Gulf Fisheries Fairness Act

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide that each of the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida have exclusive fishery management authority over reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico in waters that, on average, are 20 fathoms or less in depth, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gulf Fisheries Fairness Act 2. State exclusive fishery management authority over reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico (a) In general The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is amended— (1) in section 101 (16 U.S.C. 1811)— (A) in subsection (a), by inserting and subsection (c) of this section section 102 (B) by adding at the end the following: (c) State exclusive fishery management authority over reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico (1) In general Each of the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida shall have exclusive fishery management authority over all Gulf reef fish in all waters that are— (A) within the exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico; (B) not further from shore than the line described under paragraph (2); and (C) between the projected lines determined for that State under section 4(a)(2)(A) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1333(a)(2)(A) (2) Description of line (A) In general The Secretary shall publish a description of, and map showing, a continuous line in waters of the exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico along the coasts of the States referred to in paragraph (1), that is comprised of points that are, on average, 20 fathoms in depth. (B) Minimum distance No point on such line shall be less than 9 nautical miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured. (3) Prohibition on limiting authority to fish under Federal law The Secretary may not suspend, revoke, terminate, or otherwise limit the authority of any person under Federal law to engage in fishing, based on fishing by the person for Gulf reef fish in waters that are subject to the exclusive fishery management authority of a State under this subsection. (4) Gulf reef fish defined In this subsection the term Gulf reef fish ; and (2) in section 302(a)(1)(E) ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1)(E) of this subsection and section 101(c) paragraph (3) (b) Deadline The Secretary of Commerce shall publish the 20-fathom line description and map required under the amendment made by subsection (a)(1) by not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Termination of application of more restrictive Federal regulations Sections 622.4(a)(1)(iv) and 622.4(a)(2)(v) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and any substantially similar regulation, shall not apply with respect to waters described in section 101(c)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended by this section.

Summary: Gulf Fisheries Fairness Act - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide each of the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida with exclusive fishery management authority over reef fish: (1) within the exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico in waters of a specified average depth on a continuous line within a minimum distance of nine nautical miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured, and (2) between projected jurisdictional lines determined by the President under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to publish a description and map of the applicable line along the coasts of such states. Prohibits the Secretary from suspending, revoking, terminating, or otherwise limiting the authority of any person under federal law to engage in fishing based on the person fishing for Gulf reef fish in waters subject to the exclusive authority of such states. Exempts such waters from specified federal regulatory requirements addressing fishery permits.