This final emergency rule implements emergency measures intended to reduce overfishing on species managed under the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). This action continues most interim measures specified in the Settlement Agreement Among Certain Parties (Settlement Agreement), ordered to be implemented by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Court). The interim measures were implemented through an interim final rule published on August 1, 2002. The final emergency rule contains measures such as: A freeze on days-at-sea (DAS) at the highest annual level used from fishing years 1996-2000 and a 20-percent cut from that level; a freeze on the issuance of new open access Hand- gear permits; gear restrictions; modifications and additions to closure areas; and restrictions on yellowtail flounder catch. In addition, in response to public comment, this final emergency rule implements measures pertaining to haddock, including reducing the haddock minimum size limit for private recreational and party/charter vessels to 21 inches (52.5 cm), and relaxing the haddock trip limit (also known as bag limit) for charter/party and open access Handgear permit vessels. NMFS and two of the plaintiffs filed a motion with the Court requesting an extension of the August 22, 2003, implementation of Amendment 13 to the NE Fishery Management Plan (FMP) schedule in the Order until May 1, 2004. On December 4, 2002, the Court granted an extension of the Court- ordered timeline for implementation of Amendment 13 to the FMP until May 1, 2004. Amendment 13 will put in place long-term measures to end overfishing and rebuild multispecies stocks. This emergency rule is necessary to ensure that there exist measures to reduce overfishing until implementation of Amendment 13.