Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery

NMFS issues this interim final rule to amend measures that were implemented through an interim final rule published by NMFS on April 29, 2002, in order to protect species managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) from overfishing. This interim final rule imposes additional restrictions ordered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Court) in a Remedial Order issued on April 26, 2002: Two new area closures in the eastern Gulf of Maine (GOM), an increase in the minimum size for commercially caught cod, and a new restriction on dehooking devices. This interim final rule also accelerates the date of implementation of the gear restrictions contained in the April 29, 2002, interim final rule. This action is necessary to bring the regulations governing the Northeast multispecies (groundfish) fishery into compliance with the Court's Remedial Order.