NMFS publishes this interim final rule to amend the regulations governing the Northeast multispecies fishery to bring them into compliance with a Court Order. On May 23, 2002, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Court) issued an Order in Conservation Law Foundation, et al. v. Evans, et al., which granted the motions for reconsideration submitted to the Court by NMFS and several other parties to the lawsuit in response to the Court's April 26, 2002, Remedial Order. In granting the motion for reconsideration, the Court ordered NMFS to implement, by June 1, 2002, an amended interim rule to bring the regulations into conformance with the Settlement Agreement Among Certain Parties (Settlement Agreement) that was filed earlier with the Court. Therefore, NMFS is making the following changes to the regulations: The year-round Cashes Ledge East and Cashes Ledge West Area Closures (blocks 128 and 130) are removed; the requirement to use a minimum of 6-inch (15.2-cm) spacing between the fairlead rollers of de-hooking gear ("crucifiers") is removed; and the minimum fish size for cod that may be lawfully sold is decreased from 22 inches (55.9 cm) to 19 inches (28.3 cm).