NMFS is closing the waters of Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, to fishing with gillnets with a mesh size larger than 4\1/4\ inch (10.8 cm) stretched mesh ("large-mesh gillnet"), from September 28, 2001 through December 15, 2001, to protect migrating sea turtles. The closed area includes all inshore waters of Pamlico Sound south of 35 deg.46.3' N. lat., north of 35 deg.00' N. lat., and east of 76 deg.30' W. long. NMFS is also considering issuance of a final rule establishing this seasonal closure each year as a permanent sea turtle conservation measure and is seeking comments on this interim rule.