(1) Duration for Mobile Gear. From June 16 through September 30 of each fishing year, no fishing vessel with mobile gear or person on a fishing vessel with mobile gear may fish, or be, in Restricted Gear Area IV (as defined in paragraph (e)(2) of this section) unless transiting only, provided that all mobile gear is on board the vessel while inside the area.\n(2) Definition of Restricted Gear Area IV. Restricted Gear Area IV is defined by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines (points followed by an asterisk are shared with an adjacent Restricted Gear Area):\nTable 4 to Paragraph (e)(2)\nPoint Latitude Longitude Note\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\nGX 40°07.80′ N 70°09.20′ W\nGY 40°07.60′ N 70°04.50′ W\nGZ 40°02.10′ N 69°45.00′ W\nHA 40°01.30′ N 69°45.00′ W\nHB 40°00.50′ N 69°38.80′ W\nHC 40°01.70′ N 69°37.40′ W\nHD 40°01.70′ N 69°35.40′ W\nHE 40°00.40′ N 69°35.20′ W\nHF 39°57.30′ N 69°25.10′ W\nHG 40°05.50′ N 69°09.00′ W\nHH 40°14.30′ N 69°05.80′ W\nHI 40°14.00′ N 69°04.70′ W\nHJ 40°11.60′ N 68°53.00′ W\nHK 40°13.60′ N 68°40.60′ W\nBS 40°07.90′ N 68°36.00′ W (*)\nBR 40°07.20′ N 68°38.40′ W (*)\nBQ 40°06.90′ N 68°46.50′ W (*)\nBP 40°08.70′ N 68°49.60′ W (*)\nBO 40°08.10′ N 68°51.00′ W (*)\nBN 40°05.70′ N 68°52.40′ W (*)\nBM 40°03.60′ N 68°57.20′ W (*)\nBL 40°03.65′ N 69°00.00′ W (*)\nBK 40°04.35′ N 69°00.50′ W (*)\nBJ 40°05.20′ N 69°00.50′ W (*)\nBI 40°05.30′ N 69°01.10′ W (*)\nBH 40°08.90′ N 69°01.75′ W (*)\nBG 40°11.00′ N 69°03.80′ W (*)\nBF 40°11.60′ N 69°05.40′ W (*)\nBE 40°10.25′ N 69°04.40′ W (*)\nBD 40°09.75′ N 69°04.15′ W (*)\nBC 40°08.45′ N 69°03.60′ W (*)\nBB 40°05.65′ N 69°03.55′ W (*)\nBA 40°04.10′ N 69°03.90′ W (*)\nAZ 40°02.65′ N 69°05.60′ W (*)\nAY 40°02.00′ N 69°08.35′ W (*)\nAX 40°02.65′ N 69°11.15′ W (*)\nAW 40°00.05′ N 69°14.60′ W (*)\nAV 39°57.80′ N 69°20.35′ W (*)\nAU 39°56.75′ N 69°24.40′ W (*)\nAT 39°56.50′ N 69°26.35′ W (*)\nAS 39°56.80′ N 69°34.10′ W (*)\nAR 39°57.85′ N 69°35.15′ W (*)\nAQ 40°00.65′ N 69°36.50′ W (*)\nAP 40°00.90′ N 69°37.30′ W (*)\nAO 39°59.15′ N 69°37.30′ W (*)\nAN 39°58.80′ N 69°38.45′ W (*)\nAM 39°56.20′ N 69°40.20′ W (*)\nAL 39°55.75′ N 69°41.40′ W (*)\nAK 39°56.70′ N 69°53.60′ W (*)\nAJ 39°57.55′ N 69°54.05′ W (*)\nAI 39°57.40′ N 69°55.90′ W (*)\nAH 39°56.90′ N 69°57.45′ W (*)\nAG 39°58.25′ N 70°03.00′ W (*)\nAF 39°59.20′ N 70°04.90′ W (*)\nAE 40°00.70′ N 70°08.70′ W (*)\nAD 40°03.75′ N 70°10.15′ W (*)\nAC 40°05.20′ N 70°10.90′ W (*)\nAB 40°02.45′ N 70°14.10′ W (*)\nAA 40°02.75′ N 70°16.10′ W (*)\n(f) Carl N. Shuster Jr. Horseshoe Crab Reserve. (1) No vessel or person may fish for horseshoe crabs in the area known as the Carl N. Shuster Jr. Horseshoe Crab Reserve bounded as follows:\n(i) On the north by a straight line connecting points 39°14.6′ N. lat., 74°30.9′ W. long. (3 nm off of Peck Beach, NJ) and 39°14.6′ N lat., 74°22.5′ W. long.\n(ii) On the east by a straight line connecting points 39°14.6′ N. lat., 74°22.5′ W. long. and 38°22.0′ N. lat., 74°22.5′ W. long.\n(iii) On the south by a straight line connecting points 38°22.0′ N. lat., 74°22.5′ W. long. and 38°22.0′ N. lat., 75°00.4′ W. long. (3 nm off of Ocean City, MD).\n(iv) On the west by the outermost boundary of state waters.\n(2) No vessel or person on a vessel with a trawl or dredge may possess horseshoe crabs in the area described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section.\n(3) Horseshoe crabs caught in the area described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section must be returned immediately to the water without further harm.","path":["Title 50—Wildlife and Fisheries","CHAPTER VI—FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","PART 697—ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT","Subpart B—Management Measures"],"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":"1fe6dedd3a0d93a4092d779bdb50b0c0a21efb9167d6e720ae81de253016406d","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/50-cfr-697.22","next":"us/50-cfr-697.24"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}