---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 622.274"
title: "50"
number: "622.274"
heading: "Pelagic longline closed areas."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/622.274"
---

# §622.274. Pelagic longline closed areas.

- (a) If pelagic longline gear is on board a vessel, a person aboard such vessel may not fish for or retain a dolphin or wahoo—
  - (1) **In the Northeastern United States closed area from June 1 through June 30 each year.** The Northeastern United States closed area is that portion of the EEZ between 40° N. lat. and 39° N. lat. from 68° W. long. to 74° W. long.
  - (2) **In the Charleston Bump closed area from February 1 through April 30 each year.** The Charleston Bump closed area is that portion of the EEZ off North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia between 34° N. lat. and 31° N. lat. and west of 76° W. long.
  - (3) **In the East Florida Coast closed area year round.** The East Florida Coast closed area is that portion of the EEZ off Georgia and the east coast of Florida from the inner boundary of the EEZ at 31° N. lat.; thence due east to 78° W. long.; thence by a rhumb line to 28°17′ N. lat., 79°12′ W. long.; thence proceeding in a southerly direction along the outer boundary of the EEZ to 24° N. lat.; thence due west to 24° N. lat., 81°47′ W. long.; thence due north to the innermost boundary of the EEZ at 81°47′ W. long.
- (b) A vessel is considered to have pelagic longline gear on board when a power-operated longline hauler, a mainline, floats capable of supporting the mainline, and gangions with hooks are on board. Removal of any one of these elements constitutes removal of pelagic longline gear.
- (c) If a vessel is in a closed area during a time specified in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section with pelagic longline gear on board, it is a rebuttable presumption that fish on board such vessel were taken with pelagic longline gear in the closed area.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

### Source

Source: 78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, unless otherwise noted.