Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; 2000 Specifications

NMFS issues the final specifications for the 2000 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The annual specifications for the scup fishery include a new provision to restrict fishing in certain areas during certain time periods to reduce discards of scup in small-mesh fisheries. This action contains preliminary adjustments to the 2000 commercial quotas for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. This action also prohibits federally permitted commercial vessels from landing summer flounder in the State of Delaware for the year 2000. The intent of this document is to comply with implementing regulations for the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP) that require NMFS to publish measures for the upcoming fishing year that will prevent overfishing of these fisheries.