--- kind: "section" citation: "50 C.F.R. § 648.88" title: "50" number: "648.88" heading: "Multispecies stock area definitions." url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/648.88" --- # §648.88. Multispecies stock area definitions. - (a) **Definition of stock areas.** The species stock areas applicable for possession and trip limits specified in [§ 648.86](/cfr/50/648.86.md), recreational minimum and maximum fish sizes, possession limits, and seasons specified in [§ 648.89](/cfr/50/648.89.md), and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of ACE pursuant to [§ 648.87(b)](/cfr/50/648.87.md?p=b) are defined in [paragraphs (1) through (17)](#a-1..a-17) of this section. For stocks that have incidental catch TACs pursuant to [§ 648.85(b)](/cfr/50/648.85.md?p=b), the areas also identify stock areas associated with those incidental catch TACs. Copies of a chart depicting these areas are available from the Regional Administrator upon request. - (1) **EGOM cod stock area.** The EGOM cod stock is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated and bounded by the coastline of the United States: - (2) **WGOM cod stock area.** The WGOM cod stock is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated and bounded by the coastline of the United States: - (3) **GB cod stock area.** The GB cod stock area is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (4) **SNE cod stock area.** The SNE cod stock area is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated and bounded by the coastline of the United States: - (5) **GB haddock stock area.** The GB Haddock Stock Area is defined as the area bounded on the west by the coastline of the United States, on the south by a line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the north by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (6) **GOM haddock stock area.** The GOM Haddock Stock Area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (7) **GB yellowtail flounder stock area.** The GB yellowtail flounder stock area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (8) **SNE/MA yellowtail flounder stock area.** - (i) For the purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in [§ 648.86](/cfr/50/648.86.md), and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of SNE/MA yellowtail flounder ACE pursuant to [§ 648.87(b)](/cfr/50/648.87.md?p=b), the SNE/MA yellowtail flounder stock area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (ii) For the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program, the SNE/MA yellowtail flounder B DAS stock area is the area bounded on the north, east, and south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (9) **CC/GOM yellowtail flounder stock area.** - (i) For the purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in [§ 648.86](/cfr/50/648.86.md), and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ACE pursuant to [§ 648.87(b)](/cfr/50/648.87.md?p=b), the CC/GOM yellowtail flounder stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (ii) For the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program pursuant to [§ 648.85(b)](/cfr/50/648.85.md?p=b), the CC/GOM yellowtail flounder B DAS stock area is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (10) **American plaice stock area.** The American plaice stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. - (11) **Witch flounder stock area.** The witch flounder stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. - (12) **GB winter flounder stock area.** The GB winter flounder stock area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (13) **GOM winter flounder stock area.** The GOM Winter Flounder Stock Area is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (14) **SNE/MA winter flounder stock area.** The SNE winter flounder stock area is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: - (15) **Redfish stock area.** The redfish stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. - (16) **White hake stock area.** The white hake stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, bounded on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. - (17) **Pollock stock area.** The pollock stock area is defined as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the south by a straight line running from the east-facing coastline of North Carolina at 35° N lat. until its intersection with the EEZ. The coordinates for the area can be found in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. - (b) **Stock area for unit stocks.** The stock area for all unit stocks listed in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section (American plaice, witch flounder, redfish, white hake, and pollock) are defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated: ## Notes ### Amendments [91 FR 11167, Mar. 9, 2026, as amended at 91 FR 39543, June 30, 2026] ### Authority Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ### Source Source: 61 FR 34968, July 3, 1996, unless otherwise noted. ### Amendments [91 FR 11167, Mar. 9, 2026, as amended at 91 FR 39543, June 30, 2026]