NMFS issues this emergency interim rule to govern fishing in the Atlantic deep-sea red crab (Chaceon quinquedens) (red crab) fishery. This rule implements a total allowable catch (TAC) of 2.5 million lb (1,134 mt) of red crab; a possession limit of 65,000 lb (29.5 mt) of whole red crab or its equivalent; a trap/pot limit of 600 pots; and an incidental catch of 100 lb (45.4 kg) of whole red crab per fishing trip. This rule also establishes the requirements for a letter of authorization (LOA), for vessel reporting via an interactive voice response (IVR) system, and for submission of vessel trip reports (VTR) for the red crab fishery. The intended effect of this rule is to prevent or eliminate overfishing and provide immediate protection of the red crab stock in the previously unregulated Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery in the Northeast region until a Federal fishery management plan (FMP) is implemented.