---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 648.351"
title: "50"
number: "648.351"
heading: "Mid-Atlantic forage species possession limits."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/648.351"
---

# §648.351. Mid-Atlantic forage species possession limits.

- (a) **Mid-Atlantic forage species.** Unless otherwise prohibited in [§ 648.80](/cfr/50/648.80.md), a vessel issued a valid commercial permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/cfr/50/648.4.md) may fish for, possess, and land up to 1,700 lb (771.11 kg) of all Mid-Atlantic forage species combined per trip in or from the EEZ portion of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, as defined in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. A vessel not issued a permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/cfr/50/648.4.md) that is fishing exclusively in state waters is exempt from the possession limits specified in this section.
- (b) **Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit.** The Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit is the area of the Atlantic Ocean that is bounded on the southeast by the outer limit of the U.S. EEZ; bounded on the south by 35°15.3′ N lat. (the approximate latitude of Cape Hatteras, NC); bounded on the west and north by the coastline of the United States; and bounded on the northeast by the following points, connected in the order listed by straight lines:
- (c) **Transiting.** Any vessel issued a valid permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/cfr/50/648.4.md) may transit the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, as defined in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, with an amount of Mid-Atlantic forage species on board that exceeds the possession limits specified in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section to land in a port in a state that is outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, provided that those species were harvested outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit and that all gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in [§ 648.2](/cfr/50/648.2.md).
- (d) **Transiting.** Any vessel issued a valid permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/cfr/50/648.4.md) may transit the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, as defined in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, with an amount of Mid-Atlantic forage species or Atlantic chub mackerel on board that exceeds the possession limits specified in paragraphs [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) of this section, respectively, to land in a port in a state that is outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, provided that those species were harvested outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit and that all gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in [§ 648.2](/cfr/50/648.2.md). The transitting provisions specified in this [paragraph (d)](#d) for a vessel possessing Atlantic chub mackerel are effective through December 31, 2020.

## Notes

### Amendments

[82 FR 40733, Aug. 28, 2017, as amended at 85 FR 47117, Aug. 4, 2020]

### Source

Source: 82 FR 40733, Aug. 28, 2017, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

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

### Source

Source: 61 FR 34968, July 3, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[82 FR 40733, Aug. 28, 2017, as amended at 85 FR 47117, Aug. 4, 2020]