NMFS issues final specifications for the 2000 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB). This rule also allocates the domestic annual harvest for Loligo squid into three 4- month periods, and prohibits the use of any combination of mesh or liners that effectively decreases the mesh size below the minimum mesh size of 1\7/8\ in (48 mm). The intent of this rule is to comply with the regulations for MSB that require NMFS to publish specifications for each fishing year to conserve and manage the resource in compliance with the regulations, fishery management plan, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.