31 TAC §58.161
The Texas Parks and Wildlife department adopts, on an emergency
basis, an amendment to §58.161, concerning shrimping in outside waters
(Gulf waters of the Texas territorial seas--nine nautical miles). Based on
sound biological data, the executive director has determined that optimum
migration of small brown shrimp from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico will occur
earlier than the established July 15 regulatory opening date. Sound biological
data indicate that most of the shrimp on the Gulf fishing grounds will be
of satisfactory size to achieve maximum benefits from the resource on July
8, 2001.
The purpose of the closed Gulf season is to protect brown shrimp during
their major period of emigration from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico until
they reach a larger, more valuable size before harvest and to prevent waste
caused by the discarding of smaller individuals. The season closed 30 minutes
after sunset, May 15, 2001.
The executive director finds imminent peril to the public welfare which
requires an emergency measure to set an opening date to minimize social and
economic hardship in a depressed industry by opening the season 7 days earlier
than scheduled to obtain optimum yield from the resource.
The amendment is adopted on an emergency basis under authority
of Parks and Wildlife Code, §77.062. In April 1978, the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Commission delegated to the executive director the duties and responsibilities
of opening and closing the shrimping season under this section.
§58.161.Shrimping in Outside Waters.
(a)-(c)
(No change.)
(d)
Gulf shrimping seasons. The outside waters are open to
shrimping except:
(1)-(5)
(No change.)
(6)
Early Opening of the Gulf Shrimping Season.
The provisions of paragraph (3)(A) of this subsection are replaced, as follows:
the general closed season for shrimp in outside waters extends from 30 minutes
after sunset on May 15, 2001 to 30 minutes after sunset on July 8, 2001.
This agency hereby certifies that the emergency adoption
has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal
authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State, on July 2, 2001.
TRD-200103740
Gene McCarty
Chief of Staff
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Effective date: July 2, 2001
Expiration date: September 20, 2001
For further information, please call: (512) 389-4775